Dublin
Civic
Trust

Our series of courses and seminars provide training and technical skills in the repair and maintenance of historic and traditionally built structures. They are aimed at people wishing to upskill, train or develop practical knowledge in the field of the historic built environment, including architects, surveyors, planners, project managers and supervisors, and anyone with a general interest in historic buildings and materials.

Most courses and seminars take place over a half or full day, and consist of a mixture of lectures and practical demonstrations, sometimes including a site visit in Dublin city centre to inspect conservation works in progress. Presently, all seminars and lectures are taking place online via the Zoom platform.

Courses are rated for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) by the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland and The Society of Chartered Surveyors, and most events are considered applicable for CPD by other professional bodies. Participants are issued with a certificate of attendance upon request.

Sign up to our Newsletter on the home page for regular updates on Courses, Seminars and Events.

 

MOST RECENT SEMINARS

Geospatial Surveying and the Digitalisation of Historic Buildings: Half Day Webinar

With Murphy Geospatial; lectures by Sarah Sherlock, Stuart McCann, David Graham and Ger Cowman.

Webinar via Zoom

Wednesday 21st June 2023
10:00-13:00

 

History, Legacy and Conservation of Victorian Glasshouses in Ireland: Half Day Webinar

With Katia Papkovskaia MRIAI, Grade II Conservation Architect, and Alexander Downes, Director of Lambstongue Ltd.

Webinar via Zoom

Wednesday 19th July 2023
10:00-13:10

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

PREVIOUS EVENTS

Heritage and Climate Change – Conserving The Rubrics, Trinity College Dublin

Half Day Webinar

With Carrig Conservation

Date: Tuesday 17^th October 2023      

Time: 10:00 – 13:00 (webinar open for admittance from 09:45)

Price: €90

Structured CPD Points: 3

Format: Live webinar via Zoom

BOOK NOW

Recording: A recording of the webinar will be circulated the day after the event, available to view for a two-week period for all attendees and ticket-holders who cannot attend on the day. This also allows attendees to view part of the live proceedings and watch the remainder afterwards. In all cases, please book as normal and rest assured you will be included on the circular list after the event.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

Peter Cox

Peter Cox FRSA, founding member of Carrig Conservation, has gained over thirty-five years’ experience of stone conservation in historic structures and all porous building materials. With a primary degree in chemical engineering and masters in material science, he is an authority on the analysis of masonry decay and on treating stone and mortar in historic structures. As an active member of ICOMOS, and as ICOMOS Ireland President from 2003-2006, Peter sits on a number of international committees, working with Governments to improve legislation and policies on conservation, and in particular on energy efficiency in heritage building stock.

He was President of ICOMOS’ International Scientific Committee on Energy, Sustainability & Climate Change (ISCES+CC), 2013 – 2020; is chair of ICOMOS Ireland’s National Scientific Committee on Energy, Sustainability & Climate Change (NSCES+CC) which published on the Effects of Climate Change on World Heritage Sites; and an active member of the Sustainable Traditional Building Alliance (STBA). Peter represented ICOMOS International on the CEN (Central European Standards Committee) Expert Technical Committee that produced European standard, EN 16883:2017 Conservation of Cultural Heritage – Guidelines for improving the energy performance of historic buildings.

Peter has authored ‘Retrofitting Heritage Buildings’ as part of RIBA’s Sustainable Building Conservation: Theory and Practice of Responsive Design in the Heritage Environment, published in 2015. As guest and visiting lecturer to universities nationally and throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States, Peter has completed lecture tours of China, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, South and North America lecturing on ‘Material Conservation of 20th Century Buildings; the ‘Energy Efficiency of Heritage & Traditional Buildings’ and on the effects of ‘Climate Change on our World Heritage Sites’.

 

Carrig Conservation

Carrig was established in 1994 as a specialist building and heritage consultancy, which employs a multi-disciplinary team of building and material experts, architects, engineers, materials’ scientists, chemists and geologists capable of handling all types of conservation projects.

Ireland has very significant commitments to the protection of heritage under Irish legislation and international conventions, such as the Venice and Burra Charters.  This must be taken on board when devising integrated heritage and cultural management, climate change adaptation or mitigation measures, or setting priorities in terms of building protection and intervention.

Carrig offers independent professional services relating to the conservation of built heritage, fabric research and specification of treatments, governmental policy development on climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies for the historic built environment, and low carbon retrofit strategies for historic and traditional buildings.  With a scientific ethos and background, it offers a service to architects, engineers, building owners, state parties, local authorities and NGOs.

www.carrig.ie

Geospatial Surveying and the Digitalisation of Historic Buildings

Half Day Webinar

With Murphy Geospatial

Date: Wednesday 21^st June 2023      

Time: 10:00 – 13:00 (webinar open for admittance from 09:45)

Price: €90

Structured CPD Points: 3

Format: Live webinar via Zoom

BOOK NOW

Recording: A recording of the webinar will be circulated the day after the event, available to view for a two-week period for all attendees and ticket-holders who cannot attend on the day. This also allows attendees to view part of the live proceedings and watch the remainder afterwards. In all cases, please book as normal and rest assured you will be included on the circular list after the event.

This webinar event is CPD-approved by both The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) and Engineers Ireland.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Sarah Sherlock
Sarah Sherlock is a Geospatial Consultant for Land and Property at Murphy Geospatial. Sarah specialises in boundary surveying and legal mapping.  She is a fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland. In addition, she is a qualified mediator. Sarah works with and collaborates with clients who may be purchasing or disposing of property to fully assess their needs and deliver optimum solutions most suited to their particular projects.

