Page 22 - The Building Conservation Directory 2013
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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 1 3
T w e n t i e t h a N N i v e r s a r y e d i t i o n
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Professional services
Basic principles for extending
listed buildings
The design and construction of the extension
should:
• show an understanding of the
heritage significance of the listed
building and its setting
• seek to minimise any harm to the listed
building’s heritage value or special interest
• normally play a subordinate role and not
dominate the listed building as a result of
its scale, mass, form, siting or materials
• fulfil a function that is in the listed
building’s long-term interest
• sustain and add value to the
listed building’s significance by
being of high quality design,
craftsmanship and materials.
Design approaches
It is important for new work to acknowledge
the old and in Extensions (see Recommended
Reading) Historic Scotland has produced
useful guidance on five different approaches to
contextual design:
• restoration
• replication
• complementary addition
• deferential contrast
• assertive contrast.
Restoration
This involves well-documented reconstruction
of missing elements and, in some cases, the
removal of later additions – for example
where an original frontage has become hidden
behind later extensions. However, if later
extensions have special interest and contribute
to the significance of the building, then the
presumption is normally to retain them.
Replication
New work is designed specifically to match the
original building and does so in all respects,
replicating not only materials but also style.
Complementary addition
This takes design cues from the profile,
massing, bay rhythm, scale and proportion
of the existing building, but without the
replication of details. Quite substantial
extensions can be added to some buildings
without detracting from the character of
the original. The same additions to other
buildings would result in imbalanced design
or straggling composition. In those cases, a
well-designed modern addition that will not
read as part of the original building will affect
its appearance less radically.
Deferential contrast
This is where the new becomes a modest
backdrop against the old. Even if it is large, it
seeks not to be assertive. It might be achieved
by reflective glass, for example.
Assertive contrast
This means affirmation of the new as a more
or less equal partner to the old. New and old
combined should be of greater lasting value
than either on its own.
As the examples illustrated here show,
extending listed buildings can be challenging
but it often inspires delightful, purposeful
and enduring designs which add to the vitality
and interest of the original building. There is
clearly a need to understand and respect the
original building’s character and significance,
but good design is a creative process and
needs to be considered objectively on an
individual basis. Good judgement and quality
in both design and execution are the keys to
producing results that will be appreciated both
now and for many years to come.
Recommended Reading
Managing change in the historic environment:
Extensions, Historic Scotland, 2010
(
extensions.pdf)
Winchester College Music School
– Nugent Vallis Brierley, 2004
An architectural tour de force
providing much needed studio
space to ES Prior’s 1904 Arts
and Crafts building. The
distinctive roof design provides
optimum acoustics and creates
an interesting skyline feature,
which complements the original
architect’s very individual design.
RichardMacCullagh
MRTPI IHBC BA(Hons)
MSc DipTP is Principal of RMA Heritage (see
page 41), a historic environment consultancy,
which is based in Hampshire. He previously
managed the Conservation and Design team
at Winchester City Council and has worked in
Scotland, Northern Ireland and Dublin.
References
1 Sections 16 and 66, Planning (Listed
Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act
1990, and Sections 14 and 49, Planning
(Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas)
(Scotland) Act 1997
2 Section 72, Planning (Listed Buildings
and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, and
Section 64, Planning (Listed Buildings and
Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997
3 Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
have their own planning policy documents
4 The equivalent policy in Scotland
states: “In general the more extensive
the intervention which is proposed,
the more supporting information
applications should provide”.
(SHEP 3.43.) No comparable advice is
given in Welsh and NI planning policy
documents, but varying the level of
information according to the nature of
the proposal reflects good practice.
5 Historic Scotland, Cadw or the Built
Heritage Directorate of the Northern
Ireland Environment Agency should be
consulted where appropriate on their
higher graded buildings.
6 Vitruvius proposed that architecture
should display three qualities: utilitas,
firmitas and venustas. These were elegantly
rendered into English as ‘commodity,
firmness and delight’ by Sir Henry Wotton
in 1624. However, the message grows more
obscure with the evolution of language,
and ‘functional, durable and attractive’
would perhaps be a more fitting translation
for the 21st century.
