Foreword

Thisseriesof bookletshasbeen produced by

the Department of the Environment to
increase awarenessof the value of our
architectural heritage and to provide
information on the basic principlesand
methodsof conservation and restoration.
The titlesin the seriesare listed on the back
of each booklet.
These textsare not intended to be
comprehensive technical or legal guides. The
main aim isto assist architects, builders,
owners and others,in understanding the
guiding principlesof conservation and
restoration. They will facilitate the
identification of the most common problems
encountered in heritage buildings,and
indicate the best solutions. It should be
appreciated that specialised aspectsof
conservation and restoration will require
professional expertise and more detailed
information.
The Department acknowledges,with
appreciation,the effortsof the authorsof the
individual booklets,the Irish Georgian Society
who coordinated their production,the
Conservation Advisory Panel established
under the O perational Programme for Local
Urban and Rural Development and all others
involved.
Summary of Conservation
Principles
Research prior to planning work
Minimum intervention - repair rather
than replace
Respect the setting.
Summary of Conservation
Procedur e
Research and analyse history of building
Survey building and identify original
material
Plan work according to conservation
principles
Use expertswhere necessary
Record all work
Install maintenance procedures.
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Conservation Guidelines
C o n s e rvation Principles/
General Info r m a t i o n
Introduction
Conservation
Conservation of historic buildingscan
generally be considered asthe action taken
to prevent decay, and to prolong the life of
our national architectural heritage. The
conservation processshould be carried out
without damaging the building,and without
destroying or falsifying historical evidence.
Conservation aimsat ensuring the long term
survival of our heritage for the enjoyment of
our own and future generations.
Since the 1960sIreland hasseen more
changesto itslandscape, and to its
a r c h i t e c t u ral heri t a g e, than in any other peri o d
of history. The changesare evident in both
t own and country. Much hasbeen lost, bu t
much remainswhich now requiresongoing
c a r e, maintenance and protection. There has
been a significant growth in public interest in
and awarenessof our built heri t a g e, f r o m
thatched cottages, great country housesand
shopfrontsto bri d g e s, millsand stone walls.
F r e q u e n t ly, a new and compatible use hasto
be found for historicbu i l d i n g s, and this
becomesone of the challengesof today.
Restoration and reconstruction
Restoration can be taken asthe processof
returning a heritage object to a known earlier
state, without the introduction of new
material. Reconstruction generally means
altering a heritage object by the introduction
of new, or old,materials into the fabric, to
produce a work which respectsthe original.
The two processesare often intertwined and
both must be approached with the utmost
care.
Work isoften undertaken on an old building,
with the best of intentionsand enthusiasm,
which,through lack of information,or by the
employment of inappropriate or incorrect
methods,causesa great deal of unintentional
damage, both aesthetic and technical. In
many cases inter vention may have been
unnecessary in the first place.
Inappropriate pastiche isto be avoided, but
well-executed replicasmay, in certain cases,
be acceptable. In new work,in a
conservation context,the use of well-
designed modern formsand materials,
carefully chosen and respectful of their older
environment,can be rewarding.
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Conservation Guidelines
C o n s e rvation Principles/
General Info r m a t i o n
Brief Histor y
The first time that agreed international
principlesof conservation were laid down
wasin the AthensCharter of 1931. The
charter wasreviewed and updated in 1964 in
the Venice Charter which dealswith the
conservation of historic buildings,the Burra
Charter for the conservation of placesof
cultural significance ( 1979) and the
Washington Charter of 1987 which deals
with historic townsand districts; these
charterswere published by ICO MO S ( the
International Committee for Monuments
and Sites) .
At the time of the Venice Charter in 1964,
other than the good conservation work
being carried out by the National
MonumentsService of the O ffice of Public
Works, and by the Museums,there was
limited general awarenessin Ireland of the
need to care for the countryshistoric
heritage. Thislack of awarenesswas
particularly evident in the area of
architecture, and some interesting and
significant buildingswere lost around that
time in the course of redevelopment. While,
to some extent,this is still happening,there is
now a much greater awarenessand
appreciation of our built heritage.
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Conservation Guidelines
C o n s e rvation Principles/
General Info r m a t i o n
An example of our varied built heritage
Main Conservation Principles
Retention or restoration of historical
significance
Conservation process based on
research
Minimum physical intervention
Maintenance of visual setting
Retention or restoration of historical
significance
The aim of conservation,asstated in the
Burra Charter ( ICO MO S) ,should be to
retain,recover or reveal asmuch of the
historical significance asispossible of the
heritage object,whether building or artefact.