 

Stuart McCann
Stuart McCann is BIM Manager for the Digital Engineering Division at Murphy Geospatial. Stuart’s focus is on Digital Project Delivery and Information Management, aiding clients with the management of their real-world information in the digital space. He holds a BSc (Hons) Construction Management and MSc in applied Building Information Modelling & Management. Stuart joined Murphy Geospatial in 2012.

 

David Graham
David Graham is a Director at Murphy Geospatial and heads up the Subsurface Engineering Division. David has over two decades of experience specialising in utilities and survey engineering. He is a chartered surveyor and currently sits on the RICS Geospatial Surveying Expert Working Group (UK) and the SCSI Geomatics Professional Group (Ireland). David is also a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and the Royal Geographic Society.

 

Ger Cowman
Ger Cowman is a Senior Geospatial Consultant at Murphy Geospatial, responsible for leading the sales and management of the Digital Engineering Department. Ger works jointly on client engagement and project estimation, with expertise across Laser Scanning, Asset Capture, Revit and CAD projects throughout Ireland. Ger has a BSc in Geomatics and has been working in the surveying and geospatial industry since 2011.

 

Murphy Geospatial

Informed Decision Making - unlocking the true value of geospatial data

Murphy Geospatial captures, collates, verifies and governs geospatial data, enabling its clients to make informed decisions across the project lifecycle.

Proven geospatial solutions through the design, construction and in-use phases of projects across six key sectors; Construction, Industrial & Power, Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Property and Natural Environment.

WEBINAR CONTENT

This stimulating day of online lectures with one of Britain’s leading authorities in the field of conservation engineering will focus in considerable detail on the best practice repair and structural consolidation of historic buildings. Ian Hume, former Chief Engineer with English Heritage, will explore considered engineering principles that promote the retention of historic fabric and special character, based on correct identification of structural defects and their causes.

 

Not all defective historic buildings are as hazardous as they seem, requiring careful analysis and alternative approaches to repairs to consolidate apparently unstable structures and their elements. Various permanent repair methodologies which might be applied to historic buildings will be discussed, including debate about the merits of hidden repairs as against more obvious repairs.

 

Affording 5 Structured CPD points for the near day-long session, topics of discussion will include:

• Conservation philosophy - applying the five basic principles of conservation in a challenging environment.

• Conservation engineering techniques – choosing tried and tested solutions versus new methods.

• Structural monitoring - diagnosing problems and identifying correct solutions through different methods of monitoring.

• Maintenance – learning the rules of regular inspection and works regimes.

• Role of Conservation Engineer - interacting with owners, occupiers, planning and conservation authorities, and other members of the team, and having the confidence and expertise to do what is right for the building.

 

WEBINAR PROGRAMME

09.45 – 10:00 Webinar open for admittance

 

10:00 – 11:05

• Philosophy of conservation

• Inspection of historic buildings

• Safety on historic sites

• Q&A

 

11:05 – 11:15 Break

 

11:15 – 12:05 

• Scaffolding and temporary works for historic buildings

• Understanding the structure and what does it have to say to you?

• How does a building's history affect your thinking?

• Q&A

 

12:05 – 12:15 Break

 

12:15 – 13:00 

• Structural monitoring and load testing

• Floor loadings and their impact on historic buildings

 

13:00 – 13:45 Lunch 

 

13:45 – 14:50

• Structural intervention to historic buildings

• Tying, simple repairs and other low intervention repair methods

 

14:50 – 15:00 Break

 

15:00 – 16:00

• Case studies

• Q&A

 

16:00 Close

  

BOOK NOW

WEBINAR CONTENT

This morning webinar will explore the history, production and repair of wallpaper in Ireland with the country’s leading expert conservator, David Skinner. Drawing on his extensive experience both as a maker and a researcher of historic wallpapers, David will chart the evolution of patterns used to decorate Irish houses from the early eighteenth century until the demise of the Irish ‘paper-staining’ trade at the close of the nineteenth century. Journals, letters, invoices and newspaper advertisements are among the sources to be explored, including the large indigenous decorators and suppliers of wallpaper to smaller-scale paper-hangers, tax on wallpaper, and the trade in smuggled wallpaper between Ireland and Victorian England.

David will explore approaches to the conservation and repair of historic wallpapers in situ, in the workshop, and through the process of reproduction of missing fragments and entire decorative schemes. This includes the processes of cleaning, applying backing substrates, protective layers and glues, as well as decorative borders and trims, ceiling papers and ‘sanitary’ papers. 

This morning event will provide invaluable instruction to researchers, architects, building owners/managers and those involved in the study of historic interiors with the leading authority in this field.

 

PROGRAMME

10.00
Welcome & Introduction

10.05
The Irish paper-stainer: three centuries of wallpaper making.

Q&A

11.00
Break

11.10
The growth-rings of a house: encounters with wallpaper in historic buildings.

Q&A

12.00
Break

12.10
The 21st-century paper-stainer: making wallpaper today, here and elsewhere.

Q&A

13:00
Close

WEBINAR CONTENT

This morning webinar will explore the identification and properties of timber in historic buildings and discuss approaches to its conservation and repair. Led by leading wooden object conservator Sven Habermann of Conservation Letterfrack, the seminar will highlight the types of timbers traditionally used in old buildings and how they can be correctly identified.

Varieties of typical decay and structural defects will be highlighted and best practice solutions explored using case studies. Decorative work, from wall panelling and common architectural joinery, to fine cabinetry and floors will also be discussed, with multiple opportunities for questions and answers. The seminar with provide a vital opportunity for instruction from one of ireland’s leading historic timber experts.

