SPAB Approach: Building Conservation

• SPAB stands for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.
• The SPAB Approach combines principles with practical repair techniques.
• The SPAB Approach has influenced building conservation worldwide.
• The SPAB Approach underpins much in UK heritage legislation.
• The SPAB Approach began as an outcry against destructive work.
• The SPAB Approach takes a long-term view of caring for old building fabric.
• The aim is to promote the value and good sense of caring for old buildings fabrics
• Key figures: Matthew Slocombe (Author)
• Key figure: Kevin McCloud (SPAB Member)
• Key figure: William Morris (Writer and Designer)
• Key figure: Philip Webb (Architect)
• Key figure: Iain Boyd (Chairman)

Conservation Movement

• The Great British conservation movement draws its intellectual energy and passion from the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.

Historical Background

• The SPAB's ideas stem from the thoughts of John Ruskin.
• In 1849, Ruskin railed against destructive work to old buildings in his 'Seven Lamps of Architecture'.
• Ruskin described restoration as 'a lie from beginning to end' because it sought to change the character of a building.
• SPAB founders William Morris and Philip Webb translated Ruskin's ideas into the Society's founding Manifesto.
• The Manifesto remains a concise and poetic expression of SPAB principles.
• Early on, the SPAB was nicknamed 'Antiscrape' as it rejected the 19th-century fashion for removing historic surfaces.

Conservation Philosophy

• The SPAB Approach protects 'fabric' i.e. the material from which a building is constructed.
• A building's fabric is the primary source from which knowledge and meaning can be drawn.
• Building fabric illustrate changes in people's ideas, tastes, skills and the relationship with their locality.
• Wear and tear adds beautiful patination that new work can only acquire through the slow process of ageing.
• The SPAB Approach stands against arguments that it is possible and worthwhile to return a building to its original form.
• The SPAB Approach rejects arguments that original design or cultural associations are more important than surviving fabric.

Regular Maintenance

• The starting point for the SPAB approach is care and maintenance.
• Maintenance helps slow deterioration and lessens the need for larger campaigns of work.
• Good maintenance involves simple, frequent checks and minor works.
• Maintenance always pays dividends in protecting a building's historic and monetary value.
• The most important message of the SPAB Manifesto is 'stave off decay by daily care'.

Understanding

• Decisions should be well-considered based on knowledge and understanding.
• The SPAB Approach calls for an understanding of history, design and construction.
• Buildings are the product of decisions made at the time of their construction and in every era since.
• Past changes often add interest and value, but sometimes they will have caused damage and need reconsidering.
• Understanding on structural issues is important

Context and Continuity

• Old buildings invariably have a strong connection with their locality.
• The Society does not support the moving of buildings to new locations nor their reduction to mere facades.
• Repairs carried out in situ help ensure that the maximum amount of existing fabric is retained.
• It is extremely rare for there to be no hope for a building.

Respect for Age

• The 'oldness' of a historic building is a precious quality.
• Signs of age deserve special consideration
• The SPAB Approach encourages restraint.
• Integrity of the whole as an old building will be retained.
• Thoughtful management and maintenance help slow down the more harmful effects of decay.

Essential Work Only

• The Society's approach very often involves carefully considered inaction.
• Where a problem has no major effect on use or conservation, a building is best left alone
• Society encourages work which is no more but no less than is essential.
• Restricting work to these things helps ensure the maximum survival of historic fabric.

Repair not Restoration

• Restoration sets out to turn back the clock or to recreate the past.
• Restoration is a destructive process may leave a building without the signs of age.
• Damaged or missing elements of a building do not necessarily need to be replaced, except where there is a functional need.
• Reinstatement for the sake of tidiness is at odds with the SPAB approach.

Conservative Repair

• The SPAB Approach champions ‘conservative repair' in opposition to ‘restoration’.
• Conservative repair embraces a wide range of techniques.
• Aim is to retain as much as possible of a building's historic fabric.
• Sometimes involves matching the existing materials of a building and sometimes use of compatible alternatives.
• Requires careful planning and appropriate craft skills.
• A good repair deals quietly and modestly with a problem, with the aim that work is done quietly, modestly and humbly but effectively.

Fitting New to Old

• The SPAB Approach calls for new work to be fitted to the old.
• Modelling the new to fit the old can be more complex and challenging, but is necessary to ensure protection of an old building's surviving fabric.

Materials

• A careful choice of materials is essential to the sympathetic and effective repair of old buildings.
• Often it is best for new materials to match the old, ensuring fabric remains compatible in terms of structural movement or ‘breathability'.
• The Society does not generally encourage re-use of materials on a building when they have been taken from another structure.
• Production of traditional building materials helps ensure a continuing supply for future repair work.

Proven Methods

• Conservation work often requires creative thinking and ingenious planning.
• Techniques to be used should be tried and tested.
• Old buildings are not the place where experimentation should occur.

Craftsmanship and Practical Knowledge

• Skilful repair requires skilled people.
• The SPAB supports conservation training in all the disciplines that are needed to ensure sensitive care and repair of old buildings.
• People involved with old building care benefit from gaining hands-on practical experience of construction and repair methods.

Good New Design to Complement the Old

• Old buildings may need sympathetic alteration, adaptation or extension to ensure their continuing usefulness.
• Sympathetic new works allow continuing life for old buildings and can contribute positively to their interest and story.
• Alterations and additions are best when they complement what exists.
• Should fulfil modern needs in a way that respects both the old building's form and context.
• The new should not harm the old where they meet, nor create problems with future maintenance.

Emergency Work and a Long-Term View

• The SPAB Approach involves taking a long-term view of a building's care and needs.
• Temporary repair can buy time for a building, halting decay or reducing its rate.

Sustainability and the SPAB Approach

• We need to consider the impact of our treatment of old buildings on future generations.
• The SPAB Approach is about understanding, care and conservative repair.
• It is a simple message of sustainability. Through protection of building fabric the stories and beauty embodied in old buildings can be enjoyed by us and by generations to come.

Passing on Knowledge

• The Society seeks to help those entering the conservation field.
• The Society seeks to help those who wish to develop their existing skills and experience of old building care and management.

The Society's Mission

• To supply expertise that keeps old buildings useful, beautiful and part of people's lives
• To be the most recognised organisation for building conservation knowledge and skills
• To connect with all people who appreciate old buildings or care for them.

Our work today

• Campaigning for individual buildings and for historic places
• Technical research and guidance
• Training and courses for those involved professionally, and for owners and enthusiasts
• Opportunities for involvement as a SPAB member