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Unit outline_

ARCH9082: Conservation of Traditional Buildings

Intensive October - November, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The aims of the course are to introduce students to broad range of specialists from the related fields of architectural conservation and related disciplines who specialize in the conservation of traditional building fabric; to introduce students to the appropriate and accepted methods traditional construction and of the conservation traditional architectural materials; and to familiarise students with the relevant literature pertaining to the domain. The objectives of the course are to allow the student to develop a broad understanding of excellent contemporary conservation practice in the conservation of traditional materials; to develop a broad understanding of traditional building methods; to develop an understanding of good and bad practice in the conservation of traditional materials. Students will be expected to demonstrate the ability to research and prepare an academic paper related to the domain. Class preparation: 1 hour/week; assessment preparation: 15-20 hours/semester

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Urban and Regional Planning and Policy
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Cameron Logan, cameron.logan@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Recording and condition assessment
Drawings and annotated condition report
40% Week -02
Due date: 19 Nov 2020 at 23:59
20 - 30 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Small test In-class test
Written test
20% Week -03
Due date: 28 Nov 2020 at 10:00
40 to 50 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Conservation analysis
Analytical report
40% Week -05
Due date: 07 Dec 2020 at 23:29
2500 Words
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO1 LO2

Assessment summary

  • Recording and condition assessment: You will work in groups to record the Wentworth Mausoleum by making measured drawings. You will then record and assess the condition of the building and or grounds using photographs with connected text descriptions.
  • In-class test: Examines your understanding of traditional building materials and conservation techniques as well as issues connected with the conservation of traditional buildings more generally.
  • Conservation analysis: Having carefully recorded the building and assessed its condition in groups you will individually analyse the issues and devise a conservation approach to one particular material, section or element of the place. 
  • Detailed information for each assessment task can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.

Distinction

75 - 84

Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.

Credit

65 - 74

Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.

Pass

50 - 64

Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.

Fail

0 - 49

Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week -01 1. Introduction: Tradition and Traditionalism; The Unit of Study; Working Together Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
2. Traditional Buildings and Materials on Campus Field trip (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2
3. The Wentworth Mausoleum : History and Fabric Lecture (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2
4. Recording and Condition Assessment Group Work Field trip (8 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week -02 5. Conservation Works at Wentworth Mausoleum in the 1990s Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
6. Conserving Significant Landscapes Lecture (1.5 hr) LO2 LO5
7. Site visit to Sydney Town Hall to inspect conservation works Field trip (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
8. Decay Mechanisms and Material Interactions Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
9. Lime Mortars and Renders Lecture (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
10. Slaking Lime Demonstration Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week -03 11. In Class Test Project (1 hr) LO1 LO2
12. Conservation Analysis Lecture (1 hr) LO5
13. Small Group Consultations about Assessment Task #3 One-to-one tuition (3 hr) LO5

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand the behaviour of a range of traditional building materials
  • LO2. recognise threats to building materials from moisture, wind, biological and chemical attack and other forces that lead to deterioration;
  • LO3. record a simple building in drawings and photographs
  • LO4. document and assess the condition of the fabric of a building
  • LO5. develop an approach to conserving the fabric of a building.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9
LO1         
LO2         
LO3         
LO4         
LO5         

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No major changes have been made to this unit as a result of feedback from 2019.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.