 

PROGRAMME

10.00
Welcome & Introduction

10.05
Timber species, identification and properties

Q&A

11.00
Break

11.10
Structural decay, common defects, treatment and repair, floors/floorboards 

Q&A

12.00
Break

12.10
Decorative joinery: panelling, windows/shutters, floor surfaces, doorcases, architraves, skirtings, handrails

Q&A

13:00
Close

WEBINAR CONTENT

This morning webinar focuses on the historic evolution of the Irish town and how urban conurbations can be regenerated through heritage and conservation-led initiatives. Four speakers will explore the morphology and varied origins of towns in Ireland, examples of design-led planning and housing delivery, individual building conservation case studies, and policy context for rejuvenation.

Well-known and expert speakers include Valerie Mulvin, Director, McCullough Mulvin Architects, Duncan McLaren, Dedalus Architecture, Nicki Matthews, Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage, and Paul Gleeson, The Merchant House & Store, Kilrush. The array of presentation themes will include strategic approaches to urban management and conservation, understanding of settlement origins, public realm enhancement and placemaking, heritage-focused commercial enterprise and associated government strategies.

There will be multiple opportunities for audience questions and answers.

 

PROGRAMME

10.00
Welcome & Introduction

10.05
Vacant Space : Derelict Geometries -  Sustainable Housing in Irish Towns
Valerie Mulvin, Director, McCullough Mulvin Architects

Q&A

10:50
Approaches to Heritage-Led Regeneration
Nicki Matthews, Senior Architect, Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage

11.10
Break

11.20
Gentle Urban Scale Regeneration in Northwest Ireland
Duncan McLaren, Dedalus Architecture

Q&A

12.05
Break

12.15
A House Reborn - The Merchant’s House & Store, Kilrush
Paul Gleeson, Owner

Q&A

13:00
Close

WEBINAR CONTENT

This morning webinar will explore the history and design of historic roofs in Ireland and approaches to their conservation and thermal upgrading, with an emphasis on traditional slating.

Roofs are a critical component of period buildings, providing essential weathering and insulation from the elements as well as architectural interest. Understanding their original construction, detailing and performance is important for undertaking repairs and for preserving the lifespan of the roof and the entire building.

In three presentations, expert speakers from research, trade and supplier perspectives will explore the common typologies of Irish roofs, traditional materials including slate, timber and lead, and the specification of detailing including grading of lead and copperwork, vapour barriers, insulation and slate selection. As roofs exhibit a variety of types and forms, including thatch, this webinar will focus primarily on slate, tile and metal-dressed pitched roofs as the predominant types found across the country.

Speakers Nicki Matthews, Niall O’Regan and Kieran Merriman will guide attendees through the above themes with three opportunities for questions and answers.

 

PROGRAMME

10.00
Introduction

10.05
History, Design and Detailing of Irish Historic Roofs
Nicki Matthews, Senior Architect, Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government

Q&A

11.10
Traditional Roofing: Skills, Specification Standards and Insulation
Niall O’Regan, Manager, Crannóg Roofing

Q&A

12.10
Slate Types, Specification and Sourcing
Kieran Merriman, Blue Bangor Slate Company

Q&A

13.10
Close

WEBINAR CONTENT

This half-day seminar, led by a building conservation specifier and a lime plastering practitioner, focuses on the history and repair of traditional interior plasterwork, with an emphasis on wall and ceiling ‘flatwork’ and modest decorative elements.

Most historic interiors in Ireland are finished in plain lime plaster: composed of two and three-coat work on walls, and lath-and-plaster build-ups on ceilings and on some walls. This plasterwork forms the essential fabric of our commonplace building stock, including domestic, commercial, institutional and religious buildings, whose interiors are often enriched with plain and decorative cornices, roses, freehand moulding and horsework. Understanding the composition and layering of these materials is important for ensuring the protection of buildings’ special character, including the challenges of sensitive thermal upgrading.  

Over three lectures with opportunities for questions and answers, two leading speakers, Frank Keohane, Grade I Conservation Surveyor, and Brian Tobin, Specialist Lime Plasterer, will guide attendees through the history and application of lime plasters, materials and structural substrates, identification of defects and approaches to repair. Themes will include traditional three-coat work, lath-and-plaster build-ups, thermal/insulating plasters, cornice and other decorative work, site logistics and general specification. The webinar will place an emphasis on traditional, commonplace ‘flatwork’ and will feature a variety of case studies. 

PROGRAMME

10.00
Welcome & Introduction

 

10.05
Composition and Repair of Historic Plaster, Flatwork and Decoration
Frank Keohane, Chartered Building Surveyor

Topics: Two and three-coat work, masonry substrates, embedded timbers, lath-and-plaster studwork and ceilings, plaster mixes, decorative work, thermal plaster, general repairs, plaster specification

Q&A

11:00
Break

11.10
Traditional Lime Plastering – Repair and Specification
Brian Tobin, ‘Lime Master’

Topics: Lime mixes, aggregates, coating, wetting, substrates, repairs

Q&A

12.00
Break

12.10
Thermal Upgrading and Decorative Work – Case Studies
Brian Tobin, ‘Lime Master’

Topics: Walls and floors, thermal plaster, decorative horse work, limecrete floors

13:00 Close

WEBINAR CONTENT

This half-day webinar is led by Shane Nolan, Director of Nolan’s Group conservation contractors who have developed a specialism in the repair and manufacturing of bespoke brick and clay products for building conservation works.

Decorative fired clay and brick products reached their peak of production and widespread application in Irish buildings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They are associated with the architectural eclecticism of the Victorian age that promoted a variety of styles ranging from Tudor and Elizabethan Revival, European Renaissance to the neoclassical revival of the 1880s-1920s. Combining these moulded materials created boundless opportunities for architectural expression and structural assembly. Materials such as terracotta were durable and resistant to weathering when subjected to good maintenance. Faience, with its distinctive glazed finish, could be produced in a diverse range of styles and was regularly chosen for its low maintenance qualities for use in Irish shopfronts and commercial interiors

Today, options for repairing and replicating missing or damaged elements are often hampered by poor diagnosis, lack of knowledge of the specific properties of products, and the limited availability of replacements and manufacturing skills. Likewise, sourcing appropriate salvaged brick can be a fraught process, where sourcing bespoke specials is often a preferable option.

