Heritage Materials - Aesthetics and Stability G (11163.2)
| 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 surfaces using physical and documentary evidence, and stakeholder consultation;
2. Identify when and how stabilisation or restoration of heritage surfaces could enhance their stability, protectiveness, interpretation or potential for audience engagement;
3. Develop and implement effective and sustainable stabilisation or restoration treatments for heritage surfaces, taking into account information about cultural significance, physical condition and intended use; and
4. Apply appropriate techniques for the stabilisation and restoration of heritage surfaces, 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 - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
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
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
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 Hakim Abdul Rahim |
| 2027 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 2 | 09 August 2027 | On-campus | Mr Hakim Abdul Rahim |
Required texts
A Reading List will be available to you from the Library. This Reading List will cover the theory, philosophy and ethics of Materials Conservation, and so will aid you in you decision making. The list will also include journal articles that you will be discussing throughout the semester.
Additionally the following is a list of highly relevant texts that are mostly available in libraries in Canberra or online collections. The ones I have suggested as purchases are core references and not too expensive, but it is not compulsory to purchase them.
Colour
Konica Minolta, Precise Colour Communication.
Availability: Online – search on the term "Konica Minolta Precise Colour Communication" and download the pdf.
Paints and coatings
Rutherford J. Gettens and George L. Stout, Painting Materials: A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966.
A good introduction to the topic. One of the authors was a ‘Monuments Man'.
Availability: UC library
Purchase: Highly recommended.
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 conservation.
Availability: UC library
Purchase: Highly recommended.
Velson Horie, C., Materials for conservation: organic consolidants, adhesives and coatings, Butterworth-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
Ralph Mayer, An Artist Handbook of Materials and Techniques, Faber and Faber, London, 1987.
Availability: Various libraries around Canberra – search through Trove.
Purchase: At your discretion
Pigments and Dyes
Robert L. Feller ed., Artists' pigments : a handbook of their history and characteristics, Washington : National Gallery of Art, c1986-
A deep dive in the history , technology and application of artists pigments.
Availability: UC library
Purchase: Hard copies cost a small fortune, but you can download PDFs for free at:
https://www.nga.gov/research/publications/pdf-library/
Dominique Cardon, Natural dyes: sources, tradition, technology and science, Archetype Books, London, 2007.
Availability: Various libraries around Canberra – search through Trove.
Purchase: At your discretion
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.
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 during class time but completion of the project objects and treatment trials will require more work in their own time. Work on objects 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, image processing software, and internet and email functions. Use of the Canvas system.
Work placement, internships or practicums
None
