Conservation of Buildings MSc

• The Science and Economics of Historic BuildingsGain the knowledge and competencies to assess the types of materials used in the construction of traditional buildings and evaluate suitable alternatives for the maintenance, repair, alteration and extension of a range of properties. You’ll investigate the influence of geography, geology, social and economic influences upon historic fabric in our East Anglian region.

• Conservation and Legislation of Heritage BuildingsDevelop an understanding of building conservation policies and legislation, their history and philosophy. You'll gain skills and knowledge in inspection, recording and building adaptation, illustrating value judgments on conservation issues. We'll also compare and contrast UK and overseas legislation.

• Facilities Management of Heritage BuildingsOur module has been designed as a 'consultancy project' to introduce the concepts of professional facilities management, enabling students to acquire and demonstrate the knowledge and competencies required to critically analyse facilities management programmes and audits. To aid organisational efficiency, the module looks at ways in which more effective use can be made of buildings and building systems.
• Research Design and MethodsGain an in-depth understanding of the theories and methods of research and research design and develop a theoretical and practical foundation in research for your major project/dissertation. You’ll get an understanding of a range of approaches to research, including quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods, together with an understanding of a number of specific research methods. You’ll develop your knowledge of research design in order to critically consider the design for your research project, including preparing your proposal and considering ethics and ethical issues.

• Surveying the Historic BuildingStudy architectural history and the identification of traditional building periods and classical influences in all types of historic buildings. You’ll focus on vernacular architecture, studying local needs, construction materials and reflecting local traditions as well as how it evolves over time to reflect the environmental, cultural, technological, economic, and historical context. You’ll learn about specialist surveying techniques, the preparation of plans and measured drawings as well as the science and economics of historic buildings.

• DissertationYou'll chose an independent research topic from an area of expertise within our department (subject to availability of suitable supervision) and will conduct a significant research project in that area which may involve a literature review, data collection, analysis and a write-up.

We’ll assess you on your understanding and skill in applying the relevant technologies. These will include practical software projects and presentations, along with written assignments, and your final dissertation.