COTAC News

RIBA wants to see your best architectural images. This year there’s a new category for practitioners and a link with the RIBA’s world-famous Drawings Collection.

See here to learn more.

Get involved with European Year of Cultural Heritage events in the UK!

Find out more here.

See here for the report on Future Thinking on Carved Stones in Scotland issued by the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework, ScARF.

In the Footsteps of Geddes is a HLF-funded project run by PAS. The project aim is to encourage young people as place-makers and equip them with the tools, resources and capacity to celebrate heritage in their localities. The inspiration for it is taken from the work of Patrick Geddes. Please see here to learn more about project locations.

The Built Environment Forum Scotland, BEFS, recent workshop, Keeping Church Buildings Alive, organised in partnership with Scottish Redundant Churches Trust, Scotland’s Churches Trust and The Prince’s Foundation, was a great success and very well attended by both professionals from the sector and private individuals.

The workshop provided practical learning opportunities, allowed groups to access expert advice and meet people from similar projects, all with a focus on maintaining the local church buildings at the heart of our communities.

Here you can download the presentations from the range of stakeholders and experts who presented on the day.

Dedicated on Digital Cultural Heritage Documentation, Preservation and Protection, the EuroMed 2018 International Conference announces its 2nd CALL FOR PAPERS.  The conference will take place Oct. 29th – Nov. 3rd, 2018; Cyprus  website

Paper submission deadline: 31st of May, 2018 (24:00 London-UK time)

Dear colleagues,
The 7th biannual  European-Mediterranean (EUROMED)  conference brings together researchers, policy makers, professionals, fellows and practitioners to explore some of the more pressing issues concerning Cultural Heritage today. In particular, the main goal of the conference is to focus on interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary research on tangible and intangible Cultural Heritage, using cutting edge technologies for the protection, restoration, preservation, massive digitalization, documentation and presentation of the Cultural Heritage contents. At the same time, the event is intended to cover topics of research ready for exploitation, demonstrating the acceptability of new sustainable approaches and new technologies by the user community, owners, managers and conservators of our cultural patrimony.

Topics and themes:
Researchers and practitioners willing to participate to the EUROMED 2018 conference are invited to submit papers on original works addressing the following subjects and research themes:

i) DIGITAL HERITAGE DOCUMENTATION and PRESERVATION
ii) PROTECTION, RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

More detail information regarding the themes can be found here

We are soliciting three types of contributions:

1. Full research papers: they present new innovative research developments and results. They will feature a full-length oral presentation and will be published in a high-quality proceedings volume. Each submitted paper must not exceed 12 pages in total.
2. Project papers: they focus on the description of project organization, use of technology and lessons learned. They will feature a short oral presentation and will be published in a high-quality proceedings volume. Each submitted paper must not exceed 10 pages in total.
3. Short papers: they present preliminary ideas and works-in-progress. These papers will have a short oral presentation and will be also available also as posters in conference breaks. Each short paper must not exceed 8 pages in total.

The 20 best submitted papers will be published on a special issue of upcoming International Journal Heritage in the Digital Era.

Make Belfast the centre of your European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018

The Athens Institute for Education and Research (ATINER), a world association of academics and researchers based in Athens, is organising its 3rd Annual International Symposium on Culture and Civilization, 11-12 June 2018, Athens, Greece.  All are welcome to submit a proposal for presentation.  The final abstract submission deadline is 30 April 2018.

See the ATINER homepage for more information.

This practical two day course will equip you to set out, construct and finish a traditional rubble wall using a variety of building stones and traditional lime mortars. The importance of laying the stones correctly and the use of pinning stones will be emphasised so that no more than 30% of the volume of the wall is mortar!

The content of this workshop provides part of the underpinning knowledge required for assessment and accreditation of SQA National Unit 3 – ‘Conservation Masonry’.

This practical course is aimed at masonry contractors and those undertaking repair works to traditional masonry structures. You should be reasonably fit and able to lift 25kg safely. We are always happy to help learners choose the right course.

The course will take place on 5-6 June, 2018, in Merryhill Training Centre, Fife.  For more information, see here.

Building engineering services within historic buildings are often seen as a major intervention but are now a necessity to meet the modern expectations of owners and occupiers. Good advice is often seen as difficult to find; with systems once installed often blamed for not delivering the expected results or achieving the required ‘comfort’ levels. Poorly designed installations can also cause environmental problems within the building as well as physical damage during installation and use.

With many historic buildings mistakenly considered to be energy inefficient what effect does the design and use of building services have on energy efficiency targets and energy costs?

Join the debate to discuss issues and share experiences surrounding building services and heritage buildings including:

• The concept of the building performance triangle – people versus building versus services
• What the client or owner has to consider when instructing new or improvements to buildings engineering services
• The role that services, including the introduction of alternative energy systems, play in the overall energy use of an historic building
• What to look for when selecting your design consultant and contractor

The programme will feature presentations and breakout sessions with building users, customers and specialists providing an overview of the issues.

The conference will take place Tuesday, 20 March, 2018, in Somerset House, London.  See here for more information.