The Building Conservation Directory 2023

15 C AT H E D R A L C O M M U N I C AT I O N S T H E B U I L D I N G C O N S E R VAT I O N D I R E C T O R Y 2 0 2 3 | C E L E B R AT I N G 3 0 Y E A R S P R O F E S S I O N A L S E R V I C E S 1 the value of the original fabric be replicated? Any attempt to reinstate a specific building period will reduce its richness. A modern intervention could mimic the old materials and construction systems, but it remains a new intervention. However, as change is inevitable to guarantee the future of historic buildings, sustainability and reversibility should come into place. Repairs are necessary over time, and modern interventions might be required to repurpose vacant buildings. Addressing the sustainability of the materials and the maintenance resulting from the proposed addition will inform a good reinstatement. More easily achieved with vernacular buildings and traditional materials, it can be challenging with post- war buildings, given their experimental character. In those cases, a reversible solution could be the most sustainable option if well integrated within the existing fabric. Assessing alternative options and their consequences before implementation will reduce the risk of recurring repairs and damage to the existing fabric. Determining the correct approach to the reinstatement of features is not simple, as it requires a detailed study for each case scenario. Historical research, on-site inspection and analysis of architectural evidence should be the starting point. Understanding the significance of the building will provide guidance and balance on the value of its different elements. The strategy proposed should consider any possible negative impact and a way to correct or balance it. The correct reinstatement of features – a solution that balances historical, aesthetic and evidential values – will preserve, or even enhance, the significance of the building while safeguarding it for future generations. Recommended Reading HE Conservation Principles 2008 Iain Boyd, New or fake?, Disaster and Recovery , SPAB, p19 bc-url.com/spab-disaster-recovery Managing Change to Listed Buildings in Wales: bc-url.com/change-listedbuildings-wales Guidance on Alterations to Listed Buildings, IHBC Toolbox Guidance Note: bc-url.com/ihbc-listedbuildings-guidance Guidance on making changes to Listed Buildings: Making a better application for listed building consent in Northern Ireland bc-url.com/communities-ni- listed-app-listed-consent www.buildingconservation.com/articles/ stonecantstairs/stonecantstairs.htm EVA PALACIOS ARB IHBC MSc MA is the architect behind Historic Building Studio. She specialises in works for listed homes, including heritage consultancy, design, and planning applications. Her experience combines private practice and collaborations with the third sector. A traditional approach was adopted by Bob Sandford of Julian Harrap Architects for new doors in the basement of this Georgian house. (Photo: Georgia Politi) Detail of the new lattice ceiling for the Grand Hall at the Grade II listed Battersea Arts Centre – a contemporary response reflecting what was lost in the fire (Photo: Eva Palacios) GLOSSARY All definitions are as used by Historic England in Conservation Principles (English Heritage, 2008) Aesthetic value Value deriving from the ways in which people draw sensory and intellectual stimulation from a place. Authenticity Those attributes and elements which most truthfully reflect and embody the heritage values attached to it. Evidential value Value deriving from the potential of a place to yield evidence about past human activity. Fabric The material substance of which places are formed, including geology, archaeological deposits, structures and buildings, and flora. Repair Work beyond the scope of maintenance, to remedy defects caused by decay, damage or use, including minor adaptation to achieve a sustainable outcome, but not involving restoration or alteration. Restoration Works that intend to reinstate a lost element or an area in bad state to its original condition, regardless of the evidential value of the elements involved. Reversible Capable of being reversed so that the previous state is restored.