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Do you want to bring old properties to life? Would you like to restore historic buildings? If you have a genuine interest in historic buildings and are passionate about their conservation and preservation, then conservation studies could be the right career choice for you.

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Conserving the past is important to protect our future. Building conservationists use traditional skills and materials and offer professional advice to restore listed buildings in an appropriate manner.

They employ state-of-the-art technologies in addition to traditional forms of study and techniques. Material science and basic chemistry is applied to the practical examination of materials found in historic objects and materials used in conservation. Building conservationists also use skills such as cleaning, using adhesives, gap filling and packing fragile objects. They work on a range of materials and treatments, including mosaics, wall paintings and plastics.

• What do I have to do?

Building conservationists specialise in the preservation of historic buildings, monuments, bridges, and other cultural resources. They are professionally trained architectural conservators who provide in-depth investigative and assessment services, both in the laboratory and on-site. Great care is taken to design treatment options for clients that provide for maintenance as well as conservation.

Some of their responsibilities include:

• Repairs and maintenance of listed / historic buildings

• Repairs to timber / wooden frames

• Lime rendering, including lathes

• Brick repairs and pointing in lime mortar

• Purpose made joinery, including box sashes, door, window and sash repairs.

Conservation professionals recognise, evaluate and document style within the context of its historical and artistic relevance. They also analyse historic constructions, materials and technology; discover sensitive and practical approaches to repair; find appropriate solutions for new design in existing structures; and communicate their intentions and standards to owners and the public. All conservation work is documented photographically.

• What should I study?

For the postgraduate course in conservation studies, you should have a degree in architecture. Students study studio art techniques and art history theories, while also getting laboratory-intensive experience in various methods of restoration and conservation used throughout the world on different artistic mediums.

• What next?

Building programmes today are, to a large extent, carried out within existing structures. The trend towards repair and, if necessary, change of use rather than demolition and rebuilding will gain momentum in the future, with an estimated two to three of all future building projects conforming to the trend. The underlying rationale is evinced by the actions of state conservationists supported by the public desire to preserve the historic environment, in the knowledge that the land and associated resources are finite and should be treated accordingly.

It is undoubtedly in the public interest that professional competence in this field is promoted, which has the added benefit of opening up new job opportunities. However, to treat old structures adequately, knowledge and skills are required which exceed those normally acquired by training as an architect or a civil engineer. Even though restoration takes place at selected places (museums, private architectural firms), the need for skilled restorers is desperately felt.

There is scope in architectural firms, heritage management organisations like INTACH, museums which preserve national heritage as well as historic parks and gardens. INTACH offers a fellowship for heritage conservation, urban renewal of heritage / historic zones which has been instituted by its Delhi chapter.

Sources: The Telegraph (Kolkata, India)