Lightning Protection for Heritage Buildings: Finding Solutions That Preserve Architecture

When designing engineering solutions, it's often necessary to find a compromise between safety and a building's visual appearance. One of the most interesting projects we worked on was the development of a lightning protection system for a complex of historical buildings at the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum.

The site presented unique challenges – the area contains ancient wooden buildings with thatched roofs, requiring effective protection against lightning risks. Traditional passive lightning protection involves installing lightning rods, down conductors, and grounding systems on each building. However, the client did not want visible metal elements placed on the historical buildings, as this would alter their authentic appearance.

After evaluating various solutions, we proposed using an active lightning protection system. Such a solution would allow a larger area to be protected with a single centrally located mast and an active lightning rod. However, even in this case, a challenge arose – the client did not want a technical metal structure visible in the center of the area.

In search of the optimal solution, the idea emerged to combine functionality with aesthetics. We integrated the lightning protection mast as a flagpole, thereby preserving the historical character of the area while simultaneously providing the necessary level of protection.

This project once again demonstrated that quality design is not just about fulfilling regulatory requirements. It is the ability to find technically sound solutions that respect the object's architecture, cultural and historical value, and the client's wishes.

If your project also requires lightning protection design or non-standard engineering solutions, our team will help you find the safest and most aesthetically suitable solution.

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