Mr Darren McLean

MSc

Research

• Historic floors: Materials and conservation
• The influence of taxation, material and labour costs on building design 1700 - 1900
• Building materials of the 19th Century
• Passive building ventilation of the Victorian era
• Traditional Burmese architecture 
• Traditional Chinese architecture

Teaching

Presently I am the project lead for two modules of the Sustainable Building Conservation MSc, within the Welsh School of Architecture.

The modules are Tools of Interpretation and Design Tools: Methods of Repair.    

These modules cover various topics, such as the constituent materials encountered when caring for historic building, their appropriate repair and causes for decay.  

My experience includes teaching on postgraduate and undergraduate taught courses in the UK, Hong Kong and Canada.  Previous teaching both winthin acaemia and the non-profit sectors has focused primarily on physical conservation. 

Biography

Darren McLean is an experienced teacher and practitioner of building conservation techniques and materials, with more than 15 years experience.  His interest in historic construction materials and techniques began with an exchange program to the former Czechoslovakia in 1989, allowing him to experience castle conservation and traditional materials.  Since this time Darren has continued to gain knowledge by working as a practitioner and teaching conservation in Australia, the UK, Ireland, Canada, the USA, Hong Kong and Burma.

Professional Practice  

• National Trust, Scotland: Technical consultancy, 
• The Prince’s Foundation: Tutor and course leader
• Algonquin College, Canada: Curriculum advisor
• The Office of Public Works, Dublin Ireland: Technical consultancy
• Heritage Project Manager, Secretariat & Parliament, Yangon, Myanmar 2017 - 2018 
• Yangon Heritage Trust: Traditional buildings consultant and educator 2017
• Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland: Committee Member 2012 – 2014

Education 

• MSc Building Conservation, Bournemouth University, England, UK 2012 
• Wooden Architecture Conservation and Restoration, ICCROM, Karelia, Russia 2017 
• Conservation of Masonry, Telford College/Historic Scotland, SVQ III UK 2010 
• Conservation of Lime Mortars, Scottish Lime Centre Trust, SVQ III  UK 2009 

Honours and awards

• Historic Environment Scotland educational grant
• Historic Environment Scotland, educational grant
• The York Consortium for Conservation & Craftsmanship educational bursary
• The Anna Plowden Trust, Mid-career educational grant

Professional memberships

HKICON

ICOMOS UK

Academic positions

• Program Lead, MSc Sustainable Building Conservation:
  • Tools of Interpretation
  • Design Tools: Methods of Repair

• University of Hong Kong, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Faculty of Architecture, Hong Kong, November 2018 – 2022

• University of Strathclyde Guest Lecturer, Dept. of Architecture, Glasgow Scotland, 2014 – 2023

• Historic Environment Scotland, Guest Lecturer MSc and Diploma program, 2017 – present

Speaking engagements

• SPAB Webinar/CPD – Historic Timber
• National Trust Australia, History and conservation of historic brickwork Webinar
• University of Cape Town, South Africa, Understanding historic interiors 
• Willowbank College, Conservation lecture series, Queenston, Canada
• Savannah College, Savannah, Georgia
• Penicuik townscape heritage project, Traditional joinery CPD and sash window repair
• ERA Architects, Conservation of historic floors, Toronto, Canada
• Campbeltown Conservation Are Regeneration Scheme, Repair and Upgrading of sash windows, Campbeltown, Scotland
• Lindsay Lennie ‘Historic Shopfronts’ History and Conservation of Ceramic Tiles, Glasgow
• Cupar Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme/Townscape Heritage Initiative, Fife Historic Buildings Trust, participated in the delivery of a series of lectures on practical conservation, Fife, Scotland
• Kirriemuir Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme, Repair and upgrading of sash and case windows, Kirriemuir, Scotland
• Parkhead Cross Rejuvenation Scheme, Repair and Maintenance of Sash and Case Windows, Glasgow
• Elgin and Keith Council Conservation Regeneration Scheme, Repair and Upgrading of sash windows, Keith, Scotland
• Dublin Civic Trust, Historic Floor Surfaces - History, Repair, Cleaning & Conservation
• International Preservation Trades Workshop, PTN/Historic Environment Scotland
• SPAB Falkland Craft Symposium, Historic joinery repairs
• Glasgow City Heritage Trust, Creating Victorian Mosaics
• Dublin Civic Trust, Historic Interiors Webinar - Understanding materials & finishes: Practical approaches to conservation
• Glasgow City Heritage Trust and Scottish Canals, Repair of masonry
• Glasgow City Heritage Trust, Glass in traditional buildings
• Glasgow City Heritage Trust, Repair of brickwork to listed buildings Glasgow
• The Princes Foundation, Building Arts Program
• Open Gardens Program, Lime mortars and stone conservation, Rodaki, Poland

Committees and reviewing

• Committee member, ICOMOS-UK Education, Training And Events Committee 2023-
• Member of the board of examiners, University of Hong Kong, Faculty of Architecture 2018-2022