Buildings at Risk Northern Ireland (BARNI)

The Society is not just concerned with fine buildings that have survived intact from past generations: it is particularly active in identifying buildings whose merit is less appreciated, and are at risk of loss through demolition or decay. The Buildings at Risk campaign seeks to highlight the vulnerability of our historic buildings and acts as a catalyst for their preservation and re-use. Initiated in 1993, seven illustrated catalogues of buildings at risk have been published, from which a significant number of buildings were saved. The first online Register of Buildings at Risk in Northern Ireland has now been compiled, in partnership with the Environment and Heritage Service. It describes listed and other historic buildings throughout Northern Ireland ranging from humble dwellings to large scale industrial complexes which are currently at risk and require a sustainable future. To access the BARNI Register click here. The Directories of Traditional Building Skills and Funds for Historic Buildings are complimentary publications to the online BARNI Register and the published BAR Catalogues. Excellent resource and reference material for those wishing to undertake a restoration project, they are particularly helpful for those who may either lack the necessary knowledge and experience of potential sources of funding or appropriate professional help needed to sympathetically restore an historic building.

	The seven Buildings At Risk catalogues produced by the UAHS in association with EHS are now out of print. Generously sponsored by the Environment & Heritage Service, these drew attention to the plight of more than a thousand buildings lying empty and neglected; some 25% have subsequently found new owners or uses, while negotiations are ongoing in other cases.
	The Directory of Traditional Building Skills is in its third edition and draws together a wide selection of those working in the fields of historic building conservation, ranging from architects to quantity surveyors to specialist sub-contractors. It gives useful background explanations on the philosophy behind the conservation of historic buildings and provides a general framework as to how you should approach a restoration project and the merits of a planned maintenance system as opposed to the more costly option of wholesale repair and replacement when an element is beyond saving. A new edition of the directory is expected in May 2004. Firms interested in applying for inclusion in the next Directory should apply on the relevant application form, which is available in Acrobat format by clicking here.
	The directories include useful hints on the general principles of restoration as well as the lists of specialists.
	The Directory of Funds for Historic Buildings brings together for the first time background information on those bodies that can specifically fund the repair and restoration of historic buildings in Northern Ireland. This wide-ranging compilation, through its quick reference guide and easy-to-follow format, helps those interested in sympathetic restoration to navigate the all-important funding minefield. Each funding source examined is grouped according to its nature, be it public, private or charitable, or particular area of interest, and in all cases the nature of funding, geographical focus, and eligibility criteria are explored. A new edition of the directory is expected some time in 2004.
	One further feature of interest is the BARNI Buys section where details are given of a selection of buildings at risk which are currently on the market and require imaginative new owners. To access this click here.