Advertise on podcast: Our Built Heritage

In this episode I am joined by Sarah Harrison, Co-Founderand Director of Harrison Stringfellow Architects who specialise in creatively reusing buildings. Sarah is particularly good at negotiating the planning system and finding creative solutions for tricky sites combining organisational skills with a creative flair she is also an accredited RIBA Principle Designer.Harrison Stringfellow Architects ethos is centred around Community, Conservation, and Climate. We talk about Sarah’s journey into conservation and her work as an architect and how exposure to older properties at the start of her career influenced her career progression andviews on repurposing buildings. Sarah and I chat about advances in technology and how trends often influence a build but whether they are appropriate depending on the client and the age of the property and the buildings overall health and understanding this is integral before you start. This will then ultimately lead to creating the right solution to address any issues in lifestyle, building health etc. Sarah describes some of the incredible projects she has worked on, the thought process behind them and the importance of heritage making sure it was centric to the final designs. We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Paul Mowbray, a Scottish award-winning craftsperson and artist who specialises in fine art, sculpture, wood carving and applied art. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the decorative arts, as well as a professional career working on many highly skilled craftsmanship projects and has crafted ornate decorationfor many renowned historic buildings. Paul has also featured in Country Life, The Guardian, The Times and Scottish Field magazine to name a few, and some of his decorative projects have featured on More4 and the BBC.   Paul shares his journey into the industry and how his interests started at an early age and grew as his skills developed working with some incredible mentors and how some of his work ended up in America. It is inspiring how his hard work and dedication led him to work on some amazing projects in a multitude of disciplines. We talk about the importance of understanding the provenance of a piece and how it was crafted and thereforehow it should be cared for so that it remains relevant in today’s world. Paul and I talk about training opportunities, and the lack of them in some cases and how hard it can be to find opportunities to gain hands on experience but also some top tips. We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Jim Whitson, owner and blacksmith at The Blazing Blacksmith based in Peebles. Theethos of the Blazing Blacksmith has always been to give clients the choice to enrich their homes, gardens and lives with innovative and exciting work which is created to suit their practical requirements whilst being sympathetic to thesetting of the piece. Whether it is a practical piece or purely sculptural Jim strives to create work which is individual and striking. We talk about how Jim became a blacksmith, the training he undertook and how he approaches a project and thevariety in the work he is commissioned to produce. From things like strawberries to gates and anything in between. We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Angela Nicholls, a historianand published author whose interest lies in the provision of housing for the poor in early modern England, in particular the nature and variety of post-Reformation almshouses from the 16th century onwards. Angela’s book “Almshouses in Early Modern England”, addresses a neglected element of English welfare history, examining the role and significance of English almshouses in the period 1550 - 1725 and the contribution they made within the developing welfare systems of the time. We discuss the differences between history and heritage andhow they are both important when working on older properties. Angela explains the types of accommodation provided to poor people and how taxes paid for it. How the almshouses have changed and people’s attitudes to them and who might qualify for an almshouse plus parish houses and workhouses. We talk about the welfare system, particularly during the Victorian period and how Parishes looked after the poor and the physical boundaries they set around it. We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone wanting to knowmore about almshouses or you are embarking on a project and are looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Stephanie Harris, an associate lighting designer at CBG Light Perceptions where they provide bespoke design, consultancy and project management services for lighting and associated systems for historic, religious and other important buildings. Stephanie is also a member of the Society of Light and Lighting. We talk about how important it is to understand a space, howit will be used and by whom and how integral a clear brief is to work out what type of lighting is required. We also discuss how reading the building to understand what makes it special and what needs to be highlighted and what may need to be in the background is integral. Stephanie shares her experiences when working on a project and how she creates different lighting levels as over lighting can have a worse impact than under lighting a space or building. When working with a historical and listed building it isvital that the fabric of the building is not impacted and how the context of its setting is important when developing lighting plans plus working with the various bodies to obtain sign off. What chat about how advances in technology helps manage lighting settings to help with sustainability so that lighting is only on when it is needed and the importance of using the right suppliers to ensure longevity of the light fitting and system. We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Venetia Flint, a Material Broker and Commercial Partnerships Lead at Material Index, a leading platform providing the digital infrastructure for end-to-end material reuse in the Construction and Real Estate sectors, achieving a material reuse rate that is 10 times the UK average. With a BSc Hons in Real Estate from Oxford Brookes and five years experience in the Architecture & Design sector, Venetia has an understanding of both the commercial and creative sides of the industry. She connects valuable reclaimed assets with new projects, driving significant cost, carbon and waste savings. We talk about how Venetia got into the industry and how herexposure at a young age to older buildings and items generally planted a seed for the importance to reuse. We get into how Material Index can help companies and projects and that it is not just for older buildings looking to reinstatean item or seamlessly blend finishes but that it can be used from a ground up project where reusing materials on a new build can be just as important. Venetia outlines the approach they take when cataloguing the items and how important the past usages, location and condition is just as important as the dimensions to help tell a story of how and when it has been used and keep its history alive. We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Kathryn Ferry, a historian specialising in Architecture, Design and Seaside Culture. Kathryn has published several books which range from the history of beach huts, through Victorian homes and 1950s kitchens, to the official history of Butlin’s and the story of Britain’s largest Anglican convent at East Grinstead. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Founder Member of the Seaside Heritage Network. The latest publication is called 20th Century Seaside Architecture which is published in association with the 20th Century Society. Katheryn shares where her passion for history and heritagecame from and the roles she has undertaken and working for The Victorian Society where they helped inform the future of a building referring to some great examples. We talk about how the seaside was an integral part of people’s lives and what it meant for the economy and how it was an industry in its own right. Plus, the importance of candy floss, sticks of rock, donuts and amusement arcades.  Kathryn and I talk about how advances in technology, socialelements, country variations, the lack of servants and knowledge have shaped designs and how we interact with and use buildings and spaces. We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Sarah Dowd, serial heritageand cultural entrepreneur, founder and chair of The Tricolor Collective, which is 15 years old this year, as well as Founder and Co-Managing Director of Les Raconteurs and host of “History FFS”, a podcast looking at the intersection ofhistory as seen through the arts. Sarah takes us on her journey of where her passion forheritage came from and how the stories her grandmother told her and the time she spent in England helped shape her view of the world and our connection with the past and also her study and carer choices and the various roles and companies Sarah has worked with and the support she has provided organisations through their challenging times. We talk about the meaning of heritage and how it is widerthan a building and how this informs how you should approach projects. We discuss the importance of collaboration and the need to think about how the endusers of a space will interact with it and how their needs have to be considered in the design process and not just the direct project teams and the funders perspectives – it needs to have an audience first mentality. We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Lorraine Finch, Director andFounder of LFCP where they are accelerating climate and environmental action in cultural heritage through research, knowledge sharing and resource creation and training. LFCP provides remote and onsite consultation, training opportunities and mentoring to museums, libraries and archives nationally and internationally to help them work sustainably and to assist them in meeting their sustainability goals. Lorraine is an accredited conservator specialising in theconservation and preservation of archives, focusing on photographs, film and sound. We talk about how Lorraine got into the conservation worldand how this led to her caring for paper based documents which later expanded into photographs. Lorraine shares some of the projects and artifacts she has worked on which is not only broad ranging but incredible in terms of the significance and age of some of the pieces she has handled and restored. Lorraine shares information on training and routes into theindustry and how climate change is impacting the health and wellbeing of collections and heritage assets. We discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector which includes a myth that you can’t wash paper along with top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Rory Keenan, a SeniorArchitect at Purcell where they offer architectural, master planning and heritage consultancy services.  Purcell’s approach is based on thoughtful understanding of our shared heritage. Inspired by the qualities of each place, they design responsibly for future generations working throughout the UK and abroad.  We talk about how Rory became an architect and the influence his mum and travel had on him and how the difference in training he received in Belfast and then London informed his view of design and architecture. Rory shares his thoughts on the training he received and how it is rare to start with a blank piece of paper and consideration always needs to be given to the existing environment. Rory describes the way he approaches a project and how heloves to get involved in the history, setting and surrounding area and how this informs how he approaches the design and specification and the importance of getting the right people involved in the project, especially when it is a traditional building and how a fireman’s pole may not be a great addition to your home. We discuss how advances in technology and lifestyle changesinfluenced design and architecture plus the usual challenges, common themes and misconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property.   It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.  

In this episode I am joined by Dan Bland from UplandArchitecture. Where he offers a refreshing approach to architecture, conservation and the traditions of building. Dan is also passionate about regenerative agriculture as a means to support sustainable land management and he also raining to be a dry stone waller.  We talk about how Dan became passionate about working with older properties and how this translates to the projects he works on along with the linkages with sustainable land management. We discuss the challenges, common themes and misconceptions working in the heritage sector along with the usual top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Benedict Ryan, Director at Charles Cooper, a Conservation, Restoration & Heritage Consultation Project Manager and Chair of the Young Irish Georgian’s- London Chapter. We talk about how Benedict got into the industry and theincredible projects he has worked on and how he approaches and project and building. We touch on paint analysis and how this may influence the design direction and how to train to be a gilder. We discuss the challenges, common themes and misconceptions working in the heritage sector along with the usual top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Robyn Pender who provides afresh look at the climate emergency through the twin lenses of science and history. Robyn is passionate about the world and promoting change for the better! Robyn was originally a physicist and then studied wall paintings and conservation which then lead her to working in the built environment andworking for Historic England as a Senior Building conservation Advisor. We talk about how buildings should be climate specific andhow World War 2 and the industrial revolution impacted how buildings were built along with the changes in glass making and it becoming cheaper and how this also changed the way a building was built and performed. We discuss the idea of defining a building as a greatcoatand a raincoat, Medieval illumination and wall cloths and how integral they were along with other architectural detailing that helped maintain the property and kept it healthy and structural sound. The way heat transfers or is lost depending on the product and how this can impact on comfort levels.   We look at some of the challenges faced, plus common themes and misconceptions when working in the heritage sector along with the usual top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Russell Trudgen, Architectand Director at Arctic Associates, an award-winning Conservation Architects practice working with heritage properties based in West Yorkshire. They offer thoughtful conservation, restoration, adaption, and extensions of listed buildings as well as new buildings in historic and sensitive settings. We talk about where Russell’s interest in heritage came fromand how this then carried through into his work and the creation of his practice and the work he then focussed on. What might be involved when it comes to working with a traditional and listed building and the planning process andthe skills shortage. We look at some of the challenges faced, plus common themes and misconceptions when working in the heritage sector along with the usual top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Cait Whitson from Whitson’s and Carte Blanche. The aim of Whitson’s is to manufacture, source and supply exceptional products for the decorationindustry. Carte Blanche which was Cait’s first business offered high-end decorative painting and restoration services. We talk about Cait got into the industry and the trainingshe undertook and the kind of properties she worked on which ignited her passion to learn more about paint, how it is made and how it is applied and developing her specialist paint skills in graining and marbling. How life in a male dominated environment was and how she circumnavigated it. We discuss the impact of products on the environment,challenges, common themes and misconceptions working in the heritage sector along with the usual top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.