CONFERENCES The mood of the day confirmed Ken's opinion that in general 'good manners' or 'planners' architecture' was just not good enough, but that the hardest question was how to treat those buildings whose use (and often cost) do not justify an outrageous or maverick approach: the problem of eve1yday, background architecture, particularly housing, is hardest to solve. Even for prestigious sites, a 'star' architect is not always the solution. Alan Johnson, from English Heritage, discussed the problems and lack of consensus that can arise when competitions misfire. His explanation of the consultation procedure over a link between Carlisle Castle and city centre was a cautionary tale. Michael Gwillam, Director of the Civic Trust, concentrated on urban examples and emphasised his organisation's support for regeneration projects, citing central Brixton and Brindley Place, Birmingham, as successful examples. He finished with a plea for suburbs not to be forgotten in a debate that seems to be polarised to urban and rural extremes. In general ((planners' architecture' was just not good enough The case for good design in the countryside areas was put by Giles Worsley, previously editor of the much missed Perspectives magazine, now at the Daily Telegraph. His deliberately provocative presentation proposed that modem architecture is a deliberately closed shop, a minority taste that will not tolerate diversity. He argued that many contemporary houses (such as Rick Mather's award winning house in Hampstead) refer to modernism of the 1930s as a historic source, and are thus ideologically no different from good modern versions of Tudor or Georgian. In his opinion, as modernism has inherently Marxist progressive ideals, and is obsessed with the idea of evolutionary progress rather than valuing continuity, this inter42 pretation is not deemed acceptable by the predominantly modernist architectural establishment. He pinpointed a need to change the critical climate to allow traditional buildings to be built without embarrassment. Two architects showed examples of their own work. Roger Stephenson of Stephenson Bell and Richard Blenkarn of Bramhall Bleakharm. These practices work mainly in central Manchester and suburban York/Leeds, respectively, and their work was largely unfamiliar to those from outside the region. Both provided an uplifting encl to the day, by presenting carefully considered schemes that both help stitch together difficult sites and are intrinsically intellectually stimulating and attractive. Both fit within a revisionist definition of a humane modernism that has learnt from the mistakes of past decades, and most Conservation Officer's lives would be easy if one could work with architects of this calibre all the time. The final speaker demonstrated that it is not just a good architect that a successful project needs. Tom Bloxham of Urban Splash proved to be the sort of developer/client that we long to come across. He radiated energy and imagination and was clearly forceful and fun to work with. As a true modernist at heart, I was pleased to see the day encl with a strong endorsement of modem architecture, and examples that showed that modernism is alive and well, and moreover can be popular and now make loads of money in the private sector. Whether it can provide a large scale solution beyond the world of city centre apartments for childless yuppies, and who is was going to be brave enough to commission large scale imaginative developments in any idiom outside trendy dock side areas (primed with regeneration money), remained unanswered questions but it was a stimulating day, and good to see the surrounding new projects in this recently transformed part of Manchester. Catherine Crojl, Architectural Adviser to the Theatres Trust, Vice Chairman of the Twentieth Century Society and on the editorial board of Context. TECHNICAL IHBCTechnicalSubcommittee The Technical Sub-committee exists to serve the needs of the membership of the IHBC in matters of conservation technology and related issues. Its work involves consultation on new publications, events and initiatives, liaison with other organisations on building conservation matters and maintaining an awareness of relevant sources of information. It acts as a clearing house for the membership to direct enquiries to the relevant expert, organisation or publication and aims to promote good technical understanding of conservation issues and to identify the need for education and training, publication of advice notes etc. Issues which the Sub-Committee is considering currently include consultation on advice notes by the Stone Roofing Group (see below), co-ordination of a bibliography of technical post-graduate dissertations, a forthcoming article for Context on French drains and the production of guidance notes on the repair of earth buildings and the maintenance of old buildings. Later in the year a conference is planned on the subject of Historic Building Surveys for prospective purchasers which will be aimed largely at mortgage lenders, valuers and surveyors who are involved in the process of house purchase. It will aim to educate them on the importance of undertaking informed surveys which take into account the special needs of historic buildings rather than using standardised assessment methods. This event will be in conjunction with the launch of a Historic Building Survey pro-forma on which the Technical Sub-Committee will be consulting relevant bodies in the interim with a view to getting it adopted for common use in the house buying process. The Sub-Committee is always keen to hear from the Membership of any technical subjects which are of concern to them. News ofcurrent/forthcomingEnglish heritageresearchand publications Recent technical advice notes published by English Heritage include Graffiti on historic buildings and monuments· methods of removal and prevention and Anthrax and historic plaster: managing minor risks in historic building refurbishment', both available freely. The guidance note Thatch and thatching is being re-issued after being temporarily unavailable whilse amendments were being made to the initial version. Subjects to be covered by forthcoming research include timber decay, and an investigation of the problems of clamp penetration in church towers by the Building Conservation and Research Team which should provide information which will be of use to specifiers and contractors in a wider context of historic buildings generally. The English Heritage series of Research Transactions has recently published Volume 5 'Thatch and Thatching in England 17901940' and Volume 6 covering the period 1940-1994 will shortly be available. Also forthcoming in the series will be Volume 2 'Stone and Mortars' and Volume 4 'Timber'. jenny Chesher Technical Secretary, !HBC Abovetherafters Warren Lever gives a report from the Stone Slate Working Group. The latest meeting of the Stone Roof Working Group (SRWG) took place on 8 September 1999 at the Offices of the Peak National Park Authority. Following on from its initial meeting in London, at the beginning of this year, there have been several developments (see article in !HBC News 11). A guide to making planning applications for small stone quarries is going through comment stage and will be available soon. This guide sets out a simple route, for potential owners of small quarries, through mineral planning legislation and paperwork. (Initially it will be available through the website Context65March 2000
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