HERCONS 702 : Conservation of Materials

Creative Arts and Industries

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines the theory and practice of conserving materials commonly found in heritage buildings and artefacts, including stone, brick, timber, concrete and steel.

Course Overview

This course focuses on building materials and the conservation thereof.  It emphasises the importance of understanding the building, in order to identify defects and make recommendations for maintenance, repair and preservation.  This includes recording material defects on elevational photographs using Photoshop, the principles and techniques for maintenance and repair work, and how to document the recommended conservation works. 

Course Requirements

Restriction: ARCHGEN 752

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate a broad understanding of the key theories and practice of conserving stone, brick, tile, steel, non-ferrous metals, timber, concrete, glass and paint, in New Zealand (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3)
  2. "Read" the building and understand the process of recording (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 7.1)
  3. Conceptualise conservation projects, repairs and maintenance (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3)
  4. Communicate recommended conservation repairs and maintenance (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 8.1 and 8.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Condition Report and Recommendations for Repair 100% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Condition Report and Recommendations for Repair

Teaching & Learning Methods

This course combines a series of lectures with tutorial time devoted to the discussion of student progress on their individual research projects. Discussion is with the whole class collectively, so that students can learn from the experiences and questions of their peers.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course. Students are expected to spend 10 hours per week for each 15 point course that they are enrolled in, across the 15 weeks of semester, meaning a total of 150 hours for each course.  For this course, you can expect 22 hours of direct teaching (lecture and tutorial), and 128 hours of independent research and assignment preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience or Online

This course is offered in two delivery modes:

Campus Experience and Online

This is also known as hybrid teaching.

To complete the course, attendance is expected at scheduled activities either in-person on campus or remotely via Zoom. Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including student seminars may be available as recordings.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Conservation Philosophy:
Earl, John. Building Conservation Philosophy. London: College of Estate Management, 1996.
Fawcett, Jane. The Future of the Past: Attitudes to Conservation 1147-1974. London: Thames and Hudson, 1976.
Price, N.S, Talley Jr, M.K, and Vaccaro, A.M. Historical and Philosophical Issues in the Theory of Conservation of Cultural Heritage. US: Getty Conservation Institute – Readings in Conservation Series, 1996.
Feilden, Bernard. Conservation of Historic Buildings. 3rd edn, Oxford: Architectural Press, 2003 [1982].
Jokilehto, Jukka. A History of Architectural Conservation. 2nd edn, Abingdon, Ox, and New York, NY, 2018 [1999].

Materials Conservation:
Ashurst, John, and Nicola Ashurst. Practical Building Conservation.  English Heritage Technical Handbook. Aldershot: Gower Technical, 1988.
Volume 1 – Stone masonry
Volume 2 – Brick, Terracotta and Earth
Volume 3 – Plasters, Mortars and Renders
Volume 4 – Metals
Volume 5 – Wood, Glass and Resins (Technical Bibliography)

Health & Safety

When you are making site visits to your selected building, tell a friend or family member where you will be, and then check back in with them when you return from your visit.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student feedback on this course has consistently been very positive and shows that those who have completed it appreciate in particular the practical nature of the knowledge and skills they have learnt.

Other Information

Attendance in class as well as engagement with course activities and readings supports academic success. Therefore it is strongly recommended that students make every eort to attend class and complete all the necessary in-class requirements.

Late submissions will be considered on medical and special grounds when supported by a health or other professional, and when the application is made according to the following procedure. Requests for extensions of time must be submitted and approved before the due date unless there are exceptional circumstances. Students applying for an extension of time must obtain an Extension of Time Form for Coursework Submission from Canvas, complete the details and supply the required documentation from a health or other professional. Late submission forms must be supported by the course coordinator and then approved by the relevant programme director. Coursework not received by the due date, and for which no extension of time has been approved, will receive the grade ‘DNC’ (Did Not Complete).

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 24/10/2023 01:21 p.m.