Last week, we sent two people from our team along to the annual conference, co-hosted by SPAB and the STBA, which explores some of the challenges our heritage buildings face and solutions for giving them a sustainable future.
Why do we need new ideas for old buildings?
This year, under the theme of “New Ideas for Old Buildings”, we heard about innovation and research within the heritage sector, ranging from new products and technologies that could make conservation easier to large-scale retrofit research and discussions around training and development.
The conference offered the opportunity to explore the question of how we can apply these new ideas to our work at Stephen Grindrod LTD and sparked ideas for how we play our part in supporting a sustainable future for heritage buildings.
Why do we need new ideas for old buildings? Because the world as we know it is changing, socially and environmentally and the skillset for conservation is dwindling rapidly. The talks from the conference broadly covered these three themes:
1. Climate Change
We heard from SPAB about research into the longevity of soft cappings on ruins in the face of a warmer, drier UK climate as an example of the considerations needed to future proof our existing building stock. Whilst there is a lot to be learnt from our heritage, doing what has always been done may no longer be appropriate as our climate changes. Research presented by the Welsh School of Architecture looked at how we should approach retrofit of our housing stock with the development of natural insulations, learning from the way old buildings perform and applying new methods and technologies for long term sustainability.
2. Social Value
The National Trust spoke about their role as advocates for the continued use of historic buildings, recognising that social needs are changing and many older buildings are at risk of becoming obsolete if they can’t be adapted to new functionalities. This idea was reinforced by a case study project from Lynch Architects which showed a beautiful example of how, with minimal intervention, older buildings could be repurposed for modern living.
3. Heritage Skills Training
Running through all discussions of the day was the issue of skills and training within the heritage sector. A panel discussion featuring craftsmen and women led to some thought provoking questions about the barriers to entry into heritage craft careers and how the UK education system could be reformed to bring more pride to those seeking practical careers.
The recent development of the York Minster Centre for Excellence by Tonkin Liu was presented as a beacon of hope for heritage craft training through celebration of stone masonry and a pathway for new apprentices to enter the space.
Overall the conference had an energy of optimism and possibilities, inviting ideas and action in the context of sustainability and our built environment. The themes discussed align with our core values at Stephen Grindrod LTD, to reduce our environmental harm and ensure that our architectural legacy endures for future generations. We will take the lessons from this conference forward in our work through continued use of innovative materials and quality craftsmanship which support the longevity of our buildings and respond to construction training needs with continued focus on skill sharing within the company and beyond.
Rebecca Illingworth