Experts gather to guide heritage building survival
New Zealand Historic Places Trust Information Release
6 March 2008
If you are a local authority building inspector, a professional engineer,
architect, heritage property owner or developer, then there is much for
you to gain from an up-coming conference in Wanganui looking at earthquake
risk buildings and how they can survive through good re-development techniques.
Wanganui District Council, with support from the New Zealand Historic
Places Trust, is bringing together leading edge professionals on 13-14
March to talk about the good, the bad and the ugly of strengthening heritage
buildings, and to learn from the recent Gisborne quake which affected
many commercial buildings as well as private dwellings.
But the conference goes much further than this. It will also focus on
the economic sustainability of heritage, how building experts deal with
the tensions of building code compliance and heritage conservation techniques,
and tips for successful adaptive re-use to help heritage buildings survive
beyond the 21st century.
New Zealand Historic Places Trust chief executive Bruce Chapman, who
will deliver a key note address to the conference, said the focus on earthquake
risk buildings during the two-day meeting was essential for the long-term
sustainability of New Zealand's built heritage.
Mr Chapman said the role of local government would also be a major talking
point at the conference.
"The approach that Local Authorities take to applying both the building
code and land use planning controls will be critical to achieving a reasonable
balance of public safety and heritage conservation."
Other key speakers at the conference include David Hopkins, a consulting
engineer and senior advisor to the Department of Building and Housing;
Chris Mackenzie, a seismic risk assessment specialist, along with an impressive
array of engineering and architectural experts.
Workshops and site visits around Wanganui City led by a range of experienced
heritage professionals will add further opportunities to share ideas and
expertise on seismic risk assessment, issues of insurance and fire risk,
interventions to improve heritage survival, conservation options and incentives
for heritage buildings.
The venue for the conference is the War Memorial Building in Wanganui,
an interesting example of modern movement architecture, registered as
a Category I historic place by NZHPT.
Conference information is posted on various professional websites. Registrations
are still being taken.
To register:
Go to www.heritagewanganui.co.nz
or contact:
Clive
Aim, Wanganui District Council, clive.aim@wanganui.govt.nz or
David
Watt, New Zealand Historic Places Trust - dwatt@historic.org.nz
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