There’s a distinct theme of preservation in this selection of must-reads, looking at historic materials, restoration and retrofitting, and why we should design out hazardous materials
RIBA Conservation Guide
Marion Barter, Anna Joynt, David McDonald, Andrew Shepherd. RIBA Publishing. 254pp PB £35
The authors take you through the complex issue of restoring, upgrading and retrofitting historic buildings in 13 chapters, each well-illustrated to give a lightness to the layout. There are decades of collective expertise evident and the text is clear and informative. Chapters covering specifics such as forms of timber rot or retrofitting have useful technical reading lists. Well-referenced and with case studies, the book initially seems driven by SPAB guidance but pointers allow readers to pursue their own lines of investigation.
Building Materials, Health and Indoor Air Quality Vol.2
Tom Wooley. Routledge. 224pp PB £43
By a visiting professor at the Centre for Alternative Technologies and chair of the UK Clean Air Steering Committee, this is a clarion call to reduce and even end the use of hazardous materials in construction. He knows this is a lot to ask, but sees architects at the forefront of any drive to build healthier buildings. Rather than a ‘how to’ book, the author describes in detail the chemical nature of products, the regulatory framework of indoor air quality and health pitfalls of materials in the drive for high thermal performance. It’s dense, but it could change the way you specify.
Old Materials, New Climate: Traditional Building Materials in a Changing World
Susan Pranger. Routledge. 407pp PB £34
This guidebook to understanding historic materials, how they were made and endure, and how they might be affected by climate change comes from a teacher of sustainable design and historic preservation. Pranger sets out her stall with ‘The Shifting Climate’ before breaking down materials in terms of impacts, drivers of deterioration, strategies to respond to climate-based threats, conclusions and a bibliography. With global case studies, she never forgets the ubiquity of the problems – or indeed their solutions.