The Maura Shaffrey Memorial Lecture  is normally held in the Coach House of Dublin Castle in autumn each year. This year it will be held at Engineers Ireland, Ballsbridge.

12th Annual Lecture - 10 June, 2010

Title: 'Drafting of the Venice Charter: historical developments in conservation'

Speaker: Prof. Andrea Pane, Faculty of Architecture, University of Naples Federico II

Abstract: In 1964, during an international congress in Venice, a group of twenty-three experts drafted one of the most important and long-lived documents in modern conservation theory: the International Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites. Also known as the 'Venice Charter', it marked a new direction in restoration in Europe and elsewhere and also led to the establishment of ICOMOS. It was particularly encouraged by the determination of Roberto Pane, an architectural historian and professor in Naples, and Piero Gazzola, a surveyor of architectural heritage in Verona. They aimed to widen the idea of 'monument', expanding from the limits of single buildings to their forming part of the urban landscape. Analysis of the works carried out by Pane and Gazzola, together with unpublished documents from their private archives contribute to an understanding of the origin of this idea.

The drafting of the Charter defined principles for a new conservation philosophy and practice. Subsequently, other developments in conservation emerged in Italy and in other European countries drawing on the legacy of the Venice Charter. Firstly, a more conservative approach to conservation, pure conservation, was adopted. This was then followed by critical restoration with new reflections and reaffirmation of the restoration philosophy of Cesare Brandi. Thirdly, a maintenance-reinstatement approach was developed which became widely adopted by heritage professions. However, the practical issues of conservation today have become more complex and sometimes even contradictory to the text of the Venice Charter.

Past Lectures

11th Annual Lecture - 29 October, 2009

Title: 'Preserving Heritage in View of its Evolving Perception and its New Role in Society - A Global Leadership Challenge for ICOMOS'

Speaker: Gustavo F. Araoz, IAI, President of ICOMOS

Abstract: Cultural heritage has passed from being a field for specialized professionals to the public domain. Communities worldwide are rediscovering their tangible and intangible cultural legacies, demanding greater participation in the decision-making process concerning meaning, treatment and use. Meanwhile, heritage inventories and categories have expanded in unprecedented ways. The traditional specialized heritage professions are facing new situations for which doctrinal foundations, protective mechanisms and accepted practices often prove insufficient to safeguard the integrity and authenticity of heritage places. The multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural nature of heritage puts ICOMOS in a unique situation to lead the world community in identifying new ways to protect it. To achieve this, the National and International Committees of ICOMOS must mobilize in a coordinated process with global application and local relevance.

10th Annual Lecture - 20 November, 2008

Title: 'Edinburgh: Conservation and Development in a World Heritage City'

Speaker: Malcolm Cooper, Chief Inspector with Historic Scotland

Abstract: The presentation focuses on the history of Edinburgh World Heritage Site, outlining the reasons for its inscription, as well as the processes which are in place to ensure that its outstanding universal value is properly considered as the city evolves. It also provides an outline of the story of the conservation of the city, and will describe how Edinburgh must continue to develop to maintain its vibrant character, noting in particular the challenges and opportunities that this brings.

9th Annual Lecture - 2007

Title: 'Conserving the Vernacular in a Temperate Zone'

Speaker: Dr Paul Oliver

Abstract: With urban growth, suburban development and expanding road networks, vernacular traditions, which represent so much of the built heritage in many countries and cultural areas, have been destroyed or are threatened with destruction. Present and past generations are being denied in experiencing and learning from their history, the ways of life they accommodate and the architectural quality they represent. Vernacular buildings are part of the vernacular landscape which is largely the product of traditional rural culture and maintenance and which is also under threat. These issues have been confronted in different parts of the temperate zones. In his talk, Dr Oliver introduced examples of projects drawn from the Czech Republic to Central China, from lower Saxony to north west Japan. Such examples have had implications with regard to economies and way of life, to the continuity of indigenous traditions, skills and knowledge. A consideration of the success and future of these projects may be appropriate to the conservation of buildings and landscape in the Irish context.