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Building Conservation Projects - ARC00129M

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  • Department: Archaeology
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module summary

This module will provide an introduction to the conservation of buildings and the principles and practice in planning for practical maintenance, repair and conservation projects. Students will understand the materials, common problems and issues faced by historic buildings. Students will develop awareness of best practices in planning for conservation considering appropriate material and design based solutions.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24

Module aims

This modules aims:

  • To provide an understanding of the principles and practice of historic building maintenance, repair and conservation
  • To provide an understanding of the materials, common problems and issues faced by historic buildings
  • To develop an understanding of best practices in planning for conservation considering appropriate materials, repair and design based solutions
  • To be familiar with the wide range of roles, responsibilities and potential of bodies and individuals who have a role and interest in historic building conservation

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module students should:

  • Have a comprehensive understanding of the principles and processes of maintenance and repair of historic buildings
  • Be able to critically evaluate the problems faced by historic buildings through condition assessment to identify common building defects and diagnosis of underlying problems
  • Have a systematic understanding of knowledge and a critical awareness of a range of interventions appropriate for historic building repair and conservation and sources of specialist advice, guidance and funding
  • Be able to demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, creating flexible approaches to conservation project planning and management using appropriate visual tools and techniques
  • Be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of best practices for conservation project management and intervention considering appropriate material and design based solutions.

Module content

This module will provide an introduction to the conservation of buildings and the principles and practice in planning for practical maintenance, repair and conservation projects. Students will understand the materials, common problems and issues faced by historic buildings. Students will develop awareness of best practices in planning for conservation considering appropriate material and design based solutions.

Students will be engaged in material and design based workshops and will explore relevant buildings in York as examples of conservation project work drawing on our network of conservation expertise in the City of York and the wider region. Students will be introduced to the relevant literature and gain an understanding of the issues associated with repair, maintenance and conservation through focussed work on a case study site.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

Formative: oral feedback from module leaders

Summative: written feedback within the University's turnaround policy

Indicative reading

English Heritage Practical Building Conservation Series (note this is a ten-volume series and you will be guided to the relevant volumes).

English Heritage (2013). Conservation Basics, Practical Building Conservation Series, Ashgate

Copsey, N. 2019. Hot Mixed Lime and Traditional Mortars: A Practical Guide to Their Use in Conservation and Repair. Crowood.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.