VIDEO | Protecting and promoting heritage assets
Conversations about how best to restore and reuse historic buildings are often left too late or do not happen at all, according to architecture practice Purcell. The company is trying to change this by taking a conservation-first approach and asking others to do the same.
In conversation with Place North West senior report Dan Whelan at UKREiiF, Purcell partner Jo Bartle and head of sustainability Laura Baron discussed the importance of getting to know a building intimately before any work takes place.
This knowledge, they said, can prevent problems rearing their heads further down the line and ultimately keep costs down.
“Some of these buildings have been standing for hundreds of years,” Bartle said.
“They’ve stood because they’re well-built and well-understood. We want to make sure that that happens in the future.”
The pair spoke about the biggest challenges that arise when working with heritage buildings, the role conservation can play in addressing the climate crisis, and pondered over whether a blanket ban on demolishing buildings should be considered.
“It’s definitely the right conversation,” Baron said. “Whether or not it’s the right solution is still up for debate.”
Watch the video at the top of this article, or on the Place North West Youtube channel, to listen in on the discussion.
You can find out more about Purcell at purcelluk.com.
