Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
AR50332 Conservation and management |
| Credits: 12 |
| Level: Masters |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: CW100 |
| Requisites: |
| While taking this unit you must take AR50334 |
|
Aims: The unit provides students with analytical and practical skills and a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of garden and cultural landscape conservation and management, covering both designed and evolving organic landscapes and complex cultural landscapes. It also equips students with an understanding of conservation management and the use of traditional skills, materials and repair techniques. The unit includes an introduction to research methods and dissertation writing in the first week which is followed up with regular seminar sessions throughout the semester.
Learning Outcomes: Students successfully completing this unit will be able to demonstrate: * A practical understanding of the conservation management process and the use of traditional skills, materials and repair techniques. * An understanding and appreciation of the values, both intellectual and economic, of principles and practice of garden and landscape conservation, management and maintenance, and the use of traditional skills, materials and repair techniques. * A practical understanding of research methodologies and archives and the ability to apply techniques of research, analysis, recording and evaluation to primary source material. * The ability to research, record, analyse, interpret and understand the significance of buildings and sites. * appreciate and understand the urban or landscape context of historic buildings and their contents, artefacts, ensembles and sites. * a practical and conceptual understanding that enables the student to make critical evaluations and prepare reports that are intelligible to specialist and non-specialist readers, on gardens, landscapes, sites, historic building fabric and artefacts illustrated by graphics such as sketches and photographs. Students will be able to: * apply the taught skills, techniques and methods and to exercise initiative and demonstrate personal responsibility in carrying out projects. * consolidate, extend and apply knowledge gained in an appropriate and competent way. * operate within the appropriate code of professional conduct, recognising obligations to society, the profession and the environment. * Evaluate critically and understand the urban or landscape context of historic buildings and their contents, artefacts, ensembles and sites. * work autonomously or in multi-disciplinary groups and with other professionals in related fields using sound methods to resolve conflicts and develop strategies appropriate to needs, abilities and resources, and to recognise when advice should be sought and define areas of need for study by different groups. * evaluate the significance of a site, including the processes which shaped it, measure its vulnerability, assess the impact of proposed change, and form a view of how decisions are made on what to keep, conserve, modify or lose. * assess appropriate management and conservation approaches and to write a coherent conservation and management plan. * Use the knowledge and understanding of the wider context and issues of the historic environment and to interact effectively with bodies and individuals who have a significant role to play in the field, and to make balanced judgements based on ethical principles and accept responsibility for their implementation. * Synthesise a comprehensive and critical review of the historic environment and to translate the conclusions and findings by authoring and producing written reports to a standard consistent with professional requirements. Also to be able to identify and diagnose intrinsic and extrinsic causes and formulate a basis for appropriate responses or action. * To use the ability to carry out or commission research, analysis and recording of the historic environment and to maintain records accordingly. * To document and communicate ideas effectively in writing and orally in a way appropriate and accessible to both professional and lay audiences. * To critically evaluate arguments, assumptions and data and to make judgements, frame questions and achieve or identify a range of solutions to problems. Skills: Written communication, oral communication, data acquisition, handling and analysis, problem solving, working independently - taught, facilitated and assessed. Content: The programme provides students with analytical and practical skills and a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of garden and cultural landscape conservation and management, covering both designed and evolving organic landscapes and complex cultural landscapes. It also equips students with an understanding of conservation management and the use of traditional skills, materials and repair techniques. The unit also covers management of designed and natural gardens and landscapes; defining strategies, conservation management process, statements, conservation and visitor management, ecology & sustainability, evaluation in relation to World Heritage Sites and assessment of the impact of new structures within existing landscapes, parks and gardens. The conservation of garden structures and conservation engineering which includes kitchen gardens, lodges, follies, grottoes, cemeteries, monuments, statuary, garden furniture, fences, walls and earthworks, bridges, and water-features and the characteristics of decay and repair of stone, timber, cast and wrought iron, and lime products are also covered. As is plantsmanship and botany, sourcing and use of plants, arboriculture and tree surgery, tree management systems, contract management, and wildlife. |