Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering, Unit Catalogue 2006/07

AR30011 Conservation of historic buildings

Credits: 3

Level: Honours

Semester: 1

Assessment: EX70CW30

Requisites:

Aims: To give the student sufficient specialist knowledge and insight to enable participation in design and appraisal of engineering work on historic buildings.
Learning Outcomes:
The successful student should be able to demonstrate:
* familiarity with issues affecting the structural conservation of historic buildings.
* an ability to apply a correct methodological approach.
* an interest in historic and architectural issues.
* a flair for investigation supported by sound structural knowledge.
Skills:
Intellectual skills
* Ability to apply the concepts and principles of conservation engineering and to the design and solutions in the conservation of historic buildings.
* To understand taught material - taught
Professional/Practical skills
* To deal with basic conservation engineering issues in a systematic yet creative way, and to communicate the conclusions clearly.
Transferable/key skills
* Ability to collect, analyse, synthesise and present technical information.
* To demonstrate communication and team working skills.
Content:
The mechanics of historic materials, and the assessment of their properties in situ and in the laboratory. The use of analytical tools in the implementation of the structural condition of existing buildings. The methodology for the analysis of historic buildings:
* the collection of data from different fields of analysis (history, architectonic quality, visual inspection, survey and in situ testing, crack pattern interpretation and structural analysis).
* interpretation of data to produce a final judgement on causes of damage and present safety level, with examples. Choice and implementation of structural conservation techniques. Level of alteration of existing structure, reversibility of new work, homogeneity of old and new materials, with direct involvement in project work. Dedicated seminars will be used throughout the course, given by representatives of English Heritage and engineering companies.

University | Catalogues for 2006/07