Provision for itssecurity, maintenance and
future must be part of thisaim. The end use
of the restored or conser ved building is
therefore of vital importance, asany new use
hasto be compatible with the needsof the
building.
Conservation process based on research
It isimportant to know and understand the
history of the building,and itscurrent physical
condition,prior to the commencement of
work. If thisisnot done, costly errorscan be
made and the completed project flawed.
Minimum physical intervention
It ishoped that these guidelineswill
encourage all those working in the field to
adopt the basic guiding principle of minimum
physical intervention. Thismeansmaking the
minimum change to an historic building or
place, in order to retain wherever possible
the original fabric and character. It means, for
example, repairing windowsor shopfronts
instead of replacing them. It meansthe
careful striking of a balance between carrying
out necessary repairsand eliminating
problems,and preserving the authenthic
sense of history that many buildingsand
placesin Ireland still possess.
Repair rather than replace
A logical outcome of the principle of
minimum intervention isthe concept of
repair rather than replace. All too often
original features,such asfloor boardsor old
lime plaster, are consigned to the skip
without a second thought.Initially the
window frame or joist or cornice may look
totally beyond repair to the untutored eye.
However, on detailed examination original
plaster or joinery can,in many cases,be
retained or repaired,and there isno need for
wholesale and expensive replacement. The
result isa more authentic building which
preservesthe feeling of age and history, and
respectsthe fabric and original craftsmanship.
It must be emphasised that at first sight the
appearances of decay and damage in a
neglected building may be misleading to the
inexperienced eye.
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Conservation Guidelines
C o n s e rvation Principles/
General Info r m a t i o n
Accurate replacement
In the context of restoration,any necessary
replacement should adhere exactly to the
original,if possible. For instance, if partsof
window joinery, or a cornice, are damaged
beyond repair, and replacement isdeemed
necessary, then the emphasisshould be on
accurate replacement. At thisstage it is
important ( 1) to decide if the damaged or
rotten portion is original,( 2) if so, a sample
of any existing moulding should be kept and
( 3) an exact copy should be made by a
reputable craftsman.
It must be emphasised that very precise
instructions,measurements and samples need
to be given to craftsmen or buildersto
ensure that what ismeant to be an exact
copy doesnot turn out in the end to be a
carelessly detailed imitation. Thiscan happen,
not through lack of expertise but through
the craftsman or builder not realising the
importance of accurate replication. There is
scarcely a town in Ireland without a pseudo
old-world shopfront where the detailsare
clumsy imitationsof original patterns.
Particular effort should be made to match
the type and colour of the original for
necessary stone and brick replacement work.
Where possible, traditional and local
materialsshould be employed in repair work.
For example, damaged stone paving should
be repaired by sourcing local stone where
possible, rather than using stone from
elsewhere, or manufactured paving.
Maintainance of visual setting
Asstated in the Washington Charter, the
setting of an historic building isintegral with
the whole and should be dealt with
accordingly. Thismeansthat the demesne
landsof a country house, the original frame
of a painting and the historic streetscape of a
town are all elementswhich should be
conserved or restored where possible.
Care should be taken to preserve historic
parkland,as far as possible, when
development proposalsare being considered.
In some instancesmaintenance of the setting
may prove difficult in practical terms, but
respect for the setting isof paramount
importance in conservation/restoration work.
General
Conjecture
Restoration and reconstruction aim at
revealing cultural and historical valuesand
should have authenticity astheir base. Ideally,
conjecture should not play a part in the
process. However, in pragmatic terms,there
may be occasionswhen educated conclusions
can be implemented in order to ensure the
viability of the whole project.
Identification of new work
All significant new work should be recorded,
and identifiable, by documentation or
photgraphic processes,and be visually
identifiable where appropriate.
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Conservation Guidelines
C o n s e rvation Principles/
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Reversibility
Where any intervention in an historic
building is planned,the concept of
reversibility should be applied where
possible. The endeavour should be that no
work isundertaken which precludesthe
possibility of return to the original state.
Major intervention may be required to
enable a building to survive, particularly asa
result of a new usage. In all conversionsthe
work should be limited to essentialsand the
approach should be that aslittle damage as
possible isdone to the building,and that all
good architectural detail isretained. Any
element of significance, unavoidably removed,
should be kept safely, so that reinstatement is
possible in the future.
Sustainable conservation
The processof conservation isan attempt to
ensure the long term survival of our heritage.
Part of thisprocessinvolvesfinding
appropriate usesfor historic buildings,
encouraging building ownersto car ry out
proper maintenance and repair, and
promoting the purchase of buildingswhich
have been abandoned.
Conservation zones
In the context of buildingswhich have
undergone considerable decay, the fabric
requiresevaluation to determine
conservation zoneswithin the building.
Conservation zonesmay extend throughout
the whole building and itssurroundings,in
the case of important buildingsin reasonable
condition. Conversely, there are other
buildingswhere the condition of the fabric, or
the architectural merit,does not warrant a
rigorousconservation approach throughout.
In such buildingsthere may be areaswhich
are not required to be conservation zones
and where intervention can be tolerated and
the need for accurate restoration lessened.
Thusit isimportant to carry out a careful
assessment of the building to establish if,and
where, conservation zonesexist. In order for
the processof conservation to be
sustainable, it isimportant that resourcesare
directed to preservation and repair rather
than replication,and the establishment of
conservation zoneswithin buildingsisan
important part of thisprocess.
Modern solutions
In setting out the above principles,ingenuity
in providing modern solutionsto facilitate a
change of use in a building,should not be
ruled out,asthe survival of the building may
depend on such solutions.
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Conservation Guidelines
C o n s e rvation Principles/
General Info r m a t i o n
Sequence of Conservation Work
1. Research and analysis of history and
fabric
Thisisthe vital first stage of conservation and
restoration work. The history of a building
can be discovered by searching out
documentary evidence through old papers,
maps,registers etc.,and through written
accountsand photographsof the period. The
fabric of the building itself will also give clues
to the past. Information gained from all
these sourcescan be used in planning the
conservation and restoration.
For more detailssee booklet No. 2 of this
seriesSources of Information.
2. Survey of Building
It isnecessary to record the existing building
by meansof an overall and accurate
measured survey, be it a cottage, castle or
modest shop, prior to commencement of
work. The survey should include plans,
sectionsand elevations. Properly
carried out sur veysare often invaluable in
identifying the building'shistor y.
A photographic record should also be
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Conservation Guidelines
C o n s e rvation Principles/
General Info r m a t i o n
The conservation of modest original detail,such as this fanlight,is important.
made and a sur vey of the building may be
necessary to establish if there are structural
defectsor other problems.
Identification of existing original material
Identification of original material isof great
importance. Many original featuresare lost
or damaged inadvertently through lack of
knowledge. Decisionsmay have to be made
asto whether or not it isappropriate to
remove later additions. Many later alterations
or additionsmay be valuable in their own
right,and can be left as part of the storyof
the building.
3. Plan restoration with minimum
intervention
Restoration should be carefully planned and
guided by the principlesof conservation to
ensure that the least inter vention possible
takesplace. As always,repair rather than
replace isthe guiding rule. If missing features
have to be re-instated,accurate detail must
be ensured by careful research and precise
instructions. Professional help should be
sought in putting together the overall plan.
4. Implement under experienced
supervision
Many ownersof buildingsdo not possessthe
knowledge or experience needed for most
restoration projects. Calling in a sympathetic
professional,with experience of conservation
and restoration work,at the early stageswill
minimise the risk of costly error or
unintentional damage being done.
5. Record work
It isimportant that a record,both written
and photographic, should be kept during the
course of the work, for future reference, and
information.
6. Put in place regular maintenance
procedures
An ongoing programme of inspection and
maintenance must be put in place to ensure
the building remainsin good condition. This
makesgood economic sense asit isinfinitely
better to maintain and repair regularly, rather
than face major and costly work when
problemsreach crisispoint. Safety and
security proceduresshould also be installed
and implemented.
See booklet No. 16 of thisseries Fire Safety,
Security and Maintenance.
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Conservation Guidelines
C o n s e rvation Principles/
General Info r m a t i o n
The conservation of 20th century architecture should not
be neglected.
General Information
Financial Assistance
Direct grantsfor repair and conservation of
historic buildingsmay be available from the
Department of the Environment,under the
O perational Programme for Local Urban and
Rural Development, the Heritage Council,
some Local Authorities,and other bodies
such asthe Irish Georgian Society. O wing to
limited fundsassistance may not alwaysbe
available.
Buildingsmost likely to be considered for
grantsare those with significant architectural
or historical appeal,where asmuch as
possible of the original building survivesintact
and unaltered and in the context of their
contribution to the overall historical heritage.
For example a grant for the repair and
repainting of original,traditional shopfronts
( not for replicasor replacements) in Irish
townsand villages,might be given to an en-
blocapplication on behalf of the ownersof
five or six shopfronts,through an agency such
asa Local Authority.
