50 C O N T E X T 1 3 3 : M A R C H 2 0 1 4 pops of other visitors or do they prefer to hear from experts? There were questions about the life-span of digital data and its implications for archives. One walking tour was led by Alan Garbutt of the Town Hall Complex Transformation Construction Programme. He was joined by Graham Cavanagh of Ryder Architects. The tour visited two Grade II* listed buildings designed by E Vincent Harris: the Town Hall Extension and the Central Library. The circular Central Library was constructed in 1934. The main book cases had been part of a stack system which supported the upper floors. This had been identified as a later addition: English Heritage had agreed that the book cases could be removed. The interior had been surveyed using digital technology and a BIM model produced. A new internal structure was designed using BIM, constructed off site and manoeuvred into position. The Town Hall Extension was constructed in 1938. The refurbishment had been executed sensitively, so that the original design and the decor could still be appreciated. A tour led by Chris Wild of Oxford Archaeology North looked at the use of technology in archaeology. It began with a presentation on the Cooperative headquarters excavations. The area known as Angel Meadows had been developed in the Georgian and Regency period as terraces with weaving rooms on the top floor. They were of high quality, with door surrounds framed by pediments and columns. Arkwright’s Mill was erected nearby, leading to an influx of poor workers. The houses were extended at the rear and subdivided into small units, until families lived in unventilated hovels. Engels described the conditions as ‘hell on earth’. Delegates toured the former excavation site, Angel Meadows. Rapid and accurate surveying of artefacts and levels was now possible using digital aerial photographs. Laser scanners provided 3D views to show building layout and construction. In future, phone apps will use GIS to position visitors so they can explore archaeological records on screen. Back inside, Paul Hartley, chair of IHBC NorthWest, presented the IHBC NorthWest 2013 Conservation Award to the Chester CityWalls Portico Project.The aim had been to create the best urban heritage trail in the UK. Enhancements had been made without compromising the walls’ archaeology. The final session was devoted to future opportunities. Stephen Anderson of Buttress Fuller AlsopWilliams Architects spoke about the physical impact of digital technology.This had two strands: technologies being used to help manage change and technologies driving change. Norton Priory is a Grade I listed building and scheduled ancient monument near Runcorn. The project involved repairs to the medieval undercroft. Longstanding issues with the undercroft floor had resulted in movement. The structure, dating from the 12th century, had been retained as part of a post-reformation house. The undercroft floor, tiled in Victorian times, had suffered from subsidence and an earlier investigation had identified water movement under the tiled floor. It was suspected that the silt layer had become waterlogged. Test holes had been sunk to monitor water levels. Manual measurement was adopted as digital monitoring would have been expensive. A weather station was logging temperature and humidity levels. A laser scanning survey measured the floor levels. Data was cross-referenced with the previous survey data, but no radical changes in floor level were found. The undercroft floor was recorded using rectified photography. As this only provides 2D images and as the undercroft roof was vaulted, BIM was used. At Quarry Bank Mill, the early 19th century glasshouse in the Upper Garden was surveyed using laser scanning. The existing data was used to avoid invasive investigations in the early stages of the project. At the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Manchester another measured survey was undertaken. Anderson cautioned that human error had occurred, but relying on the data had resulted in a discrepancy in the floor levels, which led to physical impacts. The issues of digital technology driving change were addressed. Digital technology makes enhanced control of building environments possible. This has the potential for significant physical impacts with unanticipated consequences, as another case study at MOSI demonstrated.The proposals focused on providing cutting-edge digital interpretation. A media wall was installed, but it generated too much heat and the ventilation scheme had to be redesigned. A large chandelier was proposed. It comprised 96 LED light tubes with screens suspended from it, each linked to a personal computer. Visitors were to be photographed and their images shown on the screens. The weight meant that the chandelier had to be supported by a steel beam. A computer hardware room was needed and the cabling had to be chased into the wall. The final case study was a boiler replacement scheme atWaterloo Place, University of Manchester. Having a historic building architect in the design team facilitated design that was sensitive to the building’s significance. Digital technologies provide a range of tools.They can help to limit physical impact on the historic environment through good design. Digital technology is also driving change, but using technology can have physical impacts. Managing impacts must start at project inception to provide detailed information to prevent unanticipated impacts. Karen Ziesler, development manager of the Heritage Lottery Fund NW, spoke about unlocking funding through digital technology.The HLF takes a broad view of heritage, including cultures and memories, and histories of places. Previously, the HLF had funded digital technology only as part of a wider programme. Under its current policy, digital technology could be the main focus of a project. A good example was Flicker, a new installation by British artist Catherine Bertola at Gawthorpe Hall in Padiham, Lancashire.The interpretation included flickering historical images presenting portraits of the past. Images, collected through community events, have been digitised and stored on the website. Digital engagement has to be based on people’s access to digital technology. Projects need to facilitate active participation, so people can deepen their understanding and awareness, and provide opportunities for making a difference. The conference chair summarised the main points about apps: checking whether they were time-limited and deciding whether they would fall out of fashion. Content may be king with digital archives, but whether we will be able to play today’s apps on tomorrow’s appliances is an issue.The question of future-proofing remains. Keith Parsons, principal lecturer, University of Central Lancashire Also at the conference, the IHBC NorthWest 2013 Conservation Award went to the Chester CityWalls Portico Project (Photo: Keith Parsons)
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