24 October. Last week, the ATHAR Programme, through its newly established Regional Centre in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, implemented a new course for technicians and masonry workers. This course on the Use and Techniques of Lime Mortars, Plasters and Renders on Historic Buildings and Structures, introduced twelve local masons and builders to the use of slaked lime in conservation through practical work carried out on historical buildings in Sharjah.

The training sessions included the following subjects:

• sources and advantages of lime
• slaking and storing lime putty
• the range of aggregates and pozzolanic additives
• mixing mortars
• the removal of gypsum render and pointing
• replacing dressing and fixing individual stone
• patching and filling voids in masonry
• rebuilding sections of walls
• deep tamping
• re-pointing techniques and finishes
• the application and finishes of render
• repairing and looking after lime mortars and render

The course was led by ATHAR-ICCROM expert David Odgersand and Colin Burns from West Dean College, United Kingdom, in close collaboration with the Historic Buildings Conservation and Planning Unit in Sharjah. This activity is a follow-up to the ATHAR specialist courses on Conservation of stone and earthen structures, the latest of which was held in autumn 2009 in Sharjah, UAE. It also forms a continuation of the ATHAR field projects, implemented to improve conservation work in Sharjah's historical area.

This applied course marks a new step towards acquainting builders and masonry workers with traditional conservation methods that are compatible with existing built heritage in the region, and building their capacity and confidence in using traditional conservation techniques that have largely been forgotten. Architects and foremen who will supervise their work, also attended the course with the aim of ensuring sustainability and quality conservation methods, as well as knowledge dissemination among peers.

ATHAR will be holding similar sessions in other locations within the Arab Region in the near future.

For more information, please contact: athar @ iccrom.org

updated on: 24 October, 2011