Tax relief for expenditure on significant
buildingsmay also be available where such
buildingsare open to the public. For further
information contact any tax office.
Buildings of Artistic ,Historic or
Architectural Interest
A local planning authority may identify
buildings of artistic, historic or architectural
interest and that should therefore be
protected. ( These are commonly referred to
as"listed" buildings.) The development plan
of the planning authority will indicate which
buildingsare so protected;the plan is
available to the public. Such buildingscannot
be altered or substantially changed without
planning permission. For example, changing
the original windows,so asto alter the
external appearance of the building, would
constitute such an alteration and would be
subject to planning permission. In addition,
certain interior fixturesor featuresmay be
separately listed and worksinvolving such
fixturesor featuresmay also require planning
permission.
The Development Plan
The development plan setsout the land use,
amenity and development objectivesand
policiesof the planning authority, usually for a
5 year period. Aswell asidentifying specific
buildingsor interiorsof artistic, historic or
architectural interest,the development plan
will usually contain a range of objectivesfor
the conservation of the local built
environment,including specific policies for
specific areas.
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Conservation Guidelines
C o n s e rvation Principles/
General Info r m a t i o n
In that respect planning permission may also
be required for worksto buildingswhich are
not listed. The local planning authority can
advise.
National Monuments Acts
While in practice the National Monuments
legislation hasbeen used to protect medieval
or earlier buildings,legal protection may be
extended to structuresof any date. More
recently, several 18th century structureshave
been entered in the Register of Historic
Monuments,which requiresthe owner to
give notification of any proposed demolition
or worksto the Heritage Servicesof the
Department of Arts,Culture and the
Gaeltacht.
Architectural Inventories
No complete architectural inventory hasever
been carried out in Ireland. However, the
National Monumentsand Historic Properties
Service of the Department of Arts, Culture
and the Gaeltacht are currently carrying out
a comprehensive survey of the buildingsof
major Irish townsand cities. The publication
of the Dublin Environmental Inventory means
that the area between the canalsisnow
partially covered. The information contained
in these surveyswill be another useful source
of information about any given building such
asitsage, itsoriginal featuresand itshistorical
connections.
The Heritage Act 1995
Under the Heritage Act,the Minister for Arts,
Culture and the Gaeltacht,on the advice of
the Heritage Council,may designate a
building in the ownership of local authorities,
State or Semi-state bodiesor any other
public authority asa "Heritage Building". Such
a designation requiressuch a public authority
to notify the Heritage Council of any
proposed workswhich might directly or
indirectly affect such a Heritage Building,or of
the intention to dispose of the building or its
amenities.
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C o n s e rvation Principles/
General Info r m a t i o n
The threat of the bulldozer to historic buildings still exists
Dos and Donts
Do be guided by the general principles
of conservation.
remember that old buildingsneed to
breathe;hermetically sealed windows
and cement-rich rendersand
mortars prevent this happening,and
are very damaging to the fabric.
allow an old building to retain its
natural movement;this flexibility is
necessary and enablesit to adapt to
climatic changes.The introduction of
rigid elementsto strengthen a
structure, such as ring beams,can
have a very adverse effect on the
building.
seek expert advice.
Dont assume something isbeyond repair
just by itsappearance.
throw out any original material.
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General Info r m a t i o n
Sources of Information
1. Heritage Council
Tel:01-475 2736 Fax.01-475 2739
2. Institute for the Conservation of Historic
and Artistic Worksin Ireland.
Tel. 01-661 533
Hon.Secretary Maighread McParland
3. Irish Georgian Society.
Tel.01-6767053 Fax.01-662 0290
4. Irish Professional Conservatorsand
RestorersAssociation ( IPCRA) .
Tel.Belfast 381251
Hon.SecretaryAlison Muir
5. Royal Institute of the Architectsof Ireland
( RIAI) . Tel. 01-676 1703
Select Bibliograph y
Appleton Charter ( charter for the Protection
and Enhancement of the Built Environment) .
Canada,1983.
Burra Charter ( charter for the Conservation
of Placesof Cultural Significance) . Australia,
1979.
New Zealand Charter ( charter for the
Conservation of placesof Cultural Heritage
Value) . New Zealand,1993.
Venice Charter ( charter for the Conservation
and Restoration of Monumentsand Sites) .
Venice, 1964.
Washington Charter ( charter for the
Conservation of Historic Townsand Urban
Areas) . Washington,1987.
Feilden,Bernard M.. Conservation of Historic
Buildings. Cornwall,1982.
Royal Institute of the Architectsof Ireland.
Guidelines for the Conservation of Buildings.
Dublin, 1995.
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