Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE BLH5528

 
TITLE Conservation Practicals 3: Conserving Stone

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 10

 
DEPARTMENT Conservation and Built Heritage

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit consists of regular practical sessions, mainly in the atelier which, by means of supervised instruction and practical application, guide the students through the range of preventive and remedial interventions used in the conservation of stone.

The practical will primarily take place on original historic stone surfaces / artefacts and focusing on a specific project.

Students will be encouraged to tackle and solve practical problems using a systematic methodological and scientific approach. This will include the evaluation and testing of conservation materials and methods specific to each case.

In this study-unit, which is the final one in the Master's programme after Conservation Practicals 1 and 2, the students will consolidate and refine their knowledge and skills to apply in a conservation project which closely follows -in all its components- a professional project.

Study-unit Aims:

- Further develop and consolidate skills and critical judgment in the application of conservation materials and methods to original historic stone surfaces / artefacts;
- Further encourage the application of knowledge gained through the curriculum of the MSc programme, not just concerning conservation materials and methods, but the overall methodological approach, including the several components of a conservation project.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Critically evaluate in detail different treatment options in relation to a historic stone surface / artefact;
- Critically describe in detail the advantages and disadvantages of the choices made to approach the conservation of a specific historic stone surface / artefact (preventive or remedial);
- Critically, holistically and autonomously evaluate conservation treatments and preventive conservation measures for a historic stone surface / artefact, within the context of the entire conservation project.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Autonomously design a conservation treatment by choosing the most appropriate materials and methods for a particular historic stone surface / artefact with specific characteristics and specific deterioration problems;
- Autonomously set up suitable laboratory tests and trials to evaluate the working properties and performance of a material / application method to use in a conservation treatment for historic stone surfaces / artefacts;
- Skillfully use a range of conservation materials and methods, and independently carry out with great dexterity a number of conservation treatments for historic stone surfaces / artefacts.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Essential Readings:
- Caple, C. 2001 Conservation skills: judgement, method and decision making. London: Routledge
- Ashurst, J., & Dimes, F. G. (Eds.). (1990). Conservation of building and decorative stone. Routledge
- Henry, A. (Ed.). (2015). Stone conservation: principles and practice. Routledge
- Doehne E., and Price C. 2010, Stone Conservation: An Overview of Current Research, 2nd Edition, Getty Publication
- English Heritage. 2012. Practical building conservation. Mortars, renders and plasters
- English Heritage. 2012. Practical building conservation. Stone.

Further reading:
- Ashurst J. and N. 1988. Practical Building Conservation. Volume 3: Plasters, Mortars and Renders. Gower Technical Press
- Fidler J. 1995. Lime Treatments: Lime Watering and Shelter Coating of Friable Historic Masonry. In: APT Bulletin, Special Issue: Preservation of Historic Masonry. Vol. XXVI, No.4, pp. 50-57.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Practical, Independent Study & Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Practical 40%
Report 60%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit