SPAB Ireland Lecture Series 2026 - Hannah Reynolds

SPAB Ireland Lecture Series 2026
Assess Before You Act: Whole Building Approach for Vernacular Energy Efficiency and Climate Resilience
Hannah Reynolds

Tuesday 21 July, 7.30pm

Are you living in or working with a traditional building?

This lecture will explore how a whole-building approach can guide energy efficiency and climate resilience measures in traditional buildings, helping owners, professionals and anyone with an interest in older buildings to better understand how changes can be made without causing unintended damage. Rather than looking at insulation or individual upgrades in isolation, the talk will consider the building as a complete system, including walls, roofs, floors, ventilation, moisture movement and material behaviour. It will show why this matters in traditional buildings, where performance, comfort and durability are closely tied to how the building manages heat and moisture.

Those attending will gain a clearer understanding of how to assess a traditional building before carrying out works, what kinds of interventions are most likely to be effective, and where common retrofit mistakes can lead to problems such as damp, condensation or fabric deterioration. The lecture will be particularly useful for homeowners, custodians, conservation professionals and anyone involved in the repair or upgrading of older buildings.

Attendees will come away with practical insight into how a whole-building approach can support better decision-making, improve comfort and resilience, and protect the long-term character and performance of traditional buildings. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A at the end of the session.

Who is this talk for?

This lecture is aimed at those directly involved in working on traditional buildings with a technical side to the lecture. Private owners of traditional buildings are also welcome.

You will learn/discover

•    The principles of a whole-building approach to traditional buildings.
•    How traditional buildings manage heat and moisture.
•    Why inappropriate interventions can lead to damp, condensation, and fabric damage.
•    How to approach energy efficiency and climate resilience in a balanced and compatible way.
•    Practical insights to help guide repair, maintenance, and retrofit decisions.

IT requirements

You will need a computer, phone or other device with a stable internet connection

Speaker(s)

Hannah Reynolds is a Conservation Architect and SPAB Scholar. Holding an MA and MArch, and accredited by both AABC and RIBA, Hannah is a specialist in considered and environmentally conscious repair, climate change mitigation, adaption & resilience for historic buildings.

Accessibility

Closed captions are available for this talk.

Supported by

This event is generously supported by The Heritage Council. 

All bookings are subject to our Terms and Conditions.

Photo credit: Rosemary Kane/ Alamy