Re-use Italy Competition - Torre Rinalda, Puglia, Italy

Torre Rinalda, near Lecce dates from the XVIth century and informs part of a wider historic regional defensive observation of the coast of Puglia. The tower retains an intangible and tangible cultural significance in terms of its connection to the other historic towers in the region and locally to the adjacent towers of Torre Specchiolla to the north and Torre Chianca to the south. Our response to the brief is to respect the history and significance of the monument, accepting the loss of fabric, resulting in a partial ruin today. The philosophical approach is to provide a 'light touch' for the adaptive re-use as a public square and landmark. In master planning terms this seeks a prototypical concept for the remaining towers along the coast.

In creating a place for gathering the following new key elements form the concept to be seen at and to observe from. These comprise a lido providing safe swimming, recreation, access to the public realm gallery at the historic cistern level and protecting the tower from the further tidal erosion; a cafe as a destination for those arriving from the locality and as a source of revenue including serving events at the tower connecting to the upper podium where 'son et Lumiere' style events can encourage a longer dwell time beyond daytime use. Physical links to the tower are provided via a ramped access set along the coastal path with a new drawbridge to the upper garrison observation level, securing access when the tower is not in use. Within the tower the concept is to provide a vestigial reference re-interpret evidence of lost fabric and use, respecting existing archaeological presentation of 'as found and 'arrested decay'. New interventions are expressed as a light fine grid shell canopy with shrouds and fixings for art and interpretation in the same form. These could be temporary, or a permanent installation covered or open to the elements to suit events and facilitate a network of new small power and lighting.

All Saints Church, Murston

All Saints Church in Murston near Sittingbourne in Kent is listed grade II. It was rebuilt on 1873-4 by the Architect William Burges when the medieval church beside Milton Creek was blighted by industrial fumes and was abandoned c. 1870. This new church was built using spolia from the original medieval church, on a new site further south nearer the High Road. 12th century fabric can be seen re-used in the four-bay arcade to the nave. Pevsner describes the church as ‘compact…with plenty of Burges force’ The church as a typical Burges roof, trefoiled in section with turned tie beams at two levels. Our role is as Inspecting Architect and we have worked with the churchwardens to provide consultancy advice to the church for a new sound system and hearing loop for the main chancel and the Grace Sorrell Room in the south aisle. This will provide the church with opportunities for community events alongside regular church services.

Horniman Museum & Gardens, London

The Horniman Museum & Gardens is listed grade II* and lies in the Forest Hill Conservation Area in the London Borough of Lewisham. The practice has been appointed by the Trustees of the Horniman Public Museum & Public Park Trust as Conservation Advisor to the design team led by Feilden Fowles Architects following an open competition for the repair, refurbishment and alterations to the North Hall Natural History Gallery. Our role includes historic buildings archival research and the preparation of a Conservation Management Plan including a statement of significance, conservation policies and a gazetteer. This has been undertaken in conjunction with a condition survey to inform and support the design and sustainability proposals and as part of the wider Nature + Love Project funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund. The North Hall forms part of the original design by Charles Harrison Townsend in collaboration with the London County Council opened in 1901. The project is due for completion in 2026.

St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Ospringe

The church of St Peter and St Paul in Ospringe near Faversham in Kent is listed grade II* and dates from 1200 with a 14thcentury chancel and 15th century fenestration and was rebuilt and restored in the 19th century by E L Blackburne. The church is within the Diocese of Canterbury and includes the adjacent Bier House and Lychgate which are listed grade II with three grade II listed monuments in the closed church yard adjacent. The practice was appointed as Inspecting Architect for the church in 2022 and work has included advising on inspections and monitoring by a specialist conservation accredited structural engineer relating to movement within the Victorian tower which forms part of the restorations undertaken to the church by Blackburne. Early discussions have also been undertaken with the Parochial Parish Council relating to on-going repairs, potential internal re-ordering of the parish room, the Vestry, and facilities for community events.

Martello Tower ‘C’, Jaywick

Martello Tower ‘C’ at Jaywick on the Essex coast is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and listed Grade II. The Tower is owned by Essex County Council and managed in partnership with Mitie, it has been in use as a heritage and community venue since 2005. The Tower at Jaywick was originally one of twenty-nine towers situated on the east coast of England and it was constructed in 1809 and was manned for the duration of the Napoleonic wars (1810 – 1815). The practice was appointed by Mitie to report on the condition and conservation deficit of the Jaywick Martello Tower for Essex County Council as part of their Explore Essex project for Culture, Heritage, and Green Spaces (www.explore-essex.com). The research and study produced a conservation management plan as part of a development phase funded by the Historic England Covid -19 Emergency Response Fund.

Marlborough House School, Hawkhurst

Marlborough House is listed grade II* and the school and its grounds lie in the Local Character Area of Hawkhurst Wooded Farmland within the High Weald/Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The main house is an 18th century Queen Anne country house which was extended and refurbished by the Arts & Crafts architect George Devey and was subsequently altered and extended through the 20th century when it became a private school. The practice was appointed by the Marlborough House School Trust to undertake historic buildings research and provide a statement of significance to inform and support proposals for an extension and refurbishment of the Art/DT block adjacent to the original walled garden. This led to a full condition survey of the significant fabric of main house, stable block, chapel, and boundary walls; with recommendations for priorities for repair and refurbishments over a five to ten-year period.

The Red House, Overbury

The practice was appointed to work in collaboration with Phillip Meadowcroft Architects as Conservation Specialist providing advice on the potential for internal re-ordering of later interventions. Our work included researching the history of the house and its setting and preparing a Statement of Significance to accompany an application for statutory consent. The property is Grade II listed and lies on the Overbury Estate in Worcestershire in the Overbury Conservation Area. The original Georgian house was altered by the architect Ernest Newton in 1901 and in 1910 and at a time when he was also working on adjacent properties. The Red House became a school and then returned to a private residence in the later part of the twentieth century. The main alterations by Newton are the noteworthy insertion of Venetian windows to the front elevation and a new annexe; utilising local craft and materials in conjunction with modern materials, seeking to reflect the principles of the Arts & Crafts movement which flourished in the Cotswolds between 1890 and 1930.

Guildhall Museum, Sandwich

The practice has been appointed by Sandwich Town Council as Historic Buildings Consultants working with the Museum and Heritage Officer to prepare a report including a statement of significance for the historic rooms with the Grade II* Guildhall. The report will include a background to the sequence and methodology for the renewal and replacement of existing electrical services and lighting. The historic rooms include the Court Room, Council Chamber which date from 1579 and are still in use today. The Guildhall represents a palimpsest of change from the 16th century, through the 18th and 19th century, to the more recent extension in the 20th century.

Radford House, Ramsgate

Working in collaboration with del Renzio & del Renzio with the client Ramsgate Town Council, we prepared a condition survey and heritage statement for Radford House. This Grade II listed building was originally the former 18th century home of Rear Admiral William Fox RN and became a Ramsgate Fire Station in 1905 and remained in use until relatively recently. In the provision of a new fire station the 18th century building had extensive changes to the front facade and internally to the ground floor to accommodate the new use. Proposals are now being prepared for an application for funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund for a new community use and business hub as part of the Ramsgate Heritage Action Zone designated by Historic England.

Dartmouth Row, Blackheath

Working in collaboration with Ian Chalk Architects, we were appointed to undertake primary and secondary research relating to the history of Hillside Lodge. The building is an un-designated asset and lies in Blackheath Conservation Area. The occupancy records indicated that the Victorian villa dating from 1884 was originally a school; later subdivided and now a private residence. Our work to provide a heritage statement informed and supported proposals by Ian Chalk Architects which included re-modelling the existing garage to provide a new bike store with terrace above, internal re-modelling and external remodelling of the existing kitchen together with landscaping to the rear courtyard garden.

Image: Morley Von Sternberg

Hotel Cafe Royal, London

The hotel dates from 1926 and is Grade II listed. It lies in the Regent Street Conservation Area and is part of The Crown Estate. We previously worked on proposals for the Hotel Cafe Royal between 2009 and 2013 whilst Associate Director at Donald Insall Associates; with David Chipperfield Architects as the Lead Consultant. The practice was appointed in 2019 by the hotel to undertake designs for new displays to the Cakes and Bubbles Cafe and the Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Centre. We are currently working in collaboration with Lissoni & Partners (Milan) on proposals for a new canopy to the Regent Street entrance which received listed building consent and planning permission in November 2022.

Former Granville Hotel, Ramsgate

Working in collaboration with del Renzio & del Renzio and the consultant team, the practice was appointed by Heritage Lab CIC as Historic Building Consultant to undertake a condition survey and design advisory role. Proposals include new uses as artists residences, community use and live work start up business hub. The original building, by Edward Pugin dates from 1867 and is listed Grade II has had a series of modifications over time. It has been vacant and deteriorating since 1991 and lies within the Ramsgate Conservation Area which is designated by Historic England as a Heritage Action Zone. The initial survey of the significant fabric assessed the conservation deficit of the ballroom and public function rooms of the former Granville Hotel in Ramsgate. The report has been included in a successful funding application to the Architectural History Fund.

St Mary’s Church, Petworth

Working in collaboration with the Inspecting Architect, Jane Jones Warner, we were appointed to assist with undertaking proposals for alterations to the west door and for new joinery to provide storage for the Marchant Room (used by the parish for Sunday School and meetings). Our work also included assisting with the assessment, scheduling and specifying external repairs to the Leconfield steps which included in-situ, stone repair, consolidation, re-pointing to the steps, the entrance elevation, paving and works to the rainwater goods.  St Mary’s Church in Petworth is Grade I listed and is medieval in origin; it was restored by Sir Charles Barry in 1827.

Lord Warden House, Dover

We were appointed by the Port of Dover to undertake a condition survey to the significant fabric to Lord Warden House in Dover as part of their quinquennial review of buildings on their estate. The building is a former Victorian hotel; currently partially occupied as offices. It is Grade II listed and has what were once splendid ballrooms, which are in a very poor state of repair and have been unoccupied for some time. It was designed and built to designs by Samuel Beazley between 1848 and 1853 and in its hey-day it attracted a rich clientele on their way to and from the continent, including Charles Dickens and Emperor Napoleon III. During the Second World War the hotel was taken over by the Navy and was known as HMS Wasp; it was the headquarters of the Coastal Force.

Tower Hamlets Town Hall, London

Working in collaboration with Ian Chalk Architects, we are appointed as the Conservation Specialist within the Design Guardian team role to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The project includes the repair, refurbishment and extension of the Grade II listed Former Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. The former hospital will become the new Tower Hamlets Town Hall. The project commenced on site in 2019 and was completed in 2023. Our work includes liaison with the local authority planning and conservation officers, the lead architects Allford Hall Monaghan & Morris, their conservation architects Richard Griffiths Architects and the main contractor, under a Design and Build Contract. We have recently been consulted on repairs to the facades, methodologies for the repair to the chapel and proposals for the external windows to retained facades.

Slip Lane, Alkham

We have recently completed a condition report on the significant fabric of this Grade II rural cottage in Alkham, in conjunction with proposals by Holloway Studio for a new development in the grounds adjacent to the cottage. The Cottage is timber framed and clad in red bricks with gauged brickwork details. It is in need of repair and refurbishment to the external and internal fabric including structural works. The main two storey wing appears to date from 1712 as denoted by a plaque and the Slatter Coat of Arms. The single storey annexe appears much older and is likely to be the original building on the site. The cottage lies in the Alkham Conservation Area, the Kent Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and is in the vicinity of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Lower Street, Leeds

We were appointed by the current owners for the adaptive re-use and refurbishments to Abbey Farmhouse in Leeds, Kent. The Grade II farmhouse dates from the late 17th century and has later 19th century alterations. The farmhouse is located on the Scheduled Monument site of Leeds Priory. Proposals included the repair and refurbishment of the vertical tile hung elevations to include thermal upgrading to the facade in a sustainable way. Scheduled Monument Consent was granted by Historic England for the repair the existing boundary conditions and for the re-modelling two semi derelict barns that straddle a remaining section of the Kent Rag stone former medieval precinct wall to the Priory.

St Mary’s Church, Bepton

In collaboration with the Inspecting Architect, Jane Jones Warner, we were appointed to assist with undertaking a quinquennial inspection of St Mary’s Church in Bepton. The report provided a review of the condition of the church and included recommendations for the prioritisation of repair or maintenance. The church is Grade I listed and lies within the Diocese of Chichester. The church was built was built by the Normans somewhere between 1180 and 1185; it is situated on the south facing escarpment overlooking the South Downs Way. The report was submitted to the Diocese of Chichester as part of my successful application to join their register of Inspecting Architects.