Earthquake resistant building design focuses on sheer walls, foundation bolts, frame connections, floor framing reinforcement, and removal of heavy roof weight to minimize building collapse. Engineers have learned from destructive earthquakes that well-designed buildings using techniques like base isolation and external framing can reduce earthquake risks, as wood construction proved safer than brick and masonry for withstanding New Zealand's 1848 and 1855 quakes.

1. Design of Earthquake
Resistant Buildings

2. EARTHQUAKES:
Sheer walls,
removal of cripple walls,
foundation anchor bolts,
frame anchor connections,
floor framing, chimney
reinforcement, base isolation
systems, external frames,
removal of roof weight, soft-story
reinforcement.

3. EARTHQUAKES
Engineers have a saying: ‘Earthquakes don’t kill people, buildings do.’
Destructive earthquakes have taught New Zealanders hard lessons in designing
safe buildings. In early Wellington, buildings of brick and masonry collapsed in the
1848 earthquake. As a result, the town was largely rebuilt in wood, and suffered
less damage during the magnitude 8.2 earthquake of 1855.