Heritage Materials - Structure and Integrity G (11162.2)
| Available teaching periods | Delivery mode | Location |
|---|---|---|
| View teaching periods | On-campus |
Bruce, Canberra |
| EFTSL | Credit points | Faculty |
| 0.125 | 3 | Faculty Of Arts And Design |
| Discipline | Study level | HECS Bands |
| School Of Design & Built Environment | Graduate Level | Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021) Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021) |
Learning outcomes
After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:1. Investigate and articulate the life histories and cultural significance of heritage objects and structures using physical and documentary evidence, and stakeholder consultation;
2. Identify when and how reintegration could enhance structural stability, interpretation, or engagement with significant aspects of heritage objects and structures;
3. Develop and implement effective and sustainable structural stabilisation and reintegration treatments for heritage objects and structures, taking into account cultural significance, physical condition and intended use; and
4. Apply appropriate techniques for the structural stabilisation and reintegration of heritage objects and structures, through practical exercises and projects.
Graduate attributes
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
Prerequisites
Students enrolled in ARB002 Bachelor of Arts (Culture and Heritage) must have passed 24 credit points.Corequisites
None.Incompatible units
None.Equivalent units
None.Assumed knowledge
None.| Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Delivery mode | Unit convener |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 2 | 10 August 2026 | On-campus | Mr Ian Batterham |
| 2027 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 2 | 09 August 2027 | On-campus | Mr Ian Batterham |
Required texts
There is no one text that covers the theory and practice of repair and restoration for the many materials and object types in heritage collections. What you need to read will depend to some extent on the areas you are most interested in, and which you choose to focus on in your project object. A full list of recommended readings based on material types is included on the Canvas site. Here are some important general resources.
Conservation Unit Museums and Galleries, Adhesives and Coatings, Science for Conservators Vol. 3, Museums and Galleries Commission, Routledge 1992.
This series is a must for conservators. Volume 3 is the main one for this unit, but you will need them all if you are interested in pursuing conservation.
Availability: UC library
Purchase: Highly recommended
Materials for conservation : organic consolidants, adhesives and coatings
By Velson C. Horie, Heinemann, 2010.
A mine of information on the properties and uses of different adhesives, coatings and consolidants. Be sure to get the revised 2010 version.
Availability: UC library
Purchase: Highly recommended
Adhesives Compendium for Conservation
By Jane L. Down, ISBN: 9780660203195, Date: 2015, Publisher: CCI
Another mine of information on the properties and uses of different adhesives, coatings and consolidants.
Availability: Ian has a copy
Purchase: Recommended
Holding It All Together: Ancient and Modern Approaches to Joining, Repair and Consolidation
ISBN: 9781904982470
Publication Date: 2010
Publisher: Archetype Publications Ltd
Place of Publication: London
A further mine of information on the properties and uses of different adhesives, coatings and consolidants.
Availability: UC library
Purchase: At your discretion
Theory and background to conservation
Preserving What is Valued: Museums, Conservation, and First Nations
By Miriam Clavir, Vancouver: UBC Press, c2002.
A fabulous book contrasting conservation and First Nations perspectives on notions of damage, appropriate use, and restoration. In particular read Chapter 5 including the section on restoration from p. 164.
Availability: UC library
Purchase: Recommended
Conservation Treatment Methodology
By Barbara Applebaum, Hoboken: Taylor & Francis, 2012.
A thought-provoking book about conservation decision making which discusses many practical and ethical dilemmas conservators come across, and outlines methods and tools for working through them.
Availability: Electronic resource in UC library. In particular, have a look at Chapter 11 on choosing treatment materials.
Purchase: Recommended
Contemporary Theory of Conservation
By Salvador Munoz-Vinas, Hoboken, Taylor & Francis, 2012.
A great book discussing what conservation (including restoration) actually is, and how it came to be this way.
Availability: electronic resource in UC library. Read Chapter 1, and particularly the section discussing restoration.
Purchase: Recommended
The Nara document on authenticity (Nara Conference on Authenticity in Relation to the World Heritage Convention, held at Nara, Japan, from 1-6 November 1994).
A record of a seminal moment in heritage debate, with experts from all over the world discussing what authenticity might mean and how it can be preserved. Authenticity is, of course, a key concept in conservation and heritage – and decisions about what it is and how it should be preserved are ones that every conservator must tackle. Browse as many of the papers and session discussions as you can, but particularly the chapter on the Ise Shrine by Nobuko Inaba.
Availability: UC and NLA libraries.
Purchase: Recommended
Submission of assessment items
Extensions & Late submissions
Artificial intelligence
Students are not permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in assessments for this unit.
GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:
the Unit Convener has authorised GenAI use for that assessment
the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow
the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.
Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.
The GenAI for Students Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.
Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.
Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.
UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).
UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.
Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.
Learner engagement
Students will need to commit to spending time to carry out a major conservation treatment project. This will include time in the Heritage Laboratory outside standard contact times. Supervised sessions will be scheduled for this purpose.
Participation requirements
Students are expected to participate in lectures, tutorials, group work and site visits to achieve the learning outcomes set out above. These include discussions, presentations and group activities which are designed to achieve the learning outcomes of this unit.
Students are able to complete some practical work on their project objects and assigned treatments during class time but completion of the project objects and assigned treatments will require more work in their own time. Work on objects/treatments must be completed in the laboratory unless prior written permission has been arranged with the unit covenor or the laboratory manager.
Students are expected to regularly check their Canvas site announcements and university email for information about readings, session updates and opportunities relevant to the unit.
Required IT skills
Use of standard word processing and spreadsheet software, image processing software, and internet and email functions. Use of the UCLearn system.
In-unit costs
No specfic purchases are required.
Work placement, internships or practicums
This unit involves a site visit to a conservation facility.
