Issues in Historic Building Conservation

Issues in Historic Building Conservation Construction Technology and Rehabilitation Referring to specific case studies this paper aims to investigate attitudes towards the preservation and restoration of historic buildings and the influences and constraints which might affect the development of such buildings. Why preserve? Many buildings are either deserted by their owners when the cost of restoration becomes too great, or demolished when the lesser expense of a new development and its saleability are of greater appeal. The future of historic buildings relies not only on the people or governing bodies that own them, but also on organizations such as English Heritage that list and protect buildings from development and raise public awareness through schemes such as the ‘Blue Plaque’ scheme (www.english-heritage.org). The relatively recent enthusiasm for television programmes about restoration have also helped heighten awareness. As Philip Wilkinson phrases it: ‘Old buildings form strong links with the past () to historians and archaeologists they are precious documents, unlocking information about the life, art, aspirations, and technology of the people who built them and used them.’ (Wilkinson: 2005, p.13) Long-term preservation can dramatically increase the economy of an area. For example, Bath and North East Somerset which is famous for its Georgian and stone buildings generates a huge revenue through tourism because of the efforts taken to conserve its rich heritage. The expense often proves a deterrent but in the case of either private land owners or council owned properties English Heritage and other such organisations such as the Funds for Historic Buildings (www.ffhb.org.uk) can provide financial aid in the form of grants, tax relief, and subsidised loans. Safety, Security and Assessment ‘The George Inn’ a mediaeval Inn, five miles south of Bath, owned by the Wadworth family, was restored in 1998 by Stansell Conservation, West Country Tiling, under the direction of Acanthus members, Ferguson Mann Architects. (http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/george/george.htm). A major part of the building was unoccupied and unusable, and the task was to conserve and repair, then turn the pub into a small hotel with 12 bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms. Being of large timber framed structure with intricate stonework and huge stone slate roofs, the procedures had to be selected carefully. Other considerations were taken into account; such as its archaeological investigation, and adhering to the fire-safety requirements of creating hotel accommodation. The original plan depended on the creation of accommodation on the top floor of the main building: however, the provision of an alternative means of escape would have involved major interventions to the building so this plan was altered: Fire safety presented problems as the stair tower had to be protected from smoke and flames in the event of a fire. The standard solution, wired glass doors on either side of the stairs, would have had a disastrous impact on the character of the interior. The solution was to hide the fire doors in the walls so that they could not be seen when open, and to fit them with electro magnetic catches so that they would close automatically when a fire is detected. (http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/george/george.htm). Factors to consider in the conservation of structures not only concern the building itself but also the area surrounding it. The situation of the George Inn, on the pavement of a busy main street, caused potential danger from falling stone slates and maintenance access was severely restricted. The scaffolding to the front had to be cantilevered out in a ‘complex, engineer-designed structure.’ It was therefore decided to opt for a high specification and every element of the roof covering was considered carefully. Temporary works are often needed during projects either because there is a risk that a structure might otherwise collapse or because it is necessary to remove some vital supporting member for renewal or alteration. In situations like this it is vital that the expertise of experienced architects and surveyors is sought so as to avoid unnecessary damage or alteration to the building as such mistakes can be irreparable. It is valuable to have a detailed specification for any particular project, bearing in mind that an historic building’s greatest value is the materials out of which it is made. Risk assessment and security surveys will be needed. Historic buildings can often harbour valuable treasures and can be at risk during building procedures; hence systems such as security lighting, CCTV and alarms might need installing on the site. Legislation Rehabilitation projects involve working closely with others progress depending on the reliability of contractors who could potentially go into receivership or resign. When legal matters are involved sites can often lie dormant until they are resolved. In some situations it is likely that legislative procedures will clash. For example, a fire escape on the top floor of the Inn might have impinged upon viable planning procedures for that age and type of building. More seriously, the listing of a property does not guarantee its safety. The English Heritage stipulates that the purpose of listing is to give a building ‘statutory protection against unauthorised demolition, alteration or extension.’ (www.english-heritage.org). Demolition or extensive alteration may be approved on a property if it becomes ‘de-listed’ however this usually only occurs if new evidence about the architectural or historic interest is uncovered or if extensive fire damage occurs. Decisions on the nature of works carried out on historic buildings normally depend on Listed Building Control which allows for the modification of proposals to alter or demolish the building. Sometimes planning permission can be granted and listed building co nsent refused: and unless both are approved then development cannot continue. As Michael Ross says in his publication on Planning and the Heritage: The emphasis is on conservation rather than preservation. In many cases, the two will be synonymous, but in others, the emphasis will not be on keeping the building as it is at all costs, but in ensuring that its life is guaranteed and lengthened in a way that will not destroy its special interest. That means in many cases that there will be a balance to be struck between the value of the old and the needs of the new. In others, no balance will be possible and consent will have to be refused. (Ross: 1996, p.92) If a building is not protected by law and modifications have the potential to appear unsightly or too radical in their design, then the Local Planning Authority use their discretion as to whether or not the application should be approved. In the case of Manor Farm, Over Haddon, (www.peakdistrict.org/ctte/planning/reports/2005) demolition and development of outbuildings themselves not listed but adjacent to a listed farmhouse, into office buildings and a car park was refused as the proposal was seen to seriously harm the setting and character of the listed building and the character of the Haddon conservation area. Time, Methods, and Materials Many historic buildings require consistent attention over time. For example, the Mediaeval Tithe Barn in Bradford-on-Avon was in a bad state of repair in 1914 and given to the Wiltshire Archaeological Society. Because of the war only  £400 could be spent on necessary repairs which failed to eliminate the cause of decay. (Ministry of Works, 1953). In July 1939 the Archaeological Society handed it to the Ministry of Works, and by 1975 all decaying timber in the roof trusses had been replaced, with the dangerously leaning north wall rebuilt. (Department of the Environment Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings, 1975). Restoring a building can be a monumental task and requires sufficient research and investment in order to complete the project. Furthermore, damage limitation must be considered: if a building is undergoing structural repairs then parts such as delicate roof timbers should not be exposed to the elements any longer than absolutely necessary, otherwise further problems might occur. Suitable materials need to be used, for example, lime mortar was most commonly used in old buildings as it allowed flexibility within the structure. The modern cement mortar could be disastrous as not only is it visibly different, but it’s harder consistency would restrict the movement of a building. The cleaning and repairs of the ‘Circus’ buildings in Bath during 1987 (Tindall: 1989) recorded painstaking care over the ancient stonework and close examination of the damage caused by acid rain. Problems occurred during cold weather where repairs had to be protected with dry cotton wool which gave sufficient insulation to prevent damage. Conservation and cleaning of stonework is a delicate process, and requires the patience and expertise of skilled workers. Compared to the number of people who practise modern building methods there is a shortage of knowledgeable masons, thus, as Hunter phrases it, there is’ a gap between the trained mason and the trained conservator.’ (Hunter:1980). Furthermore, this sort of conflict between traditional and modern methods arises in the function of the historic building itself. Many traditional farm buildings are abandoned, allowed to fall into ruin or demolished because they can no longer fulfil the purpose for which th ey were built. (Brunskill:1999, p.147). Such buildings can often be redeemed by converting them to domestic use, although this poses other problems such as the requirements of roof lights, windows, bathrooms and gardens which can all impinge upon the original character of the building. Conservation and repair work requires forethought and attention to detail; qualities which are not always promoted in today‘s society. Maintaining positive attitudes towards conservation is almost as essential as the work itself, and with continued education and investment the futures of historic buildings are becoming increasingly more secure. References Brunskill, R.W., 1999, 3rd Ed., Traditional Farm Buildings of Britain and their Conservation. London: Victor Gollancz Ltd. Department of the Environment Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings, 1975, The Medieval Tithe Barn, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire. Edinburgh: HMSO Press. Hunter, D., 1990 , Bath Stone in Building: It’s use, repair and conservation. Bath City Council. Ross, M., 1996, Planning and the Heritage: Policy and Procedures. London: Spon Press Ministry of Works, 1953, The Mediaeval Tithe Barn. West Bromich: Joseph Wones Ltd. Tindall, L., 1989, Conservation in Bath, Four Studies (offprint from ASCHB). Vol.14. Bath City Council. Wilkinson, P., 2005, Restoration, the story continues.. Bath: English Heritage. www.buildingconservation.com/articles/george/george.htm www.english-heritage.org www.ffhb.org.uk www.peakdistrict.org/ctte/planning/reports/2005 Further Reading OrbaÃ…Å ¸lÄ ±, A., 2000, Tourists in Historic Towns: Urban Conservation and Heritage Management. London: E FN Spon. Stuchbury, H.E., 1973, Conservation and Development of the Historic Buildings of Bath. Journal of Planning and Environment Law, Jun 1973.

