Futures for Defence Heritage
In collaboration with the University of Portsmouth School of Architecture, a new group of academics and conservation professionals have come together to research and investigate the futures for defence heritage buildings and other structures.
The group aims:
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To document and analyse complex changes occurred to defence structures and their uses, and to assist in establishing new frameworks and methodologies that encourage sustainable uses for local defence structures such as barracks, forts, ramparts, dry-docks, military lines, drill sheds, storehouses, roperies, etc.
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To explore international examples and approaches and advocate best practices that can be used to inform socially and culturally routed regeneration approaches for these heritage assets linking their tangible and intangible values and establishing correlations with local communities
In addition, the group is exploring how land disposal process and its impacts work in different countries: which government department is responsible, what remits they have, the extent to which these agencies are responsive to local communities' needs and to local government plans, and who gains and who loses in the disposal and redevelopment process of defence heritage sites' transformation to civilian uses.
It is one of the key interests to investigate to what extent the original military values and character are retained in the new adaptive uses. The group would very much like to enable the research role in advising the development of best practices that would inform the case for change to the UK system and process.
If you would like to join us - and to contribute to our twin aims, please
Point Barracks, Old Portsmouth - converted into artist studios, Hotwalls Studios