Heritage refers to the physical and non-physical legacy of our past. Ireland, a country steeped in history and boasting an unparalleled density of cultural heritage, faces a constant balancing act: preserving its rich past while embracing the inevitable pressures of modern development. At the heart of this delicate equilibrium lies the increasingly vital role of the building heritage consultant. Let’s explore more about the role of building heritage consultants in preserving heritage.
What is Heritage?
Heritage can be anything from the past that you value and want to preserve and pass on to future generations. The rich Irish heritage is comprised of the following:· Tangible
Tangible heritage encompasses the physical remnants of a culture or civilization, objects that can be touched and stored and that represent the history, archaeology, architecture, and culture of a particular area such as historical sites, buildings, monuments, objects in museums, artifacts and more.· Natural
Natural heritage refers to elements of biodiversity as a part of heritage such as landscapes, waterways, uplands, native wildlife, insects, plants, trees, birds and animals.· Intangible
Intangible cultural heritage encompasses the practices, knowledge, skills, and expressions recognised by a community as their cultural identity and passed over the generations. It includes intangible heritage customs and culture, sports, music, dance, folklore, crafts, skills, and traditions.What is a building heritage consultancy?
A building heritage consultancy provides expert services and guidance to help clients integrate heritage and cultural considerations into projects, ensuring that projects are sensitive to the historical and cultural context.These agencies play a crucial role in managing and preserving heritage such as historic sites, traditions, stories, and more to safeguard them for future generations.What are the benefits of a building heritage consultancy?
- Building Heritage consultants possess in-depth knowledge of cultural heritage, historical buildings, and archaeological sites. They use their extensive knowledge and experience to provide expert advice on their preservation and management.
- They create comprehensive conservation management plans that outline strategies for long-term care and sustainable use of heritage assets. They help balance the preservation of heritage with the need for modern development and adaptation, ensuring that new uses are compatible with the historical context.
- The consultants prioritize the preservation of cultural significance, ensuring that heritage assets are protected for future generations. They conduct thorough site assessments and surveys to understand the condition of heritage assets and identify potential risks. They develop and implement mitigation strategies to address potential impacts on heritage assets from development or other activities.
- These consultants provide old architectural building services to those seeking guidance on the conservation and restoration of historic buildings and sites, ensuring that work is carried out in a sensitive and appropriate manner
- Well-preserved heritage sites can attract tourists, boosting local economies and creating jobs.
- Building Heritage consultancy promotes local history and culture and fosters a sense of community pride in the people.
- They can play a role in educating the public about the importance of heritage and promoting its value.
- Building Heritage consultancy promotes sustainable development by ensuring that development projects respect the environment and cultural heritage
What services are offered by a building heritage consultant?
A building heritage consultant provides a wide range of services depending upon the project requirements. Some of their services include- Archaeological desk-based assessment
- Old architectural building services
- Heritage Statements
- Master planning advisory
- Heritage Impact Assessments
- Scheduled monument consent
- Design advice
- Mitigation strategies
- Pre-planning advice
- Written schemes of investigation
- Conservation management planning
- Laising with Local Authority/Conservation Officer.
