Harvey-White Design provides heritage consultancy for historic buildings. Since my MSc in Architectural Conservation at University of Kent, I have had the opportunity to work on buildings at risk with small charities protecting heritage assets and local authorities tasked with conserving those assets for future use. Through research, both high-level and in depth, I produce documents to protect their significance. These can be used for consent or grant applications and can also be used to create presentations for stakeholder engagement. I have a sound knowledge of the legislative requirements for the historic environment, including those of conservation areas and work to Historic England Conservation Principles as well as BS7913 (Guide to the Conservation of Historic Buildings.)
Ultimately for a building to have a sustainable future, it must be habitable, so finding a purpose that allow for its ongoing use is both the goal and the challenge because heritage value is about more than just the fabric of the building. It encompasses the stories and roles it has performed in the past as well as the contribution it has made to the local landscape and economy. Understanding the social history that inspired its construction and the typology of architecture also provides clues to the repairs and maintenance required, something that every historic building needs.
Living in an historic building provides a different set of constraints to most houses, but it is still home – the place we come back to. It is where our lives play out and where we seek comfort and quiet. It’s also where we celebrate and experience our major life events. The memories that shape our personalities take place within its walls. These are important aspects of what makes a building significant too; the previous owners and their lived experiences shaped the place that is your home. As the custodian for the current generation, this can create a certain weight of responsibility.
Understanding how to look after a building that has been designated because of its importance and associations can be a steep learning curve, so my experiences with other listed building owners allows me to be supportive and strategic in my approach. I am here to guide and inform, to research and uncover evidence that can be vital to the protection of your home.
In-depth research can also be used for content creation for print media and social platforms, raising awareness of the significance of your property and allowing you to market that in ways which fulfil pubic engagement requirements. It can be used for changes of use applications and provide supporting evidence for conservation projects, design code handbooks and contractor manuals. I believe that if your workforce understands the significance of the building or property, they are more inclined to respect the fabric they are tasked with conserving. Sharing information and documenting decisions within the historic environment, is a large part of managing change.
Each project is different and unique, but all require a thoughtful understanding of their current situation. Learning about your needs and those of your property is a starting point that provides me with information which becomes the brief. Without this I can’t move forward, so the first consultation is at no cost. Next steps are defined by the goal you aim to achieve and cost is based upon the stages required to achieve that goal.
For project management of conservation projects which involve site visits and planning the works schedule with the contractors, ordering products and tracking their progress, I charge an hourly rate. This service is particularly helpful if you are new to refurbishment or work full time as it will build your confidence in the process and keep you informed of every step of the schedule. Any problems that we encounter will be fully discussed so that you are not alone in the decision making; something that can be very stressful if you are not comfortable with building works.
Diane
harveywhitedesign.co.uk 