The RIBA Conservation Course is an important step on the ladder towards a specialism in conservation. It will provide you with a framework of knowledge and understanding to support your decision-making process on projects and enable you to apply for recognition of your skills within the RIBA and other Conservation Accreditation Schemes.

This course addresses the philosophical and practical requirements associated with the responsibility of working on a historic building. Attending the course will help you develop critical awareness and knowledge of conservation work and be of direct practical application. It is structured as a 6-module intensive course.

Who is the course for?

The RIBA Conservation Course takes place over 6 modules and is aimed at architects and other construction professionals who:

• wish to develop their specialism in conservation architecture
• want to develop practical knowledge and skills in conservation
• wish to refresh their knowledge or formalise learning from experience in the field
• need to provide evidence to support their application onto the RIBA Conservation Register and other accredited schemes

Programme

•    Module 1 – RIBA conservation accreditation; history of conservation legislation; ICOMOS guidelines: 5 March, 1pm to 4:30pm
•    Module 2 – Philosophy and Ethics, Current legislation, Policy and Guidance: 13 March, 1pm to 4:30pm
•    Module 3 – Collecting evidence, understanding place, assessing significance, surveying and recording, assessing heritage impact, Conservation plans, Management plans, Funding: 21 March, 1pm to 4:30pm
•    Module 4 – Conservation in Practice case studies: 27 March, 1pm to 4:30pm
•    Module 5 – Quinquennial Inspections, defects and causes of decay and approach to repair: lime, stone: 3 April, 1pm to 4:30pm
•    Module 6 – Defects and causes of decay and approach to repair: brick, timber; Conservation structural engineering and conservation of concrete: 18 April, 1pm to 4:30pm

Speakers

Janie Price, Kennedy O’Callaghan Architects
Janie has led the RIBA conservation course since 2018. She has a diploma in building conservation from the AA and is accredited as SCA and AABC. She has been an assessor for the RIBA and CARE conservation registers and a member of the RIBA Conservation Group. As partner at Kennedy O’Callaghan Architects, she is experienced in a wide variety of conservation work at all stages, from medieval farmhouses, museums and palaces, design guidance in conservation areas, to conservation in Antarctica.

David McDonald
David is a heritage consultant specialising in training other built environment professionals, with a Diploma in Conservation at the Architectural Association. He was a former Conservation and Design Team Leader at the Royal Borough Kensington for over twenty years, and previously worked as a town planner at the London Borough of Camden. Formerly a member of the Association of Conservation Officers, and is President of IHBC. David will present Modules 1 and 2.

Helen Ensor
Helen is a conservation consultant and Practice Director at Donald Insall Associates. She previously worked as a Senior Conservation Officer at Westminster City Council and then as an Inspector of Historic Buildings and Areas for English Heritage (now Historic England). Helen has over 20 years’ experience in the planning and development sector and negotiating consent in respect of sensitive and complex sites. She has lectured extensively at universities and conferences on conservation planning and architectural history and is a member of the Oxford Diocesan Advisory Committee and a Director of the Historic Towns and Villages Forum.

Robert Greer
Robert is a guest lecturer, of PAYE, practitioners of brick and stone repair. He will present a series of projects and explain the techniques used for investigation and repair, in Module 4.

Andrew Shepherd
Andrew is a conservation architect who used to run the Architectural Association diploma in building conservation. He will present Modules 5 and 6, presenting examples of quinquennial inspections, and understanding the defects and causes of decay in common building materials.

Stuart Tappin
Stuart is an accredited conservation structural engineer. He will present case studies from a conservation engineer’s perspective, including timber, stone and concrete structures, in Module 6.