Welcome to the website of the 10th International Masonry Conference (10thIMC). The conference is co-organized by the Politecnico di Milano (Technical University of Milan), Italy, where the event will take place 9 to 11 July 2018, and the International Masonry Society (IMS).
The conference aims to continue the successful series started in 1986 in London, where the first International Masonry Conference was organized by the former British Masonry Society, and continued until the 9th IMC Conference, held in Guimarães, Portugal, in 2014.
Masonry, whether of stone or brick, is the oldest building material. In most countries, masonry buildings provide a major part of the architectural heritage, with masonry continuing to be much used in modern construction today. New techniques allow construction of high rise buildings and the achievement of high energy performances in today’s new masonry buildings.
The conference provides an opportunity to exchange information on the advancement of new research in the field of masonry structures, and is addressed to researchers and professionals dealing mainly with the design of new masonry structures, assessment of historical buildings, retrofitting and rehabilitation techniques.
The International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, with ICOMOS, issues Volume IV-2W/2 from International Scientific Committee on Heritage Documentation 26th International CIPA Symposium – Digital Workflows for Heritage Conservation, taking place 28 August – 1 September 2017, in Ottawa, Canada.
These Principles have been written with the objective of updating the “Principles for the Preservation of Historic Timber Structures” adopted by ICOMOS at the 12th General Assembly in Mexico, October 1999. The updating process began in Guadalajara, Mexico (2012), Himeji, Japan (2013) and continued in Falun, Sweden (2016).
This document seeks to apply the general principles of the Venice Charter (1964), the Declaration of Amsterdam (1975), the Burra Charter (1979), the Nara Document on Authenticity (1994) and related UNESCO and ICOMOS doctrines concerning the protection and conservation of the wooden built heritage.
The purpose of this document is to define the basic principles and practices applicable in the widest variety of cases internationally for the protection and conservation of the wooden built heritage with respect to its cultural significance.
From 5 to 6 March 2018, the 6th edition of the European Civil Protection Forum, a landmark event organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), gathered some 900 representatives from the European civil protection community, including EU Member States’ governments, civil protection authorities in Europe and the European Neighbourhood2, first-line responders, academia, international organisations, NGOs and European institutions to discuss the current developments in the Union Civil Protection Mechanism framework and put forward new ideas for tackling common challenges.
This mapping exercise aims to contribute to the development of a strategic approach to the preservation and valorisation of European heritage. Its first edition (July 2014) was prepared in response to the “Conclusions on cultural heritage as a strategic resource for a sustainable Europe” (2014/C 183/08) adopted by the Council of the European Union on 20th May 2014, and complements the European Commission Communication “Towards an integrated approach to cultural heritage for Europe”, published on 22nd July 2014 (COM/2014/0477 final).
The document provides a wide (but not exhaustive) range of useful information about recent policy initiatives and support actions undertaken by the European Union in the field of cultural heritage, also in view of the European Year of Cultural Heritage, established with the Decision (EU) 2017/864 of the European Parliament and of the Council on 17 May 2017.
This one day introductory workshop introduces the range of lime and early patented cement based mortars that have been used in the past for the construction of masonry arch bridges, culverts, tunnels, light houses, viaducts, canals, harbours, retaining walls, piers and other masonry structures which contribute so much to the richness of our built heritage. But in many cases, we are asking these structures to outperform any of the expectations that their original designers intended which can leave us with various ‘headaches’ to deal with, without spoiling their beautiful aesthetics. There are now a wide range of lime and natural cement binders and other additives (based on historic additives) that can be used to emulate both the technical and aesthetic performance of original mortars.
Learning Outcomes
Recognising common types of failures in masonry construction
Ability to recognise different types of mortar, what are original and what are later interventions;
Understanding masonry unit construction in solid walls and the role of mortars;
Identifying the mortar performance requirements of replacement mortars on different elements of a structure, including above and below high and low water marks, cut waters, piers, abutments, aprons and the like, bridge spandrels walls subject to heavy road traffic, parapets in general, retaining walls; embankments, undersides of arches, tunnel walls and the like;
Use of additives to augment the working and final performance characteristics of replacement mortars;
Design of appropriate mortars for repair, maintenance and conservation programmes of work;
Making and using mortars with accuracy and consistency;
Application and curing of mortars for repointing and rebuilding works.
Appreciation of when it is appropriate to grout masonry structures and the principles of grouting.
Course Outline:
Health and Safety issues
Historic use of lime mortars and other early binders
Common types of failures and remedies appropriate to masonry arch bridges and other mass masonry structures
British and European Standards for building limes and natural cements
Choosing appropriate sands and aggregates
Additives for use in replacement mortars
Best practice for proportioning materials for accurate and consistent mortar mixing
Inspecting masonry for repair works
Preparing masonry joints to receive replacement mortars
Techniques of working including the use of pinning stones
In conjunction with the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee, and in line with the UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities will be hosting the World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 2018 under the theme of ‘Protecting Heritage in an Ever-changing World’ from 17 to 26 June 2018 in Manama. The scientific programme is developed in cooperation with Non-Governmental Organization Diadrasis. The Forum aims to transmit the values of World Heritage, highlighting the potential that World Heritage education may have for facilitating sustainable development. It is addressed to young professionals who will be invited to reflect upon the complexity of preserving heritage in a constantly evolving world, with the help of international experts. At the end of the Forum, a declaration to convey the message of the young professionals to the international community will be produced and presented to the World Heritage Committee.
The roof is often the most striking feature of a building and can be the most original and least altered part of its fabric. In Scotland, a myriad of materials have been used as roof coverings from natural slate, stone, metals and fired earth tiles to heather, marram grass and broom for Highland thatching.
The purpose of the roof can be easily summarised which is to collect all rain and snow and shed from the building and increasingly important, offer a degree of insulation and prevent the spread of flame in the event of a fire. It must also be able to deal with the moisture that is generated within the building and environmental issues primarily wind which will cause materials to lift and tear and heat which causes them to expand and contract.
Rather less obvious and a surprise to many people is the fact that roofs can account for up to 40% of the total volume of a building and can be roughly equivalent to a storey and a half of the building’s height.
This day will look at the barriers and opportunities to preserve the character and appearance of our traditional roofs including skills and availability of materials.
Join us for an alternative Masterclass with opportunities to view demonstrations of traditional roofing practices and a chance to ‘have a go’ (so don’t wear a suit!). All PPE will be supplied (except for site boots)
Chairs of both the IHBC and COTAC – The Institute of Historic Building Conservation and the Council on Training in Architectural Conservation – signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at The Building Crafts College in London on 21 February 2018, with the aim of ‘helping build capacity across the sector’.
James Caird, IHBC, and Ingval Maxwell, COTAC, present the signed MoU to their respective members
With both organisations affirming their operational and ethical ties to the 1993 ICOMOS Conservation ‘Guidelines on Education and Training’, strategic commitments in the MoU include:
Annual meeting of representatives
Cross-publication of key articles
Business planning strategy (IHBC)
Online conservation training (COTAC)
Arrangements for mutually discounted rates for members
A viable ‘standard’ in ‘BIM for Conservation’ practice