Isolation of organic compounds Essay

1. 2.07 g of the mixture of naphthalene and benzoic acid was weighed accurately on a balance. The mixture was then dissolved in 40 ml dichloromethane and the solution was poured into a separatory funnel. 2. 20 ml of aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution was added to the dichloromethane. A stopper was placed on the separatory funnel and was shaken and pressure was frequently released. The 2 liquids separated into clear layers and the lower layer (dichloromethane layer) was tapped into an Erlenmeyer flask. The aqueous layer was placed into a 400 ml beaker. The dichloromethane was placed back in the separatory funnel. 3. The dichloromethane was extracted with 2 more fresh portions of sodium bicarbonate solution. The bicarbonate solutions are combined in the beaker. 4. The dichloromethane was dried with about 10g of anhydrous sodium sulphate for 10 minutes after which the sodium bicarbonate was filtered using the BÃ ¼chner funnel. The mass of an evaporating dish was measured and the dichloromethane placed in the evaporating dish and placed on steam bath until it evaporated into a solid. The evaporating dish containing naphthalene was weighed to determine the yield. 5. A funnel was placed on the evaporating dish on the steam bath to collect some sublimating crystals which were used to determine the melting point. 6. The bicarbonate extract was acidified with concentrated HCl. A piece of litmus paper showed that it was acidic. 7. The benzoic acid was extracted by shaking it with25ml portions of dichloromethane. The organic extracts were collected in a pre-weighed Erlenmeyer flask and evaporated on the steam bath. The mass of Benzoic acid produced was determined. RESULTS (i) Naphthalene: 0.85g; Benzoic acid: 0.71g (ii) The melting point of Naphthalene: 80-89Â º c

The Study of Stem Cells Essay - 873 Words

In February 1961 Dr. James Till, a Biophysicist, and Ernest McCulloch, a Hematologist, proved that stem cells exist. Stem cells are considered important by many scientists for their trait of being able to adjust and develop into any kind of tissue. The study of stem cells has been mainly the interest of Biologist, however, Chemists have also had an interest in the advancement of stem cells. Stem cells, as stated previously, are cells that have the potential to develop into any kind of tissue. In the body they serve as a repair system, continually dividing without limit to repair damaged tissues. As they divide the cells can either continue to be stem cells or convert into a specialized type of cell, such as, a red blood cell, a muscle†¦show more content†¦Many people believed, and still do, that stem cell research should be halted. On July 12, 1974, the 93rd Congress passes a ban on nearly all federally funded fetal tissue research. It would stay banned until the National Co mmission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research devises and implements guidelines. The guidelines would establish an Ethics Advisory Board for the research concerning fetal tissues that originate from abortions. The reason for the boards and their guidelines is because of the source of the stem cells. As implied by the statements above, the cells used and studied came from fetuses and abortions. Certain Conservatives believed that the embryonic research would lead to an increase in abortions, causing the research to be delayed. Because of the friction caused by the stem cells source, stem cell research was delayed for many years, occasionally they would be supported for a short time, only to be shut down again. It wasn’t until very recently, March 9, 2009 in fact, that President Barrack Obama lifted one of the previous president’s executive order to halt stem cell research involving human stem cells. 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MSC derived from bone marrow (BM) have been shown to be self renewing and are capable of differentiation into a variety of stromal cell types including bone forming osteoblasts, fat storing adipocytes, and neurons. Another trait exhibited by BM-MSC is their supportive role in hematopoiesis (blood genesis). This behavior has been utilized to enhance efficacyRead MoreA Research Study On Stem Cell Therapy1450 Words   |  6 Pagesothers in need. Ste m cell therapy is one of the new therapies that are used to treat a disease or prevent it. Bone marrow transplants are one type of therapy that has been used for the treatment of leukemia for a while now. 1,6Stem cell therapy is used to replace damaged, diseased, or malfunctioning cells anywhere in the body with healthy cells. When a stem cell is introduced to a specific part of the body, that stem cell receives signals that tell it how to mimic the other cells around it. 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The adult stem cells can can be found in brain, bone marrow, blood, etc. The embryonic stem cells come from a four to five day human embryo during the blastocyst phase (Crosta) . The controversy behind the topic usually stems fromRead MoreA Research Study On Stem Cells And Cloning977 Words   |  4 PagesMy Biology Report is going to Stem cells but in this report I am going to tell about strm cells and cloning but i am only briefly going to talk about it I will tell you facts pros and cons what is stem cells.And what it is period.But for cloniing i am just going to tell you what it is and what is bad about it. The term cloning accounts a number of different courses that can be used to produce genetically alike clones of a biological entity. The doubled material, which has the equal genetic makeupRead MoreA Research Study On Stem Cell Research1324 Words   |  6 Pageslike this. 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Gastropod Fast Facts

The class Gastropoda includes snails, slugs, limpets, and sea hares; the common name for all of these animals is gastropods. Gastropods are a subset of mollusks, an extremely diverse group that includes over 40,000 species. A seashell is a gastropod although this class contains many shell-less animals as well. Fast Facts: Gastropods Scientific Name: GastropodaCommon Name(s): Snails, slugs, limpets, and sea haresBasic Animal Group: InvertebrateSize: From .04–8 inchesLifespan: 20–50 yearsDiet:  Carnivore or HerbivorePopulation: UnknownHabitat: Oceans, waterways and terrestrial environments of all sorts worldwideConservation Status: Most are Least Concern, at least 250 are extinct, and many others Near Threatened or Endangered. Description Examples of gastropods include  whelks, conchs, periwinkles, abalone,  limpets, and  nudibranchs. Many gastropods  such as snails and limpets  have one shell. Sea slugs, like nudibranchs and sea hares, do not have a shell, although they may have an internal shell made of protein. Gastropods come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Gastropods with one shell use it to hide in. The shell is usually coiled  and may be left-handed or sinistral (spiraled counter-clockwise) or right-handed or dextral (clockwise). Gastropods move using a muscular foot. Due to torsion, a behavior in which the gastropod twists the top of its body 180 degrees with respect to its foot as they grow, adult gastropods are asymmetrical in form. The class of gastropods belongs to the Animalia kingdom and the Mollusca phylum. fotandy/Getty Images   Habitat and Distribution Gastropods live just about everywhere on Earth—in salt water, fresh water, and on land. In the oceans, they live in both shallow, intertidal areas and the deep sea. On land, they are in wet marshy environments to deserts, from shorelines and beaches to the mountaintops. The complexity of a given habitat, whether on sea or shore or mountaintop, positively affects the density and richness of the gastropods found within it. Diet and Behavior This diverse group of organisms employs a wide range of feeding mechanisms. Some are herbivores and some are  carnivores. Most feed using a radula, a bony structure of tiny teeth used for scraping food off a surface. The whelk, a type of gastropod, use their radula to drill a hole into the shell of other organisms for food.  Food is digested in the stomach. Because of the torsion process, the food enters the stomach through the posterior (back) end, and wastes leave through the anterior (front) end.   Annika Bornheim / EyeEm / Getty Images Reproduction and Offspring Some gastropods have both sexual organs, meaning that some are hermaphroditic. One interesting animal is the slipper shell, which may start out as a male and then change to a female.  Depending on the species, gastropods may reproduce by releasing gametes into the water, or by transferring the males sperm into the female, who uses it to fertilize her eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the gastropod is usually planktonic larvae called a veliger, which may feed on plankton or not feed at all. Eventually, the veliger undergoes metamorphosis and forms a juvenile gastropod. All young (larval stage) gastropods rotate their body as they grow, resulting in the placement of the gills and anus above the head. Gastropods have adapted in a variety of ways to avoid polluting their breathing water with their own wastes. Threats Most gastropods on earth are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Least Concerned. However, there are many exceptions, such as the Xerocrassa montserratensis, a terrestrial gastropod that lives in shrublands and mountain peaks in Spain and is listed as endangered by fires and fire suppression and recreational activities. Well over 200 species are listed as extinct by the IUCN; many others, particularly freshwater and terrestrial species, are listed as endangered. Sources Aktipis, S.W. et al. Gastropoda: an overview and analysis. Phylogeny and Evolution of the Mollusca. Eds. Ponder, W. and D.L. Lindberg. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008. 201–237.Auld, J. R., and P. Jarne. Sex and Recombination in Snails. Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Biology. Ed. Kliman, Richard M. Oxford: Academic Press, 2016. 49–60.  Beck, Michael W. Separating the Elements of Habitat Structure: Independent Effects of Habitat Complexity and Structural Components on Rocky Intertidal Gastropods. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 249.1 (2000): 29-49.Frà ½da, J. Fossil Invertebrates: Gastropods. Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences. Elsevier, 2013.  Martà ­nez-Ortà ­, A. Xerocrassa montserratensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T22254A9368348, 2011.