Talking Conservation – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode we talk with Jonathan Taylor, exploring his beginnings in Architecture and then as a Conservation Officer, before the founding of the Building Conservation Directory. We discuss its success and some of the challenges Jonathan faces in publishing, as well as issues that are close to Jonathan's heart relating to conservation and his concern that conservation is about more than just the buildings.

Chapters

00:00 - Intro

00:26 - Jonathan Taylor biography

02:06 - What made Jonathan change from Architecture to conservation

05:47 - Not just the building but the whole social side too

08:52 - How did the Building Conservation Directory come about?

12:21 - How the BCD directory is funded

15:45 - How did you select where the BCD copies were sent? 

18:35 - Did the internet change the BCD and it’s reach?

20:43 - Not really any trade secrets in conservation

22:24 - What about people wanting to write or advertise things that aren’t appropriate?

25:24 - The directory is the start of the specification process

26:05 - “People have asked for an accredited only publication…”

27:58 - Homeowners do phone in 

31:37 - How do you keep articles up to date?

33:56 - The challenge of retrofit 

37:27 - The debate on what is right or wrong

38:08 - Has conservation gone too far, and prevented evolution of buildings?

41:17 - How much, as a society, are we prepared to lose?

42:00 - How many buildings are of ‘traditional’ construction and how many listed?

42:51 - The other publications and articles that BCD cover

46:39 - New website looking exclusively at retrofit and sustainability 

48:43 - Dr. Robyn Pender on a fresh way to look at historic buildings 

50:54 - Global reach of the website

52:43 - “We will never abandon print”

53:18 - Jonathan’s recommended books 

55:09 - Jonathan’s favourite buildings and why 

59:21 - Training is one of the main subjects on the website too

59:53 - How to get in touch with Jonathan and the website

Links: 

Building Conservation Directory:

https://www.buildingconservation.com

Joint Position Statement: https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/buildings/damp-in-historic-buildings/investigation-of-moisture-and-its-effects-on-traditional-buildings/

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An introduction to this podcast. Find out a bit about Stephen and Rich, what their motivations are, and what this podcast is about.

Chapters:

0:44 Introduction to Stephen

7:24 Introduction to Rich

13:08 How and why we’ve got together

15:26 Why we’re doing this podcast

16:12 What we mean by “Conservation”

19:18 Misinformation online / media (print/TV etc)

21:02 Dispelling myths 

22:08 The need for homeowners to understand technical matters. 

24:13 Minimal education in trades / professions / apprenticeships don’t teach old buildings 

28:24 Technicals concepts simplified 

29:42 Understanding buildings and their evolution

30:44 Interviews with those involved conservation 

31:42 Project storyline / following long term projects 

32:40 News / Case law updates

34:47 Favourite building and why

37:20 Favourite books

42:42 Summary

44:55 How to get in touch

For Rich's platform go to:

https://expertible.com/

For Stephen's community go to:

https://beconservation.com/heritage-conservation-community

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In this episode we chat with Ben Kerslake of CarringtonLIME. Rich visited him at his premises in the Forest of Dean. We discuss Ben winning a Blue Peter competition, getting his neighbours to work on his house, and painting a room for 50p! On a more serious note, we talk about lime, hot lime, Naturally Hydraulic Lime, training, and innovation. Ben is keen to help train the next generation of plasterers, but also homeowners wanting to have a go themselves, and professionals wanting to understand the use of lime better.

00:00 - Intro

01:02 - About Ben

04:10 - Where it started

06:11 - The courses CarringtonLIME run

08:06 - How can we narrow the skills gap?

09:12 - Advice on coating plasters and paints

11:36 - Making your own paints and plasters

16:10 - Subscribe to channel

17:10 - “Hot” lime

21:28 - Hydrated Lime

24:02 - Using lime now very different to historic mixes

26:16 - Specifying mixes

31:19 - Bought Lime quality can be too pure for buildings applications

35:01 - Over-prescriptive specifications

36:28 - Understanding materials

39:07 - “One size DOESN’T fit all”

39:58 - Experimenting with materials and mixes

44:52 - Lath and plaster ceilings

52:02 - Insulating plaster mixes

55:06 - Overview of CarringtonLIME courses

58:23 - Favourite Book

60:04 - Favourite Building

CarringtonLime: https://www.carringtonlime.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carringtonlime

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carringtonlime

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