Designing With Sensitivity: Extending the Life and Story of Historic Buildings

Working as architects in sensitive contextual locations—whether within conservation areas, heritage settings or treasured rural landscapes - demands a balance of respect, creativity and technical understanding. These are places where every intervention matters, where a building’s story has already been written over generations, and where our role is to add a thoughtful, durable chapter rather than overwrite what came before.

Heritage projects are rarely straightforward. Their challenges often begin with the very qualities that make them special: irregular forms, time-worn fabric, and layers of adaptation accumulated over decades or centuries. 

Navigating restrictive planning policies, historic fabric constraints, and modern performance expectations requires patience, expertise and often a delicate negotiation between competing priorities.

Yet these limitations are also where the greatest opportunities lie. Working with old buildings invites a slower, more reflective design process - one that begins with listening. 

Understanding how a building has evolved, how it was constructed, and how it has been used allows us to identify the moments where careful change can bring new life. Often, what might initially appear to be a constraint becomes a source of inspiration.

Change of use is one of the most powerful tools in extending a building’s life. When a structure can no longer serve its original purpose, reimagining its function allows it to remain relevant, valuable and cared for. These transformations—whether turning a historic farm building into a home, adapting a traditional outbuilding into workspace, or giving a community structure a renewed role - can reveal new qualities within the old fabric. They offer a chance to uncover hidden craftsmanship, reintroduce natural light, or reinterpret original materials in a contemporary way.

Enhancement does not have to mean extravagance. Sometimes it’s the simplest gestures—a sensitively designed extension, improved thermal performance, or a clearer spatial arrangement that help a historic building continue its story. 

When handled well, the dialogue between old and new enriches both: the contemporary elements highlight the texture and depth of the original fabric, while the historic structure gives weight and authenticity to the new.

Ultimately, the success of working in sensitive contextual locations lies in achieving harmony: respecting the past while allowing the building to meet the needs of the present and future. For us, there is immense beauty in this journey. Every project becomes a collaboration across time - an opportunity to preserve, enhance and celebrate buildings that hold meaning for their communities and landscapes, ensuring they continue to live, serve and inspire for many years to come.