In this three-hour webinar, with three opportunities for questions and answers, Shane Nolan will guide attendees through the composition of terracotta, faience and fired-clay materials, the manufacturing process, and the logistics of commissioning repairs and reproduction items. Through the use of numerous site case studies, including the manufacturing of brick specials, the webinar will also showcase how complex facades and rooflines, often featuring a combination of materials, can be sensitively repaired – sometimes with new design solutions to resolve inherent flaws in the original design. The webinar will provide a unique insight into this commonly overlooked area.

 

PROGRAMME

10:00
Welcome & Introduction

10:05
Terracotta: Composition, Repairs and Reproduction
Plus case studies

Q&A

11:05
Break

11:15
Faience: Glazing, Colouring, Repairs
Plus case studies

Q&A

12:15
Break

12:20
Brick Specials: Matching mixes, colouring and firing
Plus case studies

Q&A

13:00
Close

WEBINAR CONTENT

This half-day webinar will explore the history, design and conservation of historic Irish windows, with an emphasis on the timber sash tradition, with two expert speakers from academic/technical and joinery trade perspectives.   

Windows are an intrinsic part of our historic built environment. Not only do they admit light to interiors and permit views to the outside world, they also comprise the public face of buildings and help shape how facades and entire streetscapes are expressed. Traditional timber windows and Ireland’s distinctive joinery tradition is a core part of our national architecture that makes us part of who we are and makes our buildings look the way they do.

This requires understanding of the joinery tradition and careful management of surviving fabric. If the subtle balance of proportion and detail of historic windows is upset or discarded, the harmony and integrity of our wider built heritage can be irreplaceably eroded. However, by understanding the historic evolution of window design, assembly and technology, it becomes possible to appreciate the joys of Ireland’s window heritage, making every journey along a road or street a stimulating delight for the eyes. Most importantly, it informs intuitive approaches to repair and conservation, ensuring original fabric and authentic design is retained for future generations.

In two lectures with opportunities for in-depth questions and answers, Nessa Roche will lead attendees through the history and evolution of Irish windows, provincial and vernacular design details. She will explore influences on design and glazing, and discuss approaches to best practice conservation and opportunities for thermal upgrading. Gary Beirne will develop these themes with a focus on common defects, repair techniques, ‘combination’ windows that utilise multiple materials, painting and decorating, site logistics and glazing. Both lectures will include documentary sources, regional variations, guidance references and multiple case studies.

 

PROGRAMME

10:00
Welcome & Introduction

10:05
A history of Irish window design, materials and construction – conservation and upgrading
Dr Nessa Roche, Senior Architectural Adviser, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

11:15
Q&A

11:25
Break

11:35
Conservation & Repair Approaches for Traditional Windows
Gary Beirne, Joiner, Historic Window Restoration

12:45
Q&A

13:00
Close

WEBINAR CONTENT

This half-day webinar will explore two complementary approaches to thermally improving traditional buildings: through economical, low-intensity management solutions and through primary fabric upgrade, with two authoritiative speakers in their fields.

Three presentations, led by Sarah Khan, Specialist Conservation Architect with Roger Mears Architects, London and Niall Crosson, Group Technical Manager with Ecological Building Systems, Co. Meath, will contrast low intervention strategies for making buildings more thermally efficient with sensitive physical interventions: both in the context of the ‘breathable’ attributes of traditional construction and the need to preserve the special character of Protected Structures.

Sarah Khan will explore ‘Learning from History: Traditional Low-Energy Approaches to Comfort’ through assessing documentary sources and surviving historic fabric. Sarah will explain her recent pioneering study into management solutions employed in a typical Georgian office building to improve internal comfort and energy efficiency – both for heating and cooling – without the need for expensive or invasive fabric upgrade. The presentation will highlight how localised heating, cooling and lighting can dramatically improve actual and perceived levels of comfort and cost efficiency for both building occupiers and managers, reducing reliance on artificial energy sources which are often carbon-intensive.  

Niall Crosson, in two in-depth presentations, will explore best practice approaches to thermal upgrading of walls and suspended timber floors. Niall will discuss the impact of moisture on solid stone/brick walls, consider the causes of moisture ingress, and assess how walls function before and after applying insulation and the importance of utilising compatible materials.  His second presentation will provide a range of breathable thermal solutions for a best practice approach to the thermal refurbishment of suspended timber floors, ensuring the retention of historic fabric and maintaining vapour-permability.

 

PROGRAMME

10:00
Welcome & Introduction

10:05
Learning from History: Applying Traditional Low-Energy Approaches to Comfort
Sarah Khan, Specialist Conservation Architect, Roger Mears Architects

Q&A

11:05
Break

11:15
Breathable Internal Wall Insulation Systems for Traditional Masonry Walls
Niall Crosson, Group Technical Manager, Ecological Buildings Systems

Q&A

12:15
Break

12:20
Breathable Solutions for Thermally Upgrading Existing Floors
Niall Crosson, Group Technical Manager, Ecological Buildings Systems

Q&A

13:00
Close

WEBINAR CONTENT

This half-day webinar will explore the challenges facing Ireland’s built heritage in the context of climate change. Two leading speakers, award-winning writer Roger Hunt and architect, environmentalist and broadcaster Duncan Stewart, will highlight the global context of climate change, how it affects Ireland and its buildings, and the commitments now enshrined in Irish law. They will explore the mitigation measures required to reduce carbon load, increase thermal performance and comfort, and cater for more frequent and severe extreme weather events in a manner that is sensitive to the particular qualities of historic and traditionally constructed buildings.

