Our Expertise

We all know how difficult it is to meet the needs of clients where listed buildings are involved. We specialise in understanding the need of the local planners/conservation officers and work with them to find solutions and proposals which satisfy everyone. We have a vast understanding of historic buildings of all periods and how they have developed and why they are important. This appreciation helps us suggest ways of altering or extending the building without compromising what makes it significant. As a RIBA Architect Accredited in Building Conservation, we are also able to work on projects which are grant funded. Furthermore we are ARB & RIBA registered Architects which provides us with the professional training required for the successful running of projects on site.

When specifying and producing construction drawings it is imperative that any repair or intervention does not damage the old fabric. We have the specialist expertise on the materials and methodologies which must be used. This includes the use of lime hair plasters, lime mortars, limecrete floors and foundations, timber frame, stone, brick and roof repairs. In addition we know how modern materials can be used to compliment old buildings such as glass and steel or to upgrade it to comply with current building regulations such as insulations, fireproofing, disabled access and the upgrading of services. Aware of the need to lower carbon emissions, we have also installed heat pumps, wind turbines, solar panels, log burners and rain water harvesters.

Having worked with old buildings for many years, we have built up a network of historic building Contractors and specialist craftsmen capable of delivering results to a very high standard. Furthermore we are able to recommend specialist Historic Building Recorders, Archaeologists, Quantity Surveyors and Structural Engineers whom we have all worked extensively with before and whom are experts in this field.

We produce detailed specifications and construction drawing packages to provide competitive tenders and ensure all the works envisaged have been allowed for before the contract starts on site. Historic buildings are unpredictable and inevitably there will be unexpected findings, these can include frame decay and the discovery of a well or old windows. We therefore regularly visit site and are able to quickly agree the best repair or find the best adaptation or design needed. We are well trained in dealing with the unforeseen and ensure your project has a healthy contingency before works start, then any alteration is priced and agreed by you as the project progresses. This makes certain you have up to date information and are able to control the project so it comes within your budget and time scale.

Our Work

We can work on virtually any form of assignment; but we are best when there is a historic aspect to the project. Here are some examples of the type of projects we like:

Private Clients
Your home could be a small cottage, Farm house, Manor/Hall house, a small or large Victorian or Georgian building or an outbuilding/barn. It could either be Listed or simply old. Maybe you want to do repairs or restoration work, alter the layout or build a new extension to accommodate a new Kitchen, Sunroom or Bedroom. Perhaps you want to make better use of the outbuildings attached to or near your home to provide additional accommodation. Maybe you need a new outbuilding such as a cartshed, garage or swimming pool.

Public historic buildings
This might be an existing or potential community hall, wedding venue, art studio, museum, gallery, office, school, or holiday let where you want to get a project underway. We are often approached by charitable bodies to restore a redundant building and adapt its use and layout to provide a lively facility for the community, often involving funding from grant aided bodies, such as English Heritage, The Heritage Lottery fund or Local Authority.

Churches
For many of the Churches throughout, East Anglia and London we produce Quinquennial condition reports, as a Diocesan appointed Architect. We are also involved in incorporating new facilities within churches like kitchens, toilets, music and performance platforms, crèches, meeting rooms and improve the access into churches.