Our Built Heritage

“Clearing out the gutters is probably the cheapest, most effective thing you can do to look after a building.”

Rosie Fraser, Sinfonia Smith Square.

In this episode I am joined by Rosie Fraser, Chief Executiveof Sinfonia Smith Square, a Grade 1 listed former church which is now being used as a concert hall and venue space in the centre of Smith Square, Westminster in London. Rosie is also a Vice-Chair of London Historic Buildings Trust.

Rosie shares her journey and how it started with a love ofhistory which led her to becoming a charted surveyor working in Perth, Scotland and Cambridge. Rosie supported clients turning buildings such as barns into residential and commercial buildings which not only needed to be compliant and sympathetic they also needed to be financially viable. Rosie then moved to the Prince’s Regeneration Trust, now called the King’s Foundation, where she was the commercial director. Set up by the Prince of Wales (at the time) the charity worked across the UK to help rescue and restore listed buildings at risk.

We talk about the history of the Sinfonia Smith Square andwhat makes it special from an architectural perspective but also to the community and how the community are encouraged to get involved with the building and the events that are held in the space.

We chat about the challenges of working with olderproperties and Rosie shares her experiences of dealing with installing heating and the subsequent damp problem it created.

We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

If you liked what you heard it would be great if you can share Our Built Heritage with anyone else, you think will find it interesting and also subscribe so that you know when the next episode has been released. It would be amazing if we between us can raise awareness on our built heritage.

“But there's also the requirement to be slow and steady and meticulous. And that's the bit where I really, really do worry about what's next.”

Sharon Womersley, Reveal Doors & Windows.

In this episode I am joined by Sharon Womersley, SalesDirector for Reveal Doors & Windows where she supports clients with complex glazing needs with an extensive knowledge of working with traditional and listed buildings. Reveal own and are based in Leigh House a Grade 2* Listed Building in Pudsey.

Sharon describes her journey into the world of heritage and how they became the custodians of a Grade 2* Listed Building in Pudsey, Leigh House, proving how buildings need love and the right kind of owner to survive. We talk about the provenance of Leigh House and the vision of the original owner and how it expanded its spinning mill operation over the years until its decline. Sharon’s enthusiasm for Leigh House is infectious.

We talk about how looking after a listed period property hasinfluenced how they work and help clients on their projects to achieve their glazing needs. What you might need to think about when replacing windows or doors or you are looking at creating new window and door openings in a traditional property. It goes beyond aesthetics and how you need to consider the buildings location, wind, rain, sun, acoustics etc. in order to select the right product that is sensitive to the building.

We chat about the advances in technology and what ispossible to deal with climate change and large expanses of glazing and the importance of quality fitting and the after-care service and not being seduced by what looks like a “cheap’ price – what are you actually paying for and whatwill be a “hidden” extra if you don’t ask the right questions?

We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

If you liked what you heard it would be great if you canshare Our Built Heritage with anyone else, you think will find it interesting and also subscribe so that you know when the next episode has been released. It would be amazing if we between us can raise awareness on our built heritage.

“The hierarchy of significance doesn't necessarily equate to the older, the higher.”

Lisa McFarlane, Seven Architecture.

In this episode I am joined by Lisa McFarlane, Director andRIBA Specialist Conservation Architect at Seven Architecture. Lisa specialises in heritage, conservation and new buildings in historical settings across the UK. She is also a member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC).

Lisa shares her journey and how maths is an important partof being an Architect and where her enjoyment for older buildings and repurposing them came from. This was furthered when she undertook a Masters in conservation whilst working full time in a practice. The Masters reinforced the importance of heritage and developed Lisa’s understanding of obtaining funding and how to make projects in heritage work alongside technology and how thebuilding fabric works and responds in more traditional methods of construction.

We talk about the trends in designs and people’s perceptionof buildings and how climate agendas may also be playing a part in how buildings are seen, looked after and developed.

We talk about working with traditional buildings and how toreuse them sensitively whilst also maintaining a building and the need to understand the construction to make sure the materials selected are appropriate. Lisa shares some of the projects she has worked on which helps to bring to life howshe puts this into practice.

