Building, Heritage and Conservation
Creative, adaptive reuse of old buildings
“Weaving the old story into the new story, both in attention to detail and in overall picture, is one of Nicola’s superpowers. Along with her understanding of building heritage and conservation, retrofitting, problems, arguments, challenges and restrictions”
In 2000s, as visitor attractions and hospitality businesses were looking more and more at expanding into more characterful old and interesting buildings, I decided to further my understanding of dealing with the complex challenges (Especially around listings) that old buildings presented by studying Building Heritage and Conservation at Lancaster University. Educating myself to be able to support their conservation and reuse and to value the character of each building. Also, to understand retrofitting and using innovative methods to enhance energy efficiency to meet modern standards. Done sympathetically, working with old buildings can provide rewarding outcomes and breathe new life into their ongoing stories.
I gained valuable skills that allowed me to identify each building’s uniqueness and enable a sensitive approach to their individual and often complex set of challenges. My experience spans listed buildings of all types, from school houses, churches and public houses, to railway stations, Georgian and Victorian properties, farmhouses and as an extension of heritage projects, even steam ships. All have something new to teach.
Key skills: Advocacy for sensitive approaches to conservation and re-use, Planning and legal requirements, Building regulations and building fabric challenges.
The work of a heritage and conservation designer is to see the opportunities old buildings present, capturing a sense of time and place and social significance for the communities around them. And blending design appropriately for their new purpose and identity. (Read the story of Great John Street). For me, they also offer us a chance to appreciate the legacy of their architecture, building methods, and materials often influenced by their geography, and local building nuances.
I find huge personal pride in the conservation and adaptive reuse of buildings, not only in avoiding demolition, landfill and waste–embodied energy, but in appreciating the workmanship. Repurposing old buildings is a more sustainable approach to design than building new.
Tim Brown, CEO IDEO
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
I have been working with historic buildings since I started my career in filmmaking. Unearthing historic locations and buildings to film in for period dramas like Sherlock Holmes, and studying them in detail to recreate for film sets. My design school studies in design history and architecture were put to good use. Manchester landscape with it canals and industrial history, was a rich tapestry of learning and creative resource.
One of my favourite interactive and immersive installations was whilst I was working on a visitor attraction at the Museum of Science and Industry, which had a ‘listed’ building, part of the station buildings where Stevenson’s rocket once graced the railway tracks.
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
In the late 90s whilst working at Granada Television, a huge revival of Manchester’s Castlefield area was under way. My early experience of surveying warehouses for Granada television was a cold, damp, miserable one. But I started to appreciate the beauty and architectural advancement in these grand structures. They were a direct connection to a bygone era celebrating the wealth and travels of the Victorians as a result of the Industrial Revolution. The steamships and trains to Europe brought back with them a wealth of new architectural knowledge.
Also, in the late 90s and early 2000s the building heritage and conservation movement was getting bad press, as many owners realised they could not develop their buildings due to the listing process. And the cost of repairs, specialised maintenance, insurance, and costs to bring them up to modern standards was formidable. Many buildings were left to decay, purposefully. Consent for works made the process longer and more difficult. I was able to take the skills of building heritage and conservation, combined with design and temporary structures, and rethink the design process.
A FIRM FAVOURITE
St Matthews. The upgrading of a listed old Sunday School building in Manchester into comfortable office accommodation. Built-in 1872, St Matthews was a unique, freestanding brick construction. But as with most old buildings, the thermal qualities of this old building made it unbearable for the employees who worked there. Uncomfortably hot environments in summer and a huge cold space in the winter. The solution was to break down environments into smaller, defined spaces, offices and communal spaces, where more thermal control was possible. Adding insulative materials where possible increased energy efficiency and provided a more pleasant and controllable use of spaces. Electrifying windows and blinds produced more control over sunlight and cold. Smaller areas meant lighting and heat could be used more efficiently.
THE STORY CONTINUES
I went on to work on many listed buildings and in conservation areas continuing to support building reuse. Visitor attractions, hotels, retail businesses, cafes and restaurants. Over time, I have had the opportunity to work on and advise on private historic homes in the UK and USA. I have converted Victorian train stations, renovated part of an old chapel, designed a golf club in a historic building and worked on much more besides.
Areas of Work
Hi, I'm Nicola
- Award Winning Designer of Built Environments:
- Boutique hotels, cruise ships, film and television
- Social Entrepreneur & Advocate for Sustainable Change:
- Diabetes, End of Life Conversations, Sustainable/Green Communities & Environments
- Expert Coach
- Creatrix of the Alignment Process
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Concepts- visioning -ideation
- Communication
- Research
- Mood boards
- Technical drawings – construction drawing
- Managing teams
- Finance – budgets – procurement
- Construction
- Working with – builders – architects – engineers – building and heritage conservation experts and government and local agencies – tradespeople – soft furnishers – electricians – plumbers – decorators – carpenters – specialist joiners – plasterers – builders – bespoke design makers and fitters – landscapers – gardeners
Qualifications
Studied Building Heritage and Conservation at Lancaster University and Retrofitting Buildings for Energy Efficiency – Cumbria Action for Sustainability.