The webinar will explain the basic principles of retrofitting old buildings for energy efficiency and the key issues to think about to ensure their long term sustainability, value and character. The speakers will consider a holistic approach to retrofitting and examine the materials and techniques that are compatible with the needs of old buildings.

Topic strands will include:

Climate change: What the science tells us

Legislation: Ireland’s legally binding commitments

Sectoral budgets: The part that built heritage must play

Built heritage: How old buildings and traditional materials function

Thermal upgrading: Factors to consider and case study solutions

The ‘light hand’: How to preserve the authenticity of historic character

Questions & Answers

The morning includes one 15-minute break and two opportunities for extensive Q&A.

 

PROGRAMME

10:00 Welcome & Introduction

10:05
Retrofit for Old Buildings: The Sensitive Approach
Roger Hunt, Co-author of Old House Eco Handbook

11:10
Q&A

11:25 Break

11:40
The Climate Adaption Challenge for Ireland’s Built Heritage
Duncan Stewart, Architect, Environmentalist & Broadcaster

12:40 Q&A

13:00 Close

WEBINAR CONTENT

This half-day webinar will explore the composition and repair of historic facades with Jimmy O’Friel, Director of Oldstone Conservation – one of Ireland’s most experienced building conservation contractors.

Over three 45-minute lectures, with regular opportunities for Q&A, Jimmy O’Friel will explore the major strands of historic masonry - stone, brick and render – from the perspective of the building contractor and specifier. Themes will include material identification, properties of stone, brick and render, traditional assembly techniques, common defects, repair methodologies, proprietary and bespoke repair products and case studies.

Individual strands will include:

Stone identification, delamination and erosion, raking out, pointing and jointing, splice and plastic repairs, cleaning.

Brick properties, decay and weathering, pointing and mortar identification, replacement and plastic repair, colouring and tinting.

Render properties, lime specification and aggregates, common defects, repair versus replacement, dowel repairs, colouring.

Case studies will include major works at Leinster House and Kilmainham Courthouse, Dublin, and a variety of 18^th and 19^th-century brick and stone buildings.

The morning includes two ten-minute breaks and three opportunities for Q&A.

WEBINAR CONTENT

This half-day webinar will explore the historic evolution, construction techniques and appropriate repair methods for traditional timber staircases of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

Staircases are complex joinery assemblies that often compose the most important functional and decorative installation in a period building. Their architectural and structural composition evolved considerably over the period 1660-1900 in response to changing fashions and technological innovations. Stylistic development and mechanisation called for new approaches to wood turning, assembly and decorative enrichment, while the requirements of speculative builders and specifications for public and private buildings called for a varied use of materials and structural designs that responded to individual space requirements.

Traditional staircases are often poorly understood, regularly leading to partial or wholesale replacement during refurbishment works rather than considerate and usually more economical repair. This half-day webinar, featuring four expert speakers with particular knowledge of staircases, including a joinery practitioner, cabinetmaker, conservation architects and researchers of the field, will provide a unique insight into Irish staircase assembly and outline practical approaches to repair.

The webinar will provide an invaluable opportunity for professional specifiers, conservators, historic building owners and managers, homeowners and interested members of the public to learn from histories and case studies that will chart common characteristics of Irish stairs, including forms and components, defects and approaches to repair. Four opportunities for questions and answers will allow for audience engagement and exchange.

 

PROGRAMME

10:00 Welcome & Introduction

10:05
Design and Construction of Staircases of the late 17th and early 18th centuries
Peter Keenahan, Architect

Q&A

11:00 Break

11:10
Anatomy of Staircases, 1700 - 1900, and repair considerations
James Kelly, Architect

11:55 Q&A

12:05 Break

12:15
Approaches to Repairing Traditional Staircases: Case Studies
Pat Lynch, Director, MacLyn Conservation Joinery

12:45
Handrails, Balustrades and Polish: Diagnosis, Repairs and Finishing
George Williams, Cabinetmaker - George Williams Antiques

13:15 Q&A

13:30 Close

 

WEBINAR CONTENT

This morning webinar will provide a unique opportunity to learn about the composition and use of traditional paint from a leading expert in the field.

Historic paint consultant Patrick Baty, one of the most respected international authorities on traditional pigments and their decorative application, will give a rare half-day series of lectures for an Irish audience. The morning programme will initially guide attendees through the make-up of traditional paint, including pigments, binders and solutions, and how this influenced the manufacture of paint and the development of colour. The use and application of paint will follow in two in-depth lectures, exploring how technology and fashion influenced decorative conventions, palettes and notions of colour theory in the period spanning 1700-1955 - giving attendees a unique insight into the decoration of the historic interior and exterior elements.

The webinar will provide an invaluable opportunity for professional specifiers, conservators, historic building owners and managers, homeowners and interested members of the public to learn from a leading expert with decades of experience in this fascinating arena. Three opportunities for questions and answers will allow for audience engagement and exchange.

Find the full programme below.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

Patrick Baty is a leading UK-based paint consultant interested in the decoration of historic buildings. His work covers research, paint analysis, colour and technical advice, and colour surveys. Projects have covered a 400-year period and have ranged widely, from 18^th-century townhouses and modernist buildings to major public and private commissions. He has also worked in the USA.

Patrick lectures on a variety of subjects and has published numerous articles, also contributing to and revising several books on colour and decoration. In 2017 his The Anatomy of Colour was published by Thames & Hudson, who are also publishing his Nature’s Palette in April 2021. He and his wife run the family business Papers and Paints.

