AA School of Architecture 2013 - Building Conservation

Andrew Shepherd, David Heath, David Hills

The Conservation of Historic Buildings course awards a Graduate Diploma on completion of its two-year, part-time programme. Designed for built heritage professionals, and following the ICOMOS training guidelines, the course aims to enhance awareness and skills in the core areas of historic knowledge and cultural appreciation; research and report writing; philosophies of conservation; the international conservation charters; traditional building materials and construction; structures of historic buildings; fabric deterioration and repair; building investigations and assessments; regeneration and conservation; design in modern urban contexts, and international projects.

The programme has developed with the input of current and past students, and emphasis is placed on practical craft skills, with hands-on experience of lime, timber, stonework and metalwork. The developing theories and practice of conservation of post-1919 ‘modern’ buildings continue to be addressed. The students are encouraged to research the lecture/visit themes and to develop their ideas in their written assessment exercises, which also emphasise practical, professional skills. Diverging from previous years the course did not have a visiting foreign lecturer. However, plans are in place for a tour of World Heritage city Gjirokastër in Albania that will take place later this summer. This is in conjunction with director Andrew Shepherd’s ongoing contributions to restoration camps in various Balkan countries arranged by the Swedish NGO, Cultural Heritage without Borders.

Finally, it would be remiss to not take this publication as an opportunity to thank David Heath for his significant contribution to the course as thesis tutor over the past five years. As his students can certainly attest, his knowledge, enthusiasm and dedication have been exemplary, and he will be missed.

Director

Andrew Shepherd

Year Tutor

David Hills

Thesis Tutor

David Heath

Coordinator

Danielle Hewitt

Visiting Lecturers

Megan Aldrich

Brian Ayers

Marion Baeli