4 C O N T E X T 1 1 1 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 9 Letters Vernacular under threat From Peter Richards, by email I am not sure what message, if any, the cover of Context 110 (July) was meant to send. I can find no reference to it, other than the photo credit, in the magazine. I find it disturbing that we are illustrating, without comment, the use of top-hung night vents on such an interesting historic building. In two cases these lights unbalance the symmetry of the faces. furthermore the frames look disturbingly UPvcish. even more unsympathetic is the use of one standard casement type on all faces of a vernacular building which seems to have developed incrementally over generations. There must at some stage have been a variety of window types reflecting the different roof and wall patterns. over the past 20 years I have noticed, all over the kingdom, an increasing lack of sensitivity to the nuances of vernacular buildings in the countryside, often with designers trying hard to standardise and organise cottages and modest houses, hiding the haphazard nature of the manner in which such buildings have developed. This approach does not seem to have been resisted in many rural areas. Is this the lack of concern by conservation officers, or are they too busy, or are they not even in post? Peter Richards Institute of Historic Building Conservation No 110 July 2009 The rural dimension ‘AlThoUgh we have won the case I am extremely saddened that in the process we have lost a truly fine and decorative example of a 17th century oak staircase and part of the brecon town heritage. It goes without saying that the cultural and historic value of listed buildings is of the utmost importance to the national park.’ Conservation officerWill Hughes commenting on the £1,000 fine and £2,900 costs imposed on the owner of a property in Brecon for altering a Grade II-listed building without listed building consent