- Papers and Paints Website

- The Anatomy of Colour

BOOK ONLINE HERE

Webinar Content

This morning webinar will provide a stimulating opportunity to learn about the fast-developing field of metal window, door and glazed rooflight repair, conservation and thermal upgrading, from the leading firm in Ireland operating in this field.

Metal-framed fenestration can be found in buildings of all periods in Ireland, from medieval buildings with fragments of original and later fabric, to  Georgian casements and sashes, to high Victorian and Edwardian revivalist structures hosting an eclectic variety of window types and combination framing. Modern movement buildings are especially known for their dynamic application of the slender qualities of metal-framed glazing, doors and screens. A uniting theme with most of these buildings is the common use of top-lighting in roofs and ceilings, especially in public and commercial premises, deployed in a variety of forms and materials to create lantern domes, clerestory glazing and ‘laylights’.

Until recently, the conservation and thermal upgrading of these metal-framed elements was poorly understood and regularly considered beyond repair, with fabric commonly replaced en masse with proprietary versions of the original.

Through careful on-site assessment, on-site and workshop repair, and the application of new thermal upgrading and painting technologies, Lambstongue has revolutionised this sector of building conservation, allowing original fabric, profiles and detailing to be retained and sensitively enhanced. In turn, the growing demand for new-made windows, doors and screens is testament to the timeless qualities of these elements for contemporary use.

In this morning seminar, comprising three 45-minute presentations with opportunities for Q&A, Alexander Downes will explore the history and composition of metal-framed windows and rooflights through the assessment of materials, documentary evidence and a host of case studies.

PROGRAMME

10.00 Welcome & Introduction

10:05 History of metal in windows, historic examples and identifying materials including steel, iron, brass, bronze

Q&A

11.00 Break

11.10 Repair, conservation and thermal upgrading of historic metal windows and doors, including contemporary replacement. Draught-proofing, double-glazing, secondary glazing and thermal breaks.

Q&A

12.05 Break

12.15 Restoration of rooflights and opening mechanisms, including major case studies such as Carnegie Library, Dun Laoghaire.

Q&A

13:15 Close

 

PROGRAMME

10.00
Welcome & Introduction

10:05
Adapting the city for the consumer age: shops and shopping in 18^th and 19^th century Dublin

Q&A

11.00 Break

11.10
Case Study 1: Thomas Read’s Cutlers, 4 Parliament Street

Q&A

12:05 Break

12.15
Case Study 2: 32 Bachelors Walk  
Case Study 3: 18 Ormond Quay Upper
Case Study 4: 1 Capel Street

Q&A

13.15 Close

CPD Points: 3

PROGRAMME

09.30
Welcome & Introduction

09:35
Traditional Buildings, Moisture and Ventilation

10.25 Break

10.35
Insulating Traditional Masonry Walls

11.25
Questions & Answers

11:40 Break

11.50
Improvement Options for Windows, Floors and Roof Spaces

12.40 Break

12.50
Standards, Specifications and Training Considerations

13.20
Questions & Answers

13.40 Close

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

Dr Moses Jenkins has worked for Historic Environment Scotland for 15 years where he is Senior Technical Officer. He has written various guidance notes over this time most notably on the subjects of brick and energy efficiency. In 2009 he edited the book Building Scotland and in 2018 authored the book The Scottish Brick Industry. He gained his PhD through the study of Scottish traditional brickwork in 2017 and is a conservation accredited member of the CIOB. At present he is engaged in the development of standards and qualifications to improve knowledge of retrofit measures for traditionally constructed buildings.

 

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TUTOR BIOGRAPHY

Darren McLean is a respected conservator with a wealth of experience in building conservation, historic material repair, cleaning and consolidation. He has worked as a practitioner of traditional skills, an educator and an adviser, having started his conservation career with an apprenticeship in carpentry, followed some years later with an MSc in Building Conservation.

In 2010 Darren formed Timber & Lime Conservation, where he has focused on the conservation and repair of historic buildings. In 2018, he was appointed an Adjunct Assistant Professor at The University of Hong Kong to teach materials and techniques in the postgraduate conservation curriculum. He is also a guest lecturer in Strathclyde University’s Building Conservation MSc.

Latterly, Darren started McLean Conservation Associates to provide consultancy in various heritage services. In addition to traditional Scottish buildings, Darren has special interest in traditional Chinese architecture.

Clients include Historic Environment Scotland, Sir Lachlan McLean of Duart Castle, The Peter Pan Trust, Glasgow City Heritage Trust, The Prince's Trust, The National Trust for Scotland, Yangon Heritage Trust, Australian Aid, HKICON.

 

LEAD SPEAKERS

Nilan Ireland & UK develops and manufactures premium-quality, energy-saving ventilation and heat pump solutions that are beneficial to the environment and provide a healthy indoor climate and low-level energy consumption. The Ireland division is headed by Maurice Falvey, a mechanical engineer with many years’ experience in renewable technologies. He has attended and completed a European-certified passive designer’s course to enhance understanding of building concepts, and has undertaken further training in renewable energies abroad in Germany, Denmark and Sweden.

Niall Crosson is Group Technical Manager at Ecological Building Systems, a leading Irish company supplying products and materials for low energy sustainable buildings. He is a Certified Passivhaus Consultant and a member of the Board of Directors of the Irish Green Building Council. He provides guidance on a number of national standard committees and to many award-winning low-energy projects in Ireland and the UK. He has also co-authored and authored chapters for a number of low energy building publications including The Passivhaus Handbook and The Passivhaus Designers Manual. Niall provides regular technical contributions to a number of construction publications including The Journal of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland.