We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

If you liked what you heard it would be great if you canshare Our Built Heritage with anyone else you think will find it interesting and also subscribe so that you know when the next episode has been released. It would be amazing if we between us can raise awareness on our built heritage.

“It's a beautiful and yet very basic question, isn't it?”

James Wright, Triskeley Heritage.

In this episode I am joined by James Wright, from TriskeleyHeritage, an archaeological consultancy practice based in Nottingham offering building archaeological services. James is also a published author and worked as a specialist consultant on a number of films, television and radio programmes.

James appeared in Series 3, Episode 5 where we talked abouthow he got into working in the heritage sector, common themes and misconceptions that keep cropping up in his line of work and advice for people who own a traditional property.

We talk about what could make a building significant and thefactors that may influence this along with the stories that are associated with a building that can further impact the significance. Changes in people’s requirements could then be translated into not only the adaptation but also the significance of a building.

We chat about how the function of a building may change dueto the requirements placed on it and how buildings are adapted and why they might have been built in the first place.

We also discuss what to look for when trying to read abuilding and how the way buildings were listed means that there are buildings out there that are centuries older than they first appear to be. There is also evidence of buildings that should be listed but have not been properly assessedand the ramifications of this. 

James and I discuss climate change and what this might meanfor buildings.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

If you liked what you heard it would be great if you canshare Our Built Heritage with anyone else, you think will find it interesting and also subscribe so that you know when the next episode has been released. It would be amazing if we between us can raise awareness on our built heritage.

“I love historic buildings, but without people, they don't mean anything.”

Charlotte Tomlinson, Heritage Network.

In this episode I am joined by Charlotte Tomlinson,  Development and Outreach Officer for England at the Heritage Network. Charlotte oversees a national programme of sector support and peer learning events, empoweringcommunity heritage initiatives with the rescue and reuse of schemes, and heritage-led regeneration. 

Charlotte shares how her love of history influenced heracademic choices and exposed her to the meaning of heritage. We talk about her early roles after completing a Masters and PHD and the importance of communitygroups and how integral they are to looking after buildings and community benefits it brings.

We chat about what heritage means practically and when itcomes to a building that isn’t being used and what this means for the building, the community and the environment. Challenges often come from the people involved not understanding the value and thinking it is more complicated than it is rather than the condition of the building being too challenging to keep and it is this perception of heritage that prevents buildings from being saved.

We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

If you liked what you heard it would be great if you canshare Our Built Heritage with anyone else you think will find it interesting and also subscribe so that you know when the next episode has been released. It would be amazing if we between us can raise awareness on our built heritage.

“For us, conservation is the incredibly careful management of change”

Kelly O’Driscoll, Blenheim Palace.

In this episode I am joined by Kelly O’Driscoll, Head ofBuilt Heritage at Blenheim Palace. Kelly’s work involves creating, programming and delivering Blenheim Palace’s Conservation Strategy which involves looking after the estate and making sure the 1m visitors each year have a quality experience in spite of the restoration programme that is happening all around them. Visitors are encouraged to join the journey with a “No apology for the scaffold” approach. You can’t have one without the other and Kelly is an obsessive champion of craft and conservation skills- architects, structural engineers and artisans.

We talk about how Kelly’s journey from being an Architectand working with hospitals, schools, universities and historical buildings led to her being the Architect for an island. The work she undertook was challenging and incredibly sensitive in nature prior to joining the team at Blenheim Palace.

We chat about the importance of communication and having adetailed project plan that factors in all the different priorities for the building and generating income to help care for it. Working to a longer term 15-yearplan means consideration is given to the future rather than being focused onlyon the present. Kelly explains how work is assessed and the information that is gathered to inform decisions.

Kelly shares her thoughts on restoration, conservation,preservation and repair and how these words do and don’t apply to the work they undertake at Blenheim Palace from roof repairs, replacing guttering and the orangery roof.

We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

If you liked what you heard it would be great if you canshare Our Built Heritage with anyone else, you think will find it interesting and also subscribe so that you know when the next episode has been released. It would be amazing if we between us can raise awareness on our built heritage.

