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The Architectural Heritage Podcast

The Architectural Heritage Podcast

By: Architectural Heritage Podcast
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Welcome to our podcast, where we explore traditional building materials, techniques, and the history behind them. If you're interested in the craftsmanship of old buildings, the materials used throughout history, or how we can care for and restore buildings today, you're in the right place.

Each episode will focus on three main areas:


  • Materials & Techniques: We’ll look at the materials used in building throughout history—whether it’s the types of timber that were common in different regions or periods—and explore the techniques behind their use. For example, why was linseed oil used in mortar, or what was the purpose of adding blue pigment to white paint?


  • Problems & Solutions: Every building, whether old or new, needs proper care. We’ll discuss common issues faced by historic buildings and how to address them with traditional methods, as well as how to preserve and maintain newer buildings with techniques that stand the test of time.


  • History & Traditions: We’ll delve into the historical and cultural reasons for using certain materials and techniques, as well as the traditions of craftsmanship and apprenticeship that have been passed down through the generations.


Most episodes will feature a single host, Darren McLean, but we’ll also be inviting guest speakers for in-depth discussions and interviews. This will include craftspeople, professionals, manufacturers and academics.


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https://ko-fi.com/architecturalheritagepodcast


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https://www.instagram.com/architecturalheritageeducation




Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Darren McLean
Episodes
  • Introducing the Architectural Heritage Podcast
    Jun 16 2026

    What is a traditional building?

    In this first episode of the Architectural Heritage Podcast, Darren McLean looks at how traditional buildings were made — not just how they look.

    In fact, in the podcast we have three strands:


    • Materials
    • Constriction History
    • and Problem Solving



    Beginning with traditional Materials from stone cottages and timber frames to lime mortar, brick, thatch, slate, earth construction, this episode introduces the materials and methods that shaped historic buildings before industrial standardisation changed construction.

    We’ll explore why local materials mattered, how buildings adapted to climate and landscape, and why understanding original construction is essential before repairing or conserving old buildings.


    Then we’ll move on to construction history, and the evolution of buildings from the Tudor period in the 1500s, up to around the 1930s


    We’ll also be looking at the problems with old buildings and some appropriate things you can do to resolve them.

    For architects, engineers, building historians, conservation students, practitioners and owners of historic buildings, this episode sets out a simple starting point: understand how the building works before trying to fix it.




    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    6 mins
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