Introduction to Building Conservation - 5 day course

Through a series of lectures, activities and site visits, this 5-day course will explore the Traditional Building Skills and Materials used in conservation and repair projects throughout the Scottish Built Environment.

Who should attend?

We encourage graduates, heritage professionals and building practitioners from all disciplines interested in developing their knowledge and practice in traditional buildings to consider attending. We also welcome anyone responsible for a traditional building or with an interest in the broader aspects of building conservation in Scotland.

Funded Places

Bursaries may be available to those who have completed their third year or are a recent graduate of a building related subject such as architecture, surveying, engineering or planning, and/or those who can demonstrate a passion to develop a career in conservation.

To apply simply send your CV and a covering letter stating why you would like to do this course and what you hope to gain by attending by 9am on Monday 8th April 2025 to technicaleducation@hes.scot

Successful applicants will be contacted by Friday 16th May 2025.

Day 1 : The History of Conservation

Join us to explore the strategies and philosophies governing architectural conservation in Scotland, and the best approaches for tackling repair projects.

Learning outcomes

You will:

1. Learn how the materials, design and construction of traditional Scottish buildings affect function and performance over time
2. Understand the development of international conservation principles and ethics and how these inform and justify decisions affecting repairs, alterations and maintenance
3. Learn how to place a building, site or area within the historical development of Scottish architecture, townscape and construction technology
4. Understand how key issues, including dramatic changes to climate and economy, are impacting Scotland’s traditional built environment and how these are being addressed

Day 2: Conservation Building Blocks

Since the medieval period, Scotland’s historic environment was typically built using a limited palette of materials to provide shelter – stone and lime for the walls, and slate and lead for the roof.

Learning outcomes

You will:

1. Understand the basic principles and techniques underpinning best practice in stone repair and conservation in Scotland.
2. Understand the basic principles and techniques of processing lime for traditional building purposes.
3. Learn how centuries of limeworking in Scotland has informed current best practice in repair and conservation.
4. Learn how a range of materials were used to roof Scotland’s historic buildings over the past three centuries and how these roofs can and should be repaired today

Day 3: Conserving the Castle

Scotland is renowned for its many formidable and picturesque castles, but few people realise what it takes to maintain these ancient structures, to inspect fabric and assess risks, and keep the sites safe for public access.

Learning outcomes

You will:

1. Learn about the challenges of undertaking fabric inspections of large and complex medieval structures
2. Understand how ancient masonry decays over time and the range of stone conservation issues affecting the integrity of and access to these monuments
3. Hear how long-term planning for improving access must take into account the impact of visitor numbers, the cultural significance of a site, and the fragility of historic building fabric
4. Understand how responsible tourism initiatives must complement broader aspects of sustainability and climate change policy

Day 4: Conservation in a Changing Climate

Scotland’s traditional buildings must be carefully assessed and appropriately retrofitted to mitigate the potential damage from a changing climate. We will discuss climate change, carbon mitigation, adaptation and the basic principles of making traditional Scottish buildings more energy efficient.

Learning outcomes

You will:

1. Understand the emerging threats to Scotland’s historic built environment stemming from increased rainfall, increasing temperatures, and rising sea levels.
2. Learn how Historic Environment Scotland (and Scotland as a whole) aims to combat the immediate effects of climate change at both policy and practical levels.
3. Identify the most immediate and damaging ways Scotland’s traditional buildings are affected by a changing climate and the best measures to be taken to address this challenge.
4. Understand the broader aspects of best practice in energy efficiency as it applies to retrofitting Scotland’s traditional buildings.
5. Recognise how retrofitting traditional buildings to meet current standards should be undertaken in a holistic manner to achieve maximum performance.
6. Learn how to compare retrofit materials, technologies and procedures to choose appropriate applications in different contexts.

Day 5: Conserving the City - Glasgow

On our final day of Conservation Week, we will travel to Glasgow to enjoy a range of guided tours of some of its key heritage sites – some recently restored and others currently in the process of being repaired

Learning outcomes

You will:

1. Learn about the practicalities of undertaking large and complex conservation and repair projects to major public landmarks whilst retaining public access
2. Understand the challenges in addressing sensitive conservation issues affecting the public perceptions of a much-loved local landmark
3. Hear how long-term planning for conservation repair projects can underpin their eventual success despite persistent funding issues