Ulster Architectural Heritage Society was founded "to promote appreciation and enjoyment of good

architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing building ...

of all periods and encourage the

conservation Conservation is the preservation or efficient use of resources, or the conservation of various quantities under physical laws. Conservation may also refer to: Environment and natural resources * Nature conservation, the protection and managem ...

, restoration and re-use of

Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kin ...

's built heritage to regenerate and sustain our communities".

History

It was founded in 1967, mainly under the impetus of Sir

Charles Brett Sir Charles Edward Bainbridge Brett, Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, KBE, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, CBE (30 October 1928 - 19 December 2005), was a Northern Irish people, Nor ...

, to counter threats to the survival of Ulster's historic architecture. When the UAHS was founded there was no statutory listing of buildings in Northern Ireland and its campaigns led to the establishment of listed building legislation for Northern Ireland in 1972. Subsequently, historic buildings grants, conservation areas and a public buildings record were all developed under the auspices of the

Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) The Department of the Environment (DOE or DOENI; ga, An Roinn Comhshaoil; Ulster-Scots: ''Männystrie o tha Kintraside'') was a devolved Northern Irish government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The minister with overall respo ...

, in no small part due to the UAHS.

Campaigns

In February 2015 it was reported that the Department of the Environment proposed delisting 17 Belfast buildings, including the historic Kelly's Cellars, subject to review by the Historic Buildings Council and

Belfast City Council Belfast City Council ( ga, Comhairle Cathrach Bhéal Feirste) is the local authority with responsibility for part of the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of (), the ...

. UAHS declared that "despite their present condition, all buildings currently proposed for delisting contribute to the value of Belfast’s fragile built heritage and are important resources to promote tourism, economic investment and social regeneration". In March 2015 Belfast city councillors vowed to fight the Department of Environment over plans to remove protective listed status from Kelly's Cellars, now one of eight properties which the department has indicated that it plans to delist.

Events

UAHS also organises a range of architecturally-related events.

Register of Built Heritage at Risk Northern Ireland

A comprehensive online register of Built Heritage at Risk Northern Ireland (BHARNI) was compiled in partnership with the

Northern Ireland Environment Agency The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is an executive agency within the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). It is responsible for conservation of Northern Ireland's environment and natural heritage. Origi ...

and highlights almost 500 buildings and monuments of architectural and historic interest whose future seems threatened and may be suitable for restoration and repair.

References

External links

Ulster Architectural Heritage SocietyBuildings at risk in Northern Ireland (NI Environment Agency)
{{Authority control Architecture organisations based in the United Kingdom Organisations based in Belfast 1967 establishments in Northern Ireland