Issue 40 winter 23 web - Flipbook - Page 22
development stretches both up and down with additional
floors and a four storey basement.
Projects don’t get much more complex than this,
combining conservation, restoration and new build.
When you factor in its location in the heart of the West
End and the sympathetic touch needed to balance the
historical value of these heritage assets with the lavish
spaces a luxury hotel demands, the true enormity of the
task can be appreciated.
So, how do you approach addressing this delicate balance?
The first and most important step, according to Jokin,
is to understand the building, its significance and value
(both aesthetically and historically speaking) and to
understand how it was built. This is not something that
can wholly be done prior to construction. The team found
that, as the stripping out works commenced, more of the
original fabric (in addition to altered fabric) was uncovered, allowing them to better read the building and the
layers that have been built up over time; almost an
archaeological approach to discovering the building’s
timeline.
repair at the pinnacle, moving through replication and
ending with removal if the other two are unachievable.
It’s all about balance.
By way of an example, the building was bombed in 1940
and all the roofs were rebuilt, post-war. These, therefore,
have much less historical significance since they were not
original. Additionally, the quality of the rebuilt spaces
housed beneath was not reflective of the original design
intent for the internal spaces, resulting in something
rather labyrinthine. This was identified as an acceptable
area for modern intervention; one which would not
impinge on the historical significance. Here, the roofs are
being rebuilt to include insulation, upgrading the building
envelope to provide better thermal performance.
What is your restoration philosophy and approach?
Once you understand the building, you can find the parts
that add real significance; its heart and soul. Those parts
you fight to preserve. In turn this lets you see the areas
where compromise is possible, allowing for the integration
of modern services and environmental upgrades. A
hierarchy of steps then emerges with conservation and
Above, existing photography showing some of the ornate detailing; decorative plasterwork and mouldings
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