Need a Conservation Architect?
EKJN’s Approach to Conservation
EKJN's Managing Director Scott Wallace was awarded RIAS Accreditation in Conservation Architecture in 2020. The EKJN team have years of experience in conserving, restoring and enhancing historic buildings including Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments and buildings in Conservation Areas.
All historical buildings require periodic conservation and maintenance, and many will require enhancements to allow them to fully meet the demands of 21st Century life - whether that be in terms of improved accessibility, thermal performance, or flexibility of use.
EKJN believe that conservation is not just about preserving elements of historic building fabric, but also about preserving the very use and enjoyment of traditional buildings by optimising them for new and existing uses through appropriate site-sensitive alterations where required.
EKJN follow a rigorous approach to the technical design and specification of conservation projects. Where insulation and heating systems are introduced, it is crucial that such interventions maintain the ability of historic fabric to breathe and to stay well ventilated. EKJN are experts in specifying traditional materials and techniques appropriate to historic structures, such as traditional stone and lime mortar, natural slate, sash and case windows and timber detailing where appropriate.
Statutory Requirements for Historic Buildings
The process of working with historic buildings often requires specific additional steps in the statutory and design detailing processes. Listed Building Consent is required for most alterations to Listed Buildings in addition to the usual requirement for Planning Permission, and when working in Conservation Areas additional requirements can also apply - local Councils have more stringent recommendations for what may be permitted within such areas, compared to those projects outwith Conservation Areas.
The EKJN team are fully experienced and fully qualified to guide you through these steps to deal with
the specific requirements related to Listed Buildings and other historic structures.
Some
examples we have been working on recently: Panmure House, Edinburgh
In 2008 Edinburgh Business School appointed EKJN to convert this 1691 townhouse and former home of Adam Smith into a new state-of-the-art centre for study and economic debate.
The existing building fabric required conservation and improved sustainability: stonework was repaired and re-pointed; chimneys were rebuilt; sash and case windows were replaced
including slimline double-glazing; and the roof was re-slated with reclaimed Scottish slate - all using traditional materials and high quality craftsmanship in keeping with the age and
style of the building. Natural and sustainable materials include oak floors, lime plasterwork, distemper paints and sheepwool insulation. The Old Manse, Bo'ness
This extension to an existing old manse building in Bo'ness is all about traditional materiality - the new slate roof is supported by four grand oak trusses
with traditional oak pegs and joints. Externally, natural sandstone walls with traditional lime mortar complement the existing building perfectly, and invisible structural strengthening works
to the existing building allow the building to continue to be enjoyed by future generations. Cross Well, Linlithgow
This 1807 historic Cross Well in Linlithgow required restoration work in 2016 after 200 years of damage and the effects of traffic pollution. The project involved restoring the statues,
re-pointing stonework, re-carving lost features, removing deposits from traffic pollution, bringing water pumps back into working order and installing new lighting to accentuate the intricate
sculptural features of the structure. Castlebank Horticultural Centre, Lanark
The existing building fabric of this building required conservation and improved sustainability: roof timbers were carefully assessed and replaced where required; external walls were repaired
and re-pointed; windows were replaced including slimline double-glazing; and the roof was re-slated with reclaimed Scottish slate - all using traditional materials and high quality craftsmanship
in keeping with the age and style of the building.
Easterinch Steadings, Bathgate
This existing steading boasted many architectural features which were restored in this conversion into 18 houses. The original footprint of the steading, which was L-shaped in plan,
has been mirrored in the proposals to form a new courtyard. New traditional stonework and slate roofing complement the existing structure perfectly.
Duntarvie Castle. Winchburgh
Duntarvie Castle is a Scheduled Monument outside Winchburgh in West Lothian. EKJN's involvement with this project began when kiltmaker Geoffrey Nicholsby purchased the building with the intention of
restoring it after 180 years of dereliction. With the existing roof previoulsy lost and the original tower having previously collapsed, the proposals restore the building
to its former glory. Planning Permission for the restoration has been granted and construction works are now underway.
St Mungo's Church, Alloa
A quinquennial inspection of this building identified several areas of required fabric improvements. Asbestos was safely removed, damages stones in external walls were replaced with new
to match existing, and re-roofing works were carried out with natural slate to match the existing traditional materiality of the building. New conservation rooflights were installed and
glass repairs were carried out.
Please get in touch with the EKJN team to find out how we can help with your conservation project.