DB Plaster - Natural Building Solutions are specialists in lime plaster and natural insulation with over 15 years contracting experience. Dublin-based, the firm offers a nationwide consulting and production service with projects completed from Tralee, Co. Kerry to Strangford, Co Down, as well as offering training services in insulation board installation. David Broderick has collaborated in the design of a Fetac-accredited training course in Thermal Insulation Installation and delivers this three-day course at various locations around Ireland on behalf of Greenworks.ie.

 

PROGRAMME

09:15      Registration

09:30     Welcome & Introduction

09:40     Role of Thermal Plasters in the Thermal Upgrade of Historic Buildings
               Niall Crosson, Group Technical Manager, Ecological Building Systems

10:40     Two case studies of Calsitherm application from the customer standpoint
              Graham Hickey, Conservation Director, Dublin Civic Trust

              Questions & Answers

11:00      Tea/Coffee Refreshments

11:30      Thermal Plaster Application Demonstration
              Dave Broderick, DB Plaster

12:00     Adapting renewable energy solutions/M&E in heritage buildings
              Maurice Falvey, Nilan Ireland & UK

13:00     Questions & Answers

              Close

History, Repair and Cleaning of Interior Plasterwork 

Half-day Seminar

Date: Tuesday 19^th November   

Time: 09:45 – 13:00
(registration from 09:30 – seminar includes refreshments mid-morning. Lunch is not included)

Location: Dublin Civic Trust premises, 18 Ormond Quay Upper, Dublin 7

Price: €75

CPD Points: 3

Format: Indoor lectures with indoor demonstrations  

This half-day seminar focuses on the history and repair of interior plasterwork, both decorative work and flatwork. The majority of historic interiors in Ireland are finished in plain lime plaster: composed of ‘two  and three-coat work’ on walls and lath-and-plaster formulations on ceilings. This plasterwork comprises the essential fabric of our commonplace building stock – especially domestic, commercial, institutional and religious buildings – the repair of which is important to understand to ensure the protection of special character. Additionally, Ireland has a fine tradition of decorative plasterwork, ranging from modest ceiling roses and cornices, to elaborate ceiling and wall stuccowork, which requires specialist knowledge and skill to undertake its cleaning, repair and restoration.

The morning seminar will be led by Andrew Smith of Smith & Henderson Stuccodores and Frank Keohane, Chartered Building Surveyor, SCSI Grade I Conservation Surveyor. It will feature a mixture of lectures, casting demonstrations and on-site plaster cleaning in 18 Ormond Quay Upper.

PROGRAMME

Session 1: 09:45 – 11:00

Welcome & Introduction

Composition and Repair of Historic Plaster and Flatwork
Frank Keohane, Chartered Building Surveyor 

Topics: Two and three-coat work, masonry substrates, embedded timbers, lath-and-plaster studwork and ceilings, plaster mixes, thermal plasters and general upgrading, plaster specification

Questions & Answers

11:00 Tea/Coffee refreshments

Session 2 11:30 - 13:00

History of Decorative Plaster and Approaches to Repair and Conservation
Andrew Smith, Stuccodore

Topics: Rococo and neoclassical styles, integrated decorative interiors, composition of decorative plaster, paint specification, paint removal and plaster cleaning, casting and freehand work

Demonstration: Bench casting of plaster elements, and paint removal from original rococo cornice in 18 Ormond Quay.

13:00 Close

Repair & Conservation of Traditional Ironwork

Half-day Seminar

Date: Wednesday 6^th November 2019   

Time: 09:30 – 13:00
(registration from 09:15 – seminar includes refreshments mid-morning. Lunch is not included)

Location: Dublin Civic Trust premises, 18 Ormond Quay Upper, Dublin 7

Price: €75

CPD Points: 3

Format: Indoor lectures and exterior demonstration

This half-day seminar will provide a unique opportunity to learn from one of Ireland’s leading traditional blacksmiths, Paul Devlin of Pristine Ironwork, in an engaging morning of lectures and a live blacksmithing demonstration. Topics discussed will include the properties of wrought and cast-iron, common ironwork defects, approaches to repair and conservation, and specification of paint finishes.

The event will include practical and technical demonstration from Paul Devlin and expert advice from Frank Keohane, an experienced conservation surveyor and author of Dublin Civic Trust’s ‘Irish Period Houses: A Conservation Guidance Manual’.    

 

History and Conservation of Traditional Brickwork

Half-day Seminar

Date: Wednesday 2^nd October 2019  

Time: 09:30 – 13:00
(registration from 09:15 – seminar includes refreshments mid-morning. Lunch is not included)

Location: Dublin Civic Trust premises, 18 Ormond Quay Upper, Dublin 7

Price: €75

CPD Points: 3

Format: Indoor lectures 

Details
This half-day seminar will focus on the history, use and repair of brick as a building material in historic structures. Brick is a core constituent in the built heritage of Dublin and forms an important part of traditional construction in many parts of Ireland.

Understanding of its origins, its make-up and use in historic buildings is essential to ensure proper standards of repair and conservation. This morning seminar will feature leading traditional brick expert speakers and practioners, including a live demonstration of traditional brick pointing techniques.

