Context 163 - March 2020

C O N T E X T 1 6 3 : M A R C H 2 0 2 0 27 Ireland being routed through them. The Granada Convention of 1985, which was ratified in January 1997, resulted in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, the first statutory base for the protection of build- ings in the Republic of Ireland. In 1995 the Conservation Working Group produced the first set of ‘Guidelines for the Conservation of Buildings’. In 1998 the Historic Buildings Task Force produced the ‘Conservation Guidelines for Local Authorities in the Preparation of Development Plans’. With the changing legislation, the RIAI under- stood that it had a responsibility for encouraging the highest standards in conservation for works carried out by its members. While appreciating the collaborative nature of modern practice, the RIAI considered that any works to buildings were best designed and managed by architects, so it developed the Conservation Accreditation System. Originally based on the importance of the buildings, the system has developed into a matrix of complexity of the works/importance of the building to set out advisory criteria for appli- cants for accreditation. It was launched in 2001 and reviewed in 2019, following earlier reviews in 2014. A skills matrix, and the RIAI Standards of Knowledge, Skill and Competence for RIAI Conservation Accreditation, were formulated and passed by council in 2019. There are three grades of accreditation for architects, grade I being the highest and grade III the basic or entry level. Evaluation is based on objective standards related to the range of skills necessary to carry out the services involved. Applicants for grade III undertake the RIAI Conservation Induction Module (CIM), covering the philosophy, principles and responsibilities of architectural conservation, and the identification of key areas in which specialist advice should be sought. Eligibility for accreditation requires attendance at the module and successful completion of a CIM assessment exercise. Applicants for grade I and grade II are assessed by the Conservation Accreditation Board. Details of all of these processes are avail- able on the RIAI website. The RIAI hopes that the revisions to the Conservation Accreditation System and its regulation will make it clear to applicants what is required of them, ensuring that there is adequate movement through the grades, while maintaining standards. Out of a total of some 3,000 registered architects, there are approxi- mately 50 grade I and 40 grade II conservation architects, with some 600 architects at grade III. The RIAI system has been the basis of both those of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects and the RIBA. The RIAI has brought the philosophy of conservation to a wider cross-section of both the architectural profession and the public, and has informed clients as to best practice. Practicing architects are becoming used to considering the criteria contained in the various charters, in the ICOMOS guidelines and in the general sphere of best practice. While there is still some misunderstanding as to what exactly conservation means, the standard of debate, discussion and reasoning is much higher than it was. This can be seen in the finished projects. Most important, the RIAI Conservation Policy and Conservation Accreditation System have changed the attitude of architects, clients, authorities and the public. Unlike most of architectural practice, we under- stand that the correct approach to conservation is to do as little as possible. Kilkenny Design Workshops, a ground-breaking conversion of Ormonde Stables on the Kilkenny Castle estate, opened in 1965 (Photo: Robert Linsdell, Wikimedia) John Graby, architect and former chief executive of the RIAI, wrote the section of this article dealing with the years up to 1974. Robin Mandal, architect and former RIAI president, wrote the section relating to the years after 1974. The research and writings of Patrick Shaffrey Architect on the RIAI and conservation are acknowledged with thanks.