Caitríona O'Connor
M.Sc World Heritage Conservation, University College Dublin
M.Arch Architecture, University College Dublin RIAI Accredited Architect ARB / RIBA UK Accredited Architect RIBA accredited Conservation Architect (RIAI Grade II equivalent) 
|
Caitriona joined Carrig in 2022 as Senior Conservation architect having worked for several years in architectural conservation and heritage management in the UK, South-East Asia and Jordan. She is a World Heritage specialist and prior to joining the team managed UNESCO’s programmes at the Petra World Heritage Site in Jordan. In this role she led two large scale projects, one aimed at reducing hazard risks through landscape management and the other focused on conserving the monumental ‘Palace Tomb’.
She is highly experienced at leading multidisciplinary teams to address conservation challenges in culturally diverse and complex contexts. She has a strong focus on the integration of community-based strategies into the conservation process and is a strong advocate for the use of traditional skills and nature-based solutions to achieve deep sustainability. Between 2018 and 2020, Caitriona led a UKAID funded project to regenerate Myanmar’s largest public hospital, a group of British-built colonial-era structures located in Yangon. She oversaw structural assessments and retrofit proposals for 6 key historic and modern-era buildings on the site and was responsible for the first ever comprehensive survey and assessment of the site’s drainage and sewage services. During this time, she also worked on several projects to conserve teak structures from the Buddhist tradition dating from the late 19th Century. While in Myanmar Caitriona completed her MSc thesis Dissertation: ‘Bagan, Myanmar; A comparative analysis of a key stakeholder relationship, 1995 - 2019’. How has it changed and why?’ which explored how various Myanmar governments worked to successfully nominate this site and how their relationship with UNESCO was reflected in this process. She presented her research at ‘Myanmar Studies from Centre, Periphery and Boundary: (Old View, New Version)’ Interdisciplinary International Symposium (2019) hosted by the Department of Historical Research and National Library of Myanmar and has been a guest lecturer at the Silpakorn University of Bangkok. Prior to her MSc, Caitriona worked as an associate architect with Marcus Beale Architects in London, a conservation and design led firm specialising in adaptive re-use of heritage buildings, working predominantly with institutional clients in the South-east of England. Originally from Roscommon, Caitriona studied architecture at UCD from which her M.Arch research dissertation titled ‘An investigation in landscape archaeology - Strokestown Park House and Demesne’ explored the sequential tangible and intangible signals of demarcation perceptible on this landscape. Caitriona has an in-depth knowledge of international conservation theories, charters, policies and practices, is a member of the Irish Heritage Trust and has contributed to a number of technical committees on behalf of UNESCO Jordan. Projects: Project - Preserving Petra’s Nabataean architectural heritage through the study of the Royal Tombs Water management system and the conservation of the Palace Tomb Client - Italian Agency for Development Cooperation [AICS], Department of Antiquities of Jordan Duration - 2021-2022 Description - The culture unit of UNESCO Jordan is responsible for supporting the government of Jordan to meet its obligations under the UN cultural conventions. As Project Officer Caitriona was responsible for the management and delivery all programmes at Petra World Heritage site. This project, funded by the Government of Italy though their international development agency [AICS] is focused on addressing the interconnected conservation issues affecting the monumental Royal Tombs and the Palace Tomb. The works included surveying and assessing the Nabataean water management systems designed to collect and divert rainwaters from the facades and the preparation of a comprehensive conservation strategy for the stabilisation and protection of the Palace Tomb, one of the site’s most significant and vulnerable tombs. Project - Youth for heritage conservation and risk prevention in Petra Client - Italian Agency for Development Cooperation [AICS], Department of Antiquities of Jordan Duration - 2021-2022 Description - This project, also funded by AICS was focused on the reduction of hazard risks associated with the natural erosion processes which characterise the mountainous landscape surrounding the World Heritage site of Petra. The aim of the works was to reduce the risk of dangerous rock-falls and to minimise the erosion and degradation of the carved monument facades resulting from the flow of rocks and sediments from the upper trails to the lower parts of the site. This was achieved through the stabilisation of five large rock blocks using anchors and nets and the construction of 400 low walls and dry-stone check dams on three trails surrounding the ‘Siq’ and the ‘Street of Facades’ situated in the central area of the site. Caitriona oversaw the construction of the walls and check-dams which was undertaken by directly employing and training 85 members of the local communities who live around the site, providing them with employment during the Covid-19 pandemic and with the knowledge and skills to understand and replicate the ancient Nabatean landscape management practices which made Petra feasible as an urban centre in the 1st C BC. Project - Masterplan for the reinvigoration of Yangon General Hospital (YGH) Client - Rangoon General Hospital Reinvigoration Trust (RGHR), UK Department for International Development (FCDO, formerly DfID), Ministry of Health of Myanmar Duration - 2018-2020 Description - Article 25 were appointed by RGHR to develop a masterplan for the redevelopment of YGH. From 2018 – 2020 Caitriona oversaw the delivery Phase 1 of the Masterplan which was focused on improving safety of the existing buildings and campus which include several original colonial-era buildings the most prominent of which are designated by Yangon Heritage Trust as a key heritage site in Yangon. The works included:
Project - Conservation and Site Development plan for U Nar Auk pagoda complex Client - Zeya & Associates Co Ltd, Kawhnat resident committee Duration - 2018-2019 Description - Article 25 were appointed by Zeya & Associates Co. Ltd., a Yangon-based engineering firm, to carry out a feasibility study for conservation works to three Buddhist religious structures and the provision of new visitor facilities at U Nar Auk Pagoda and Monastery complex in Kawhnat village, Mon State, Myanmar. As project architect Caitriona produced a feasibility study for a Conservation and site development plan, conservation, repair and maintenance guidelines for the three historic building including a preventative maintenance checklist for the site managers and guidance on addressing the site’s most urgent conservation needs. |