Understanding significance to manage change in the historic environment

Part of Conservation in Common, a cross-disciplinary series of events for professionals working in the built heritage sector

Talk hosted by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation, Northern Ireland Branch

The talk will provide an overview on the subject of Informed Conservation, a holistic, values-based approach to conservation, based on understanding the asset and its setting, and reflected in the recent draft NI Conservation Principles.  It will explain the concept of Significance, which provides the essential foundation for all projects involving change to the historic environment, regardless of their scale or complexity, firmly rooted in international heritage protection policy.  The subject will be relevant to all professionals who will have a role in managing or implementing change within historically sensitive places, including planners, architects, archaeologists and surveyors, and students.

Talk content

• Values-based conservation – what is significance and why does it matter?
• International context
• NI legislative and policy context
• Competencies
• Application in practice – some examples, to include:
  • understanding the asset: conservation-based research
  • new design in historic environments
  • re-use of vernacular buildings
  • conservation management planning

The event will meet the IHBC competencies of Conservation Philosophy and Recording, Research and Evaluation

About the speaker

Delia Graham is a specialist historic environment consultant based in Northern Ireland, with a broad range of experience in assessing significance and collaborative working, having spent several years as a consultant working for architectural conservation practice Alastair Coey Architects, and subsequently having founded her own practice, Arris Heritage Consulting.  Delia’s expertise reflects a career that has covered statutory listing and its equivalent in different regions of the UK and Ireland, the preparation of heritage statements, conservation management plans, and heritage action plans, for a range of sensitive sites and places.  Delia is secretary for the NI Branch of IHBC, and serves as a professional membership assessor for the organisation.   Delia has the knowledge, skill and expertise to ensure that change in the historic environment is sensitive and well-considered, providing the foundations for a well-cared for and vibrant historic environment for all.