Talks / Ideas / Philosophy

RIBA South Conservation: Environmental Performance of Historic Buildings

66 Portland Place

Wed 14 Oct · 13:00

Talk

About this event

Understanding the historic fabric of buildings Published by Historic England in December 2025, Understanding the Environmental Performance of Historic Buildings for Conservation provides guidance for clients and building professionals on how historic fabric and collections can be affected by environmental conditions, and how these risks can be identified and managed throughout a project. During this session, Tobit Curteis will provide a high-level introduction to the guidance, exploring some of its key principles and approaches to understanding the environmental behaviour of historic buildings. The talk will consider how environmental investigation can support informed decision-making, helping project teams balance the conservation of historic fabric with wider ambitions for adaptation, energy efficiency and decarbonisation. Find out more on Historic England guidance . Key takeaways Attendees will gain an introduction to: Understanding environmental performance and conservation risk – how the behaviour of a building and its internal environment can help identify potential risks to historic fabric and collections. Investigating early in the project – why environmental investigations are most valuable during RIBA Stages 1 and 2, before design decisions become established and potential risks are overlooked. Commissioning effective investigations – focusing briefs on the information and understanding required, rather than prescribing particular survey techniques. Conservation and decarbonisation – considering environmental performance as part of a more informed approach to adapting and improving historic buildings. The joining link to the talk will be sent out in the days prior to the event.