Adaptive re-use of historic buildings

“The most sustainable building is the one that already exists.”Phil Easton Founder, Western Design Architects

This might seem such an obvious statement and yet there are many redundant buildings which could be readily adapted for a new use. The hardest project brief is to be commissioned to convert redundant farm buildings into open market housing, which has huge on-costs in terms of providing infrastructure, heating, lighting, power, drainage and access, but can simultaneously save buildings from dereliction. All buildings comprise embodied energy inherent in the materials from which they are constructed. When repaired and repurposed they are valued because of their intrinsic appearance.

Successful adaptive reuse of any building depends on understanding its significance and its sensitivity to and capacity for change. Caring for old buildings is an enormous privilege and not something that we take lightly. We strive to add value to those buildings in our care by enhancing or improving them for future generations.

Rethink Regenerate is an RIBA initiative that considers the value of using heritage assets to regenerate communities and explore how we can manage the places that matter most to local people. In this respect we are tackling projects for Bridport Town Council investing in the local community with a Solar Park at Plottingham Fields, Changing Places disabled facilities at West Bay and a step free entrance ramp to the WI Hall in North Street are good examples of making Bridport Conservation Area more sustainable and wheelchair accessible.

Adaptive re-use is reimagining, reusing and repurposing existing buildings and their materials with minimal intervention and a light touch. This includes the sensitive insertion of secondary glazing, Slimlite double glazing, underfloor heating and the relocation of elements in different configurations, with authenticity and respect. The on-cost of reusing materials requires an understanding of taking down, storing and securing elements for re-use.