History

A History of the Farm Buildings Association

To mark 70-years of the Rural & Industrial Design & Buildings Association (RIDBA) a history of the association has been made available.

The publication – A History of the Farm Buildings Association – provides a comprehensive account of the organisation’s role in shaping rural and industrial buildings across the UK.

Founded 70 years ago as the Farm Building Association, RIDBA has evolved alongside the changing rural and industrial landscape.

As its focus expanded from agricultural buildings to broader design expertise, it became the Rural Design Building Association, before adopting its current name, the Rural and Industrial Design and Building Association, reflecting a modern, diverse membership and a continued commitment to excellence in design and construction across rural and industrial sectors.

Written by long-standing RIDBA member – and now honorary member – Clive Mander, the document traces the association’s origins.

From early post-war concerns about the loss of traditional farm buildings to modern debates around adaptive reuse and sustainability, the publication highlights RIDBA’s consistent commitment to the industry.

It also recognises the volunteers and professionals who have sustained the association over its seven decades.

RIDBA chairman Simon Pelly said: “RIDBA’s history is about buildings and people, and those two things are what make our industry so great. This history of the association aims to show how thoughtful design and understanding of the past will help us make better decisions for the future.

“On behalf of the RIDBA board and the association’s members I’d like to say thank you to Clive for his brilliant efforts in pulling this document together.”

The publication will be of interest to planners, historians, conservationists and anyone engaged with the future of rural and industrial buildings.