PROGRAMME

09:30    
Welcome & Introduction

09:40    
An Introduction to Ireland's Brickmaking History 
Susan Roundtree, retired Conservation Architect
& author of upcoming gazetteer on Irish brickwork (to be published 2020)

10:20    
Brick construction: common attributes, defects and approaches to conservation
James Kelly, Conservation Architect, Kelly & Cogan Architects

10:50    
Questions & Answers      

11:00
Tea/coffee refreshments

11:30
Techniques for repair and manufacture of brick, terracotta and application of traditional brick pointing.
Including multiple case studies.
Shane Nolan, Nolan Group conservation contractors

12:15    
Questions & Answers

12:25    
Live brick pointing demonstration with Nolan Group
Interactive discussion encouraged

13:00    
Close

 

Conference Programme                                            

 

08.50 - 09.20  Registration

09.20                      
Welcome & Introduction
Geraldine Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, Dublin Civic Trust

09.30                                  
Opening Address
Paschal Donohoe T.D., Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform              
                                

Session I: Setting The Context      
Chaired by Niall Ó'Donnchú, Assistant Secretary, Dept. Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

09:45                     
Dublin's North Georgian Core – Its Assets & Potential  
James Kelly, Conservation Architect & Chairman, Dublin Civic Trust

10:10                                    
Obstetrics, Spectacle and Pleasure: the Origins of the Rotunda Hospital 
Gary A. Boyd, Head of Architecture, Queen’s University Belfast

10.35
The Rotunda – Past, Present & Future
Sam Coulter-Smith, Former Master of the Rotunda Hospital, 2009-2016

10.55                                    
Discussion

11.05  Tea/Coffee Break

11.35                    
Plain Pomp: the houses of Rutland Square
Christine Casey, Professor in Architectural History, Trinity College Dublin

12.00                                     
The Rotunda Complex – Hidden In Plain View       
Graham Hickey, Conservation Director, Dublin Civic Trust

12.25         
Garden of Remembrance: a symbolic place in 1960s Parnell Square 
Ellen Rowley, Architectural & Cultural Historian      

12:50                                    
Making Dublin great - finding ways to build contemporary architecture in the Georgian core  
Niall McCullough, McCullough Mulvin Architects                                                   

13:10                                    
Discussion

13.20  Lunch

Session II: Looking to the Future  
Chaired by Paraic Fallon, Senior Planner, Dublin City Council

14.20                                   
The Future of Parnell Square – Dublin City Library & Cultural Quarter  
Yvonne Farrell, Director, Grafton Architects

14.50                                  
Reimagining the Pleasure Garden in the 21^st Century
Todd Longstaffe-Gowan, Landscape Historian & Designer 

15.20                                     
Reviving the Edinburgh Assembly Rooms & The Piece Hall, Halifax 
Emma Rose Berry, Associate, LDN Architects, Scotland   

15.50
Opportunities for Sustainable Residential Communities in the Historic City Centre                   
Orla Hegarty, Architect & Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, UCD

16:20                            
Debate & Discussion
Chaired by Paraic Fallon, Senior Planner, Dublin City Council

16:40  Close

 

Previous Events

National Biodiversity Week 2018
May Lunchtime Lectures

Hosted by Dublin Civic Trust at 18 Ormond Quay Upper, Dublin 7

Free of charge on a first-come basis

The Liffey in the City - wildlife of Dublin’s river

Date: Tuesday 22^nd May 2018
Time: 13:00 – 14:00
Location: 18 Ormond Quay Upper, Dublin 7

Lectures
Niamh Fitzgerald, Birdwatch Ireland

Dr Julian Reynolds, Zoologist, Trinity College Dublin

Greening the City

Date: Friday 25^th May 2018
Time: 13:00 – 14:00
Location: 18 Ormond Quay Upper, Dublin 7

Lectures
The importance of city trees lecture - Dr John A. McCullen, formerly of OPW

Urban gardening - go green in the city; workshop with Rebecca Jeffares, landscape historian

Historic Building Site Visit: 3 Henrietta Street

Date: Thursday 17th May 2018

Time: 10:00 – 12:00
(registration from 09:45 at the front door)

Price: €50

CPD Points: 2

This morning site visit is a follow-up visit to the Trust’s successful seminar on the conservation of this landmark Georgian mansion at 3 Henrietta Street held in late 2017.

Since that time, the most ambitious staircase reconstruction of its kind has taken place in the soaring double-height entrance hall which had been removed in the 20^th century. The staircase project is one of the most remarkable historic reconstructions ever undertaken in Ireland, involving the structural carcassing of the ‘flying staircase’ based on exacting surviving dimensions, the carving of almost 100 balusters, heavy handrail and dado rail, and the application of salvaged, 18^th-century tread-ends. Historic plasterwork has also been conserved and replicated, restoring the architectural coherence of the stair hall.  

This morning visit will allow a unique opportunity to observe the interior of this private house as the staircase is being completed, led by its project conservation architect, James Kelly of Kelly & Cogan Architects and clients, Pat Wigglesworth and Ian Lumley.

Insulating Historic Buildings Seminar

Calsitherm Climate Board & Diasen Thermal Plaster Demonstration

Date: Thursday 3^rd May 2018

Time: 09:30 – 13:00
(registration from 09:15 at the front door)  

Location: 18 Ormond Quay Upper, Dublin 7

Price: €95  

Structured CPD Points: 3

Held in association with Ecological Building Systems Ireland and DB Plaster Natural Building Solutions  

This half-day seminar, hosted in Dublin Civic Trust’s live building conservation project at 18 Ormond Quay Upper, will provide a unique opportunity to observe a live application demonstration of Calsitherm Climate Board and Diasen Thermal Plaster in a brick-built Protected Structure.  

These two open diffusion, ‘breathable’ wall insulations are growing in demand in Ireland as awareness increases about their suitability for use in historic building contexts.

This half-day seminar will include lectures focusing on the properties of each material and cases studies of their use. A live demonstration of their application in the upper floors of 18 Ormond Quay Upper will take place in two rooms where historic plaster finishes have been lost and thermal upgrading of exterior walls is required.  

The seminar will provide an excellent opportunity for exchange and dialogue with suppliers and appliers of the plaster products, and for discussion amongst conservation specialists and practitioners.

Mid-morning refreshments provided. Lunch is not included.

More information on Calsitherm and Diasen can be found here:

Ecological Building Systems Ireland
DB Plaster Natural Building Solutions

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