C O N T E X T 1 0 9 : M A Y 2 0 0 9 47 Bringing fresh insight to the work of Inigo Jones, it is a fitting memorial both to a great architect and a courageous author. Nigel Crowe Joined-up conservation Guide for Practitioners 6. Conversion of Traditional Buildings: application of the Scottish building standards Dennis Urquhart, Historic Scotland, Edinburgh, 2007; Part 1, Principles and Practice, 76pp; Part 2, Application, 168pp; also available in DVD format ISBN 978 1 904966 46 3 and 978 1 904966 47 0, £6 in slip case Conversion of Traditional Buildings forms part of an increasingly comprehensive set of technical advice notes, research reports and guides for practitioners published in recent years by Historic Scotland’s Technical Conservation Group – formerly known as the Technical Conservation, Research and Education (TCRE) Group. Subjects covered range from materials through skills to management issues. Since late 2006, as part of its remit for education and raising standards in the care and maintenance of the built environment, all technical publications produced by the group have been priced at a flat rate of £6 inclusive of postage and packing – a singular bargain. In addition, there is a suite of over 30 free Inform Guides that provide introductory information on a broad spectrum of subjects. Directed at homeowners, they are also available online and on CD-Rom. Conversion of Traditional Buildings is a joint publication by Historic Scotland and the Scottish Buildings Standards Agency. It aims to integrate the interests of the conservation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings with the application of the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004. It has the formal status of guidance under the relevant Building Act. As such, it constitutes an important step towards joined-up thinking: first, in understanding the importance of retaining the historic integrity of the built heritage, in its role as a catalyst for regeneration, and in the delivery of the sustainability agenda; and second, in dialogue to resolve sensitively the often challenging technical issues related to compliance with the responsibilities and legislative viewpoints of the two agencies. Importantly, the definition of historic building employed in this publication encompasses traditionally constructed buildings with interest or significance whether or not they are listed or in a conservation area. This, based on an estimate that there are half a million such buildings across Scotland, is a significant proportion of the building stock. Part 1 addresses the identification of the conservation issues that impinge on the conversion of traditional buildings: the legislative background; principles regarding the identification of significance; and issues surrounding the performance of traditional buildings, materials and components. Part 2 is focused on the application of those building standards that are most likely to have an impact on the character of traditional buildings – especially in the key areas of fire safety, condensation, noise, access and energy conservation. In so doing, it identifies risks and recommends approaches to meeting them. The publication is not a technical manual as such. Rather, it sets out the parameters for guiding responsible solutions that are in the best interests of the heritage significance and health of historic buildings, and that address the functional nature of the building standards as they relate to buildings in use. Conversion of Traditional Buildings is an ambitious, bridge-building publication at a time of continuing research into issues surrounding the environmental performance, embodied energy and thermal capacity of traditional structures, and the interpretation of these against building standards that tend to focus on simplistic approaches to the measurement of key performance indicators such as thermal insulation. Inevitably, the publication states the understanding of these issues at a specific point in time and in the context of continuing collaborative research with English Heritage and others. The Scottish capital is a particular focus for research in practice, not least through Changeworks’ Energy Heritage project. Notwithstanding, this present publication is an important step towards shared understanding and confidence in the ability of the traditional building stock to rise to today’s many challenges as a functioning heritage resource. Dennis Rodwell, architect-planner and cultural heritage consultant A dream in stone Rosslyn Chapel: an icon through the ages Angelo Maggi, Birlinn Limited, Edinburgh, 2008, 173pp, 111 colour and b&w illustrations, ISBN 978 1 84158 724 0, £25 A few miles south of Edinburgh, Rosslyn Chapel, or more properly the Collegiate Church of St Matthew, is currently undergoing a £13 million conservation and improvement project (see rosslynchapel.org.uk), but this is just the latest episode in a long history of religious, historical and mystical appeal. William Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, commenced building in 1446, but only the east end of his ‘dream in stone’ was complete when he died in 1484.Work never resumed, but the remarkable peculiarities of style and unusual richness of ornament have captured the imagination of writers, poets, architects, photographers, painters, antiquarians and scholars. The architecture has been extolled as a ‘combination of Egyptian, Grecian, Roman and Saracenic styles’. G uide for P ractitioners c onversion of t raditional B uildinGs a PPlicationof the s cottish B uildinG s tandards Part 1 6Guide for Practitioners technical conservation, researchand education GrouP G uide for P ractitioners conversion of traditional BuildinGs aPPlication of the scottish BuildinG standards Part 1 PrinciPles and Practice THEHOUSE 2/07PRODUCEDONSUSTAINABLEMATERIAL c onversionof t raditional B uildinGs a PPlicationof the s cottish B uildinG s tandards Part 1 ISBN: 978 1 904966 46 3
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