[HBP#29] - Liberty Watts - March Spotlight: Women in Conservation

🎙️ You can also access the full Audio version of this Podcast by searching for 'Heritage Buildings Podcast' on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, PocketCasts, and your favourite podcast apps.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Welcome to another episode of the Heritage Buildings Podcast.Host Vincent Reed speaks with Libby Watts, founder of Liberty Rose Architects, 2021 Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) Scholar and 2023 The King's Foundation 35 Under 35 recipient.Libby shares her journey from commercial architecture into listed building and church conservation, and how the SPAB Scholarship reshaped her approach to heritage practice.Topics covered include:• What the SPAB Scholarship really involves – hands-on craft training across the UK • Moving from new-build offices to historic and listed buildings • Starting a conservation practice during COVID • Working closely with craftspeople on traditional materials like lime, lead, and timber • How to structure fees for heritage projects • Winning work through word of mouth, especially church networks • Documenting historic details like lead roof graffiti • The King’s Foundation 35 Under 35 experience • Widening access to conservation and supporting young people into the trades • Advice for getting into conservation architecturePerfect for conservation architects, heritage professionals, church architects, craftspeople, and anyone passionate about traditional building skills and historic building preservation.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Below is a more detailed breakdown of the video with relevant timestampsClick the time on the left to jump straight to that section00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction 01:02 Finding Conservation Architecture 03:07 COVID Pivot and Starting a Practice 06:03 SPAB Scholarship Application 07:27 Scholarship Life on the Road 13:08 Plunkett Section: English Country Houses 16:11 Post-Scholarship Practice Philosophy 19:21 Learning from Craftspeople and Site Culture 25:04 Running the Business and Fee Structures 33:11 Winning Work Through Word of Mouth 34:47 The King’s Foundation 35 Under 35 39:40 Bringing New Talent into Conservation 41:52 Heritage for Everyone 42:00 Launching Access Courses 45:41 Teaching and Mentoring 47:30 Women in Conservation 56:34 Church Conservation Project Highlights 01:01:30 Managing People and Project Pressures 01:05:09 Boundaries and Saying No to Clients 01:08:04 Future Practice Direction 01:11:41 How to Get Into Conservation 01:16:20 Social Media and Wrap Up---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Liberty Watts and learn more:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liberty-rose-architects/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liberty_rose_architects/Email: libby@libertyrosearchitects.co.ukWebsite: www.libertyrosearchitects.co.uk---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Learn more about the Heritage Buildings Association:https://heritagebuildingsassociation.comJoin the conversation:https://heritagebuildings.forum/share/dDYOnkLWJAkaA5xE?utm_source=manual#LibertyRoseArchitects #Conservation #Architecture