In this episode I am joined by Hannah Pallubinsky, Assistant Professor at Maastricht University where she co-leads the Thermoregulation and Metabolism research group. Hannah’s research focuses on how environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and air quality impact human physiology, health, and well-being. With particularly interest in how our bodies respond to indoor and outdoor environments, and how we can design healthier living and working spaces in the face of climate change.

Hannah talks about how her research has influenced her views on the built environment and the relationship humans have with buildings and how the indoor environment influences our health plus the role old buildings play given the number that are in existence. Old buildings were designed to fit the needs of occupants and as designs have changed how much is considered about the health of the occupants’ vs the buildings aesthetics?

We chat about the complications that mechanical ventilationcan have on a person if it were to fail. The impact an environment can have on your health and if we are not exposed to any variation in temperature it can result in a body not performing as it should and our bodies often get lazy. Biologically we are comfort seekers!

Hannah shares how the research can feed into the builtindoor environment and make buildings more resilient for the future. 

We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

If you liked what you heard it would be great if you canshare Our Built Heritage with anyone else you think will find it interesting and also subscribe so that you know when the next episode has been released.

It would be amazing if we between us can raise awareness onour built heritage.

In this episode I am joined by Mairi Claire Bowser, a Dundeeborn Production Buyer, currently based in the South of England. Mairi Claire has worked in the Film and TV industries across the UK since 2011, and has been actively engaged with, and has helped to lead movements for, environmentaljustice in relation to the screen sector since then.

Mairi Claire shares her journey into film and TV productionand how the magic happens but also what does and doesn’t happen to props and set components and the challenges they face.

We talk about sustainability and the carbon impact but alsothe social side and human equality aspects and how all these factors need to be a driving force in decision making.

Mairi Claire talks about what it’s like to own a wikka mudhouse and the complexities and joy of owning such a unique property.

We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

If you liked what you heard it would be great if you canshare Our Built Heritage with anyone else you think will find it interesting and also subscribe so that you know when the next episode has been released.

It would be amazing if we between us can raise awareness onour built heritage.

Link to the map Mairi Claire mentioned

Natural, Historic, Alternative & Sustainable Building& Renovation in the UK Resource Map

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1K3066GOUPYDTIACOU784arzJYhVnfI0&usp=sharing

Material Redistribution Map for the U.K Film & TVIndustries

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1U1gKn0ewMoy96HKB8xMdSulJxEuJO3E&usp=sharingc

https://www.mcbowser.com/

In this episode I am joined by Ellora Coupe Founder of HerRetrofit Space and Her Own Space, two interconnected member platforms empowering women to lead the UK’s home retrofit revolution.

Ellora shares her journey from interior architecture andexposure to building sites at a young age thanks to her father. We talk about how she works with a client and the importance of understanding the client and what they need from their space to ensure the right solution is achieved whichmay mean reconfiguring a space rather than adding an extension. We also talk about seeing properties differently with more of a car mindset then how we often see a property which can be to its detriment.

We chat about what you might consider when you areretrofitting a property and how misleading that word is.

We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

If you liked what you heard it would be great if you canshare Our Built Heritage with anyone else you think will find it interesting and also subscribe so that you know when the next episode has been released.

It would be amazing if we between us can raise awareness onour built heritage.

In this episode I am joined by John Hall, Director at Remedial Repair & Restoration where they help clients to seamlessly blend old and new brickwork whilst also offering restorationservices on all types and ages of properties.

John shares where his interest in bricks came from and thejourney he went on which led him to starting his specialist business which includes supply and restoration of historic bricks including brick matching and paint removal. We talk about some of the projects he has worked on.

We discuss the tinting process and how bespoke it is whichuses the porous properties of the bricks to achieve the results to ensure the colour is right for the building and the setting. FYI it is not painting bricks!

John shares his thoughts on ivy, air bricks and letting abuilding breathe and how quickly stone can decay if it has a crack in it.

We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

If you liked what you heard it would be great if you canshare Our Built Heritage with anyone else you think will find it interesting and also subscribe so that you know when the next episode has been released.

It would be amazing if we between us can raise awareness onour built heritage.