Connect traditional skills and circular design. Join us to learn about building reuse, bio-based materials and heritage grants.
About the Event
Join us at the ACT Studio in the Ballina Innovation Quarter for a session exploring the intersection of traditional building conservation and modern circularity principles.
ACT is hosting this workshop to show how preserving our built heritage is vital to lowering embodied carbon and keeping historic structures in use. Led by traditional heritage mason Tom Pollard and ACT director Kevin Loftus, this session provides practical insights into extending the lifespan of existing structures, reducing carbon footprints and applying regenerative design.
This workshop takes place during Ballina National Heritage Day. Following our workshop, step into the past and celebrate our living heritage in the heart of Ballina town centre, where expert demonstrators bring traditional crafts, skills and culture to life. From blacksmithing and basket weaving to stone carving and spinning, this is a rare chance to see authentic, hands-on traditions passed down through generations.session.
This is an RIAI CPD event with 3.0 structured CPD points.
Session Content
The workshop covers key technical and practical areas:
- Retain and reuse Discover how traditional stonemasonry and lime mortar techniques maintain building breathability and protect historic fabric.
- Bio-based materials: Learn about sourcing local earthen plasters and hot-mix lime to repair historic ecosystems without causing damage.
- Design for disassembly: Explore how traditional dry-stone methods align with modern modular systems to ensure future building parts can be reused.
- Heritage grants and retrofitting: Get practical guidance on navigating regulations, technical requirements and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
- Case study and Q&A: Analyse lessons from the Scotch House project to overcome obstacles in sourcing and certifying reused materials, followed by an open Q&A on on-site challenges.
Who Should Attend
This session is for architects, designers, local property owners, building contractors, tradespeople, local authority officials, heritage officers and anyone interested in restoring traditional buildings.
Supported by:
- The Heritage Council
- RIAI CPD Network
- Ballina Salmon Festival
- Ballina Chamber
Good to know
Highlights
- 3 hours
- In-person
Refund Policy
