19th Karlsruhe Dialogues – Speakers

Nigel Barker was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History of Art and Architecture and in 1985 was awarded a PH.D from Reading University for his thesis entitled “The Architecture of the English Board of Ordnance 1660-1750”. In 1982-1986 he was responsible for identifying buildings for listing in the county of Surrey and subsequently1987 was Historic Building Adviser for Surrey County Council. He completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Building Conservation at the Architectural Association which included a thesis on the availability of specialist skills in the local construction industry.

He joined English Heritage in 2001 as Historic Areas Advisor advising on new development and regeneration of historic areas, including Margate, Brighton, Hastings and Eastbourne. He became team leader for Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire advising on a portfolio of projects including community based characterisation and developing management agreements for “the Centre MK” the commercial heart of Milton Keynes new town. He joined the London office of English Heritage as Head of Partnerships in 2009 and is the nominated representative on the Mayor’s London Cultural Strategy Group. In 2013 he became English Heritage National Planning and Conservation Director for London.

One of his abiding interests is the challenge of integrating new physical and cultural interventions into historic contexts. He has worked closely with the Commission of Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) on developing and delivering the Building in Context toolkit.

Nigel Barker is a founder, member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation, has served on its Council as Chairman of the SE Branch. He has published on the Board of Ordnance in “English Architecture Public and Private” and contributed to the Informed Conservation series –Margate. In 2013 he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.