Restoring Historic Buildings – Conservation Philosophy
We believe that when restoring historic buildings, it is extremely important to maintain the original character of the building. We want to keep the history of the building at the forefront of our minds and respect it. We recently read “New Design for Old Buildings” by Roger Hunt and Iain Boyd and found their Conservation Philosophy a fantastic set of guidelines to keep in mind when re-designing historic buildings. Here are the basic principles:
- Respect the beauty and imperfections of age
- Retain original fabric and surface patina
- Respect historic alterations and additions
- Conserve rather than restore, repair rather than replace
- Carry out honest and legible repairs using compatible materials
- Fit new materials to the old rather than adapting the old to accept the new
- Avoid artificial ageing new materials
- Make additions reversible where possible and appropriate
- Steer clear of conjecture and do not try to reinstate what has been lost
- Undertake regular maintenance to avoid problems developing
- Record and document
- Retain the building and its fabric in its setting
- Delay change until the full impact of what is intended is understoof
- Never be afraid of good new design where it complements the old
