1. Preserving sacred space: A microclimate study of the Shrine of the Bab, a Baha’i holy site. Blake Campbell & Patrick Ravines Baha’i World Centre, Conservation Office Haifa, Israel

2. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Introduction Problems related to excess moisture Monitoring Temperature & Relative Humidity Results & Findings Conclusions

3. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Introduction – Shrine’s current setting and environs – Structures composing the shrine Early structures & Super structure

4. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre The Shrine of the Bab with its colonnade, golden dome, and terraced gardens.

5. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre The terraces of the shrine extending from the foot to the crest of Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.

6. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Westerly view Northerly & downward view

7. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Formal gardens around the shrine.

8. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Introduction – Shrine’s current setting and environs – Structures composing the shrine Early structures & Super structure

9. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre The original structure of the shrine built by Abdu’l-Baha in 1909, half-way up the barren slope of Mount Carmel.  _____

10. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Original structure of the shrine in 1909.

11. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre The shrine with rooms added by Shoghi Effendi, 1939.

12. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Rooms 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 & 9 - first construction in 1909. Rooms 3, 4 & 5 – second construction in 1939. Floor plan

13. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre The colonnade under construction, 1950.

14. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Workmen building the platform above the stone edifice, 1950. The octagon with its pinnacles and balustrade, 1952.

15. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre The shrine with its superstructure completed, 1953.

16. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Introduction Excess moisture – Early structure – Superstructure Monitoring T & RH Results & Findings Conclusions

17. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Shrine of the Bab, room # 1. Widespread damage to the tile floor caused by moisture-induced salt migration.

18. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Room 1: Tile damage & salt deposition

19. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Flaking & concoidal spalling of the surface and subsurface layers of the tile. Damage occurs both in the center and on edges. Hand-sized fracture due to subflorescence. Room 6: Tile damage

20. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Room 8: Wall & floor moisture

21. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Outer walls of original structure

22. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Superstructure moisture

23. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre  Where is the excess moisture coming from?  Noticed as early as 1941 and still exists.  Views & opinions: – Engineers: condensation – Custodian: underground water – Conservators: monitor & study

24. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Introduction Excess moisture Monitoring T & RH Results & Findings Conclusions

25. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Room 8 monitored Period: ~14 months Sensors: Hobo HO8 data loggers, T, RH & light Loggers 1, 2 & 3 – on floor Loggers 4, 5 & 7 – 2 m high 8-bit res 8Kb mem T: +0.7°C RH: +5% t: 6 & 8 min

26. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre  Weather station on NE corner of Terrace 10  Collects:  T, RH, soil T, leaf wetness, air pressure, solar radiation, rainfall, wind speed & direction  t: every 12 minutes

27. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Introduction Excess moisture Monitoring T & RH Results & Findings – Time series: view all T & RH data vs. time. – Diurnal cycles: data averaged by time of day (annual and monthly) – Histograms: Count the number of measurements that fall within a certain range – Dew Points Conclusions

28. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre T data of logger #4 & weather station on Terrace 10. Building’s moderating influence on room temperature. Temperature Time Series

29. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Temperature Time Series Graph (d) - data of logger 4 & weather station on Terrace 10. Obvious trend - temperature's strong seasonal dependence. Note building’s moderating influence on room temperature. Room well mixed.

30. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Logger #T meanT maxT min 121.028.713.7 221.228.711.8 321.127.912.6 420.828.37.8 521.828.712.2 721.830.312.6 T-10(WS)20.937.35.6 Temperature values

31. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre RH data of logger #4 & weather station on Terrace 10. Building’s moderating influence on RH. Relative Humidity Time Series

32. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Relative Humidity Time Series Graph (d) - data of logger 4 & weather station on Terrace 10. Building’s moderating influence on the humidity. Room well mixed.

33. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Logger #RH meanRH maxRH min 158.481.023.4 259.081.923.4 359.783.523.4 464.595.723.4 561.787.323.4 760.289.623.4 T-10(WS)75.999.011.0 Relative Humidity values

34. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Bimodal frequency distribution for the year from October 2002 to 2003 Reflects Mediterranean climate, long summers and winters but short transition seasons. Annual histogram of temperature

35. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Annual histogram of Relative Humidity

36. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre LoggerRH > 60%RH > 75% # % obsDays/yr% obsDays/yr 153.4194.92.48.9 254.6199.34.717.1 355.9203.99.334.0 471.9262.421.578.5 565.3238.410.538.3 759.4216.98.029.0 Time & high humidity

37. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Efflorescence salts: Na 2 CO 3 & NaCl Salts T ( ⁰C) RH saturation Na 2 CO 3 10H 2 O 18.592% Na 2 CO 3 10H 2 O 24.587% NaCl2375.5%

38. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Room Temp Dew point (Calculated )

39. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Room Temp Dew point (Calculated)

40. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Conclusions: Condensation – No Interstitial condensation – – Likely & if so, minor Other water sources – – Ground water – Irrigation water & – Rain water

41. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Conclusions: Further study – – Local geological features with ground penetrating radar – Cistern on west side x

42. Shrine of the Bab Baha’i World Centre Thank you - Grazie