Analysis of the condition of historical buildings in Serbia: Literature review

Abstract

Historical buildings represent an essential part of cultural identity and architectural heritage, particularly in countries with rich historical and urban traditions such as Serbia. However, these structures are increasingly exposed to environmental, structural, and seismic risks while simultaneously facing demands for improved energy performance and sustainable use. This paper presents an overview of the current state of research related to risk management, energy efficiency, and seismic vulnerability of historical buildings in Serbia, based on recent literature and case studies. The paper analyzes traditional construction systems, seismic assessment methodologies, energy retrofitting strategies, and sustainable regeneration approaches applied to protected historical buildings. Historical buildings in Serbia possesses significant cultural and environmental value, but there are often problems with poor thermal performance, old and aging materials and structural vulnerabilities. Through literature review is shown that integrated and context-sensitive interventions can significantly improve both the seismic resilience and energy efficiency of historical buildings while preserving their architectural authenticity and cultural significance.