The winner of the IHBC Gus Astley Student Award for 2020 has been offered to Felix Charteris from York’s IHBC-Recognised conservation course and all awardees will receive a cheque, certificate, and a free place on the IHBC’s 2021 Brighton Virtual School on 17-18 June, supported by the IHBC’s CREATIVE Conservation Fund.
…guest judge, Matthew Slocombe …said: ‘It’s been an honour to be involved…’
IHBC 2020 Student Awards guest judge Matthew Slocombe, director of SPAB and Full Member of the IHBC, said: It’s been an honour to be involved in the judging of the Gus Astley award. I knew Gus well and valued his contribution to both IHBC and SPAB.’
‘It’s also particularly important, at a time when it may be harder than usual for new graduates to find work in the profession, that we encourage and support all those who show interest and talent.’
… awards are supported by the IHBC’s new CREATIVE Conservation Fund…
Bob Kindred is the IHBC’s research adviser and past trustees of the Gus Astley memorial Fund, the core fund for the IHBC’s CREATIVE Conservation Fund. Bob has advised on the Gus Astley Student Award programme since its inception, and this year re-affirmed the high quality of the submissions across the 51 entries!
… many of the candidates this year have demonstrated a clear sightedness and undertaken thorough research…
Bob said: ‘Having made an overview of the submissions, it is evident to me that many of the candidates this year have demonstrated a clear sightedness and undertaken thorough research into under-regarded aspects of heritage policy and practice.’
IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly said: ‘As usual , in response to the sheer breadth and quality of submissions, as well as the 2020 Gus Astley Award, additional awards have been made –each of which comes with a cash prize, certificate, and a free place to the Virtual School.’
‘From this year on too, all awards are supported by the IHBC’s new CREATIVE Conservation Fund.
‘In this context, we are especially glad to be able to thank the many donors to that charitable initiative, including of course the IHBC itself, and so many of our own members’.
WINNER OF THE GUS ASTLEY STUDENT AWARD FOR 2020
Felix Charteris, who will receive a £500 cheque, a certificate, and a free place to the IHBC’s Brighton Virtual School on 18-19 June
Work – Retrofitting Democracy: The politics, perception and strategy behind the ‘Restoration and Renewal’ of the Palace of Westminster
Course – MA in Conservation Studies course at the University of York
Matthew Slocombe said: ‘This is an ambitious and original study, looking at the themes underlying one of the country’s most prominent building projects. To tackle conservation, politics and language in such a thought-provoking way was extremely impressive.’
Bob Kindred said: Using the conceptual grounding of Authorised Heritage Discourse and Critical Discourse Analysis offered interesting concepts of language & perception to describe heritage projects, explained & summarised concisely across 2 pages’.
Dr Gareth Dean, Associate Lecturer in Conservation, University of York, said: ‘Felix was an exceptional student. His dissertation provided valuable insights into the complex heritage and conservation frameworks within which decisions are made for important public buildings, but his findings have a bearing on how we manage and conserve all our historic buildings.’
[MA]… fantastic grounding… to build upon when I seek full membership of the IHBC…
Felix said: ‘I am honoured to have been awarded the GASA for 2020 and thank the IHBC and the judges for their recognition. My research was born out of my experience working at the Houses of Parliament where I sought to engage young people in the UK’s democratic process. It was here that I saw first hand the extent to which the historic building itself mediated both perceptions of what Parliament was, and what it could be. Against the backdrop of the Restoration and Renewal programme, I wanted to draw attention to how our prevailing attitudes towards heritage and significance were altering and constricting the scope of not only change to the physical Palace but also to the democratic reform of the institution of Parliament. I would like to thank Dr Gareth Dean for his excellent supervision and support; and Dr Louise Cooke and the Department of Archaeology at York for the enriching experience I had on their Historic Buildings Conservation Studies MA. It was a fantastic grounding in conservation theory and practice which I hope to build upon when I seek full membership of the IHBC.’
ADDITIONAL AWARDS FOR 2020 HAVE BEEN OFFERED AS FOLLOWS:
Highly Commended 1 (Judge’s Choice) – Nicola Storey, who will receive a £200 cheque, a certificate, and a free place to the IHBC’s Brighton Virtual School on 18-19 June
Work – Traditional Buildings and the Race for Energy Efficiency
Course – MSc in Conservation of Historic Buildings at the University of Bath
Judge Matthew Slocombe said of the work: ‘Carbon reduction and sustainability represent the biggest challenges facing building conservation. Nicola grappled with this issue in an exceptionally well-informed, realistic and practical fashion. Her conclusions deserve to be read and taken on board by all working in the field.’
Dr Michael Forsyth, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath, said: ‘As director of studies I was pleased that Nicola’s work produced such an interesting read on a topical subject. To quote the examiner’s report, ‘The author has gone to great lengths to assemble a great deal of information [which] will be of use to other students in the future, as will the references. One thing that makes this topic so interesting is the tension between reducing carbon emissions and damage to our heritage. The use of a series of case studies was an excellent idea and really brought the dissertation to life. Well done!’ Nicola’s award is particularly gratifying because Gus Astley gave lectures on our Conservation of Historic Buildings course here at the University of Bath for many years as a conservation officer with Bath and North East Somerset.’
… I feel so fortunate to have earned this award…
Nicola said: ‘The dissertation gave me an opportunity to research a topic that has already begun to impact our built heritage and is ever increasing with the move to net zero emissions. The knowledge I gained has led me to new opportunities, as well as being able to share it with colleagues and those in the sector. I feel so fortunate to have earned this award and highlights the importance of this topic for the historic environment.’
Highly Commended (IHBC’s CREATIVE Conservation Fund selection) – Efthymia Stathopoulou, who will receive a £200 cheque, a certificate, and a free place to the IHBC’s Brighton Virtual School on 18-19 June
Work – THE ATHENIAN PALIMPSEST; Towards a Historic Urban Landscape
Course – MSc in Architectural Conservation at Edinburgh College of Art, The University of Edinburgh
Bob Kindred said the submission offered very ‘interesting concepts, well and quite economically and elegantly constructed and nicely presented, along with an interesting choice of illustrations’.
Judge Matthew Slocombe said of the work: ‘This is a deep and thoughtful submission reflecting the layering and complexity of Athens and its sense of place.’
Dr Dimitris Theodossopoulos, Lecturer in Architectural Technology and Conservation, ESALA, University of Edinburgh, said ‘Efi’s thesis succeeds in framing the evolution of modern Athens as a palimpsest and balances its definition in a broad and meaningful range of architectural theory and conservation terms. She managed to capture the creative and critical approaches that have created the palimpsest’s very special manifestation in Athens and the interventions she reviewed theorise very effectively the dynamics and prospective of the palimpsest trends in the city and its potential for more holistic processes in the future.’
Efi said: ‘I am sincerely honoured to be the recipient of a Highly Commended in this year’s Gus Astley Student Awards. The recognition of my work by IHBC is of great importance for me. It constitutes an exceptional epilogue in a wonderful year of intensive research and numerous mind-opening experiences. I would like to thank the University of Edinburgh and especially the Edinburgh College of Art for the course ‘MSc Architectural Conservation’, that expanded my comprehension of both Conservation theory and practice, as well as my supervisor, Dr Dimitris Theodossopoulos, for his constant guidance and support during my journey through the layers of history of the Athenian palimpsest; the focal point of my dissertation. I truly hope that this work will contribute to the future of Conservation and inspire more researchers and architects to perceive a historical city as an Urban Landscape. A Landscape where the hidden relationships among the layers of history could be enhanced, acquiring a true sense of depth in both physical space and time, regarding architectural continuity and national identity.’
Frank Coyne – Booth-Bird Award for a Conservation Plan, who will receive a £100 cheque, a certificate, and a free place to the IHBC’s Brighton Virtual School on 18-19 June
Work –A Conservation Management Plan for Mutton Island Lighthouse, Galway, Ireland
Course – MA in Conservation of the Historic Environment Birmingham City University
Judge Matthew Slocombe described the work as ‘An accomplished study that ranked highly among submissions of its kind.’
Bob Kindred said: ‘This is a very thorough and competent CP to the standard methodology’.
… delighted to see it [Frank Coyne’s work] recognised in this way by the IHBC…
Katriona Byrne, Birmingham School of Architecture and Design, said: ‘Frank Coyne’s work on Mutton Lighthouse in Galway Bay, Ireland, assesses the significance and potential of a lighthouse which is joined to the land by a causeway but is the site of a sewerage treatment works. Frank is an archaeologist and consultant practicing in Ireland who embarked on the MA Conservation of the Historic Environment at Birmingham City University to deepen his conservation skills, particularly pertaining to the built environment. He achieved a distinction with this work and we are delighted to see it recognised in this way by the IHBC.’
Frank said: ‘I’m delighted to receive the Booth-Bird Award for a Conservation Plan in this year’s Gus Astley Student Awards. My MA in Conservation of the Historic Environment course at Birmingham City University has proved to be an intensive, stimulating and rewarding learning experience, and has opened up a new career path for me.’
Anna Jacka – Special Mention, who will receive a £150 cheque, a certificate, and a free place to the IHBC’s Brighton Virtual School on 18-19 June
Work – Pragmatism or Pastiche? An exploration of the implications of re-creating or restoring garden structures using substitute materials
Course – MA in Conservation of the Historic Environment Birmingham City University
Judge Matthew Slocombe said of the work: ‘Garden buildings have long needed a thoughtful study of this kind. It convincingly covered conservation philosophy, selection and performance of materials and the challenges of increased wear and tear resulting from the opening of sites to the public in the modern era. The conclusion offers a series of sensible recommendations for those involved in the management and repair of garden structures.’
Katriona Byrne, Birmingham School of Architecture and Design, said: ‘Anna Jacka’s MA thesis took as its subject matter the use of reproduction or substitute materials in the recreation/restoration of historic garden structures, the long history of this, and the dilemmas often faced; she proposed a methodology as to how one might approach decision-making on this today. She graduated from Birmingham City University with a Distinction in 2020 and was also the winner of a prize from the IHBC for her CMP in 2020. She works for English Heritage in their landscape section. We are delighted to see her being rewarded once again.’
Anna said: ‘I am surprised and pleased to be recognised by the IHBC for a second time. I found this investigation into the restoration and re-creation of garden structures fascinating, although there were some challenges in completing it under COVID restrictions. Discussing the issue with conservation professionals and head gardeners gave me an important insight into the competing demands of historical accuracy and functionality when restoring or re-creating buildings which will be used by staff and visitors.’
Find out more on the IHBC Gus Astley annual Student Award
View the list of IHBC Recognised Courses
See more on the 2019 Winners Announcement
See more on the IHBC’s CREATIVE Conservation Fund and donate too!
For more on the Fund’s background see the NewsBlog
