Description
Summary
Over 45 years in surveying and architecture, the speaker critiques how developer-driven designs, poor professional standards, and weak ethics have led to declining building quality, while stressing the need for integrity, proper materials, and conservation-minded practices to safeguard both historic and modern structures.
Key Points
- Developer Pressures & Professional Shortfalls: Profit-driven design and inadequate qualifications/communication among architects, builders, and surveyors result in aesthetic, structural, and legal failures.
- Conservation Ethics: Historic and unlisted buildings alike demand honest, minimal‑intervention repairs using authentic or compatible materials to preserve character.
- Integrity in Practice: Clear documentation, competent expert reporting, and refusal to cut corners are vital to prevent defects, costly disputes, and reputation damage.
Learning Objectives
- Identify how developer priorities and skill gaps contribute to architectural and construction defects.
- Apply conservation principles and ethical repair methods to maintain building integrity and heritage value.
- Implement professional best practices, including robust documentation and expert witness standards, to uphold quality and avoid disputes.
