The Institute has established the following Principles for the guidance of, and implementation by, its members.
Principle 1
Conserve significant places of cultural heritage
• Take responsibility for ascertaining whether or not the architect’s work is likely to affect a place of cultural heritage significance on their site or in the vicinity, including its context, and ensure that their work does not adversely affect any such place
Principle 2
Endorse and facilitate cultural heritage management
• Recognise obligations arising under international, Commonwealth, State, Territory and local government heritage listings and legislation, and Institute Registers and listings as well as Institute Heritage Criteria (see attached)
• Promote the need for cultural heritage conservation to client groups and government at all levels
• Accept the Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter as a guiding document in the practice of architectural conservation
• Confirm the importance of architectural assessments of heritage items and ensure that they are undertaken by registered architects with a sound understanding of heritage issues and appropriate knowledge and experience of construction and compliance issues
Principle 3
Recognise and respect fellow professional and community groups engaged in cultural heritage management
• Recognise a number of disciplines involved in the assessment and management of cultural heritage, in particular historians, archaeologists and engineers
• Involve suitably experienced professionals
• Identify and consult key organisations (such as your State/Territory heritage agency) and community groups (such as the National Trust of Australia) involved in conservation
• Consult relevant stakeholder groups when carrying out assessments or proposing changes to a place
• Promote Institute representation and/or participation by architects on Commonwealth, State, Territory and local government heritage bodies
• Acknowledge and reward publicly the input of fellow professionals and contributing disciplines through joint awards
Principle 4
Identify, evaluate, interpret and manage culturally significant places
• Encourage thorough historical and diagnostic research into Australian architecture
• Facilitate publication of research material on Australian architecture
• Promote, encourage and support best practice with regard to the conservation of Australian architecture
• Participate in performance reviews of the various bodies and documents that determine or guide architectural practice and accreditation in cultural heritage conservation
Principle 5
Foster high standards of practice in cultural heritage conservation and adaptive re-use work
• Promote high standards of creativity and innovation
• Promote and support the application of sound conservation principles and methodology
• Promote and support the application of appropriate technology, and traditional construction and repair techniques, in design, documentation and execution
• Promote awareness of the danger to heritage conservation of applying inappropriate technology.