Listed Buildings: Breathing new life into historic properties

23 Jan 2025

Working with Listed Buildings does not mean we have to disregard creativity, and it does not need to feel constrained or unexciting, however it takes a special approach to make a new mark.

At Burlington Arcade we were presented with a classic historical London retail space which turned out to contain a mixture of very fine-looking heritage features and some obvious and unattractive additions. First deciding to retain the best of the existing shop fittings and working with the local authority Conservation Officer to agree sensitive internal adjustments, we were then able to introduce new ingredients which result in a bright men’s shoe display within the characteristic curved shopfront. The visitor is now able to experience the flow of the old staircase and restored views into the arcade from a fresh and comfortable upstairs salon.

The first stage of identifying historical assets in old property can often seem obvious, but occasionally it takes the expertise of a heritage consultant to prioritise the most significant aspects with which to convince the local authority. At our Grade II Listed Townhouse project in Mayfair, we modernised each room with the least disruption to its traditional features and corrected a few incorrect choices of recent owners. The meeting room here strikes a good balance between feeling both residential and business-like.

Adding an extension to a Listed Building is always an exciting opportunity to stretch the design boundaries, and sometimes a modern addition works perfectly by offering a clearly defined contrast. Some local authorities are happy to accept lightweight or glazed links when well-executed. For an active family, it can be a life-changing to expand into a large contemporary space.

The owner of a Hampshire coaching inn with its origins in the 14th Century had several previously unsuccessful attempts to achieve consent for the restoration of a historical building which had been insensitively sub-divided into modern hotel bedrooms. With a strategic and sympathetic approach to restoration, we were able to retain the spirit of the original coach-house, exposing timber roof timbers, and marking the position of lost structural features. This is now a multi-use venue for weddings and parties where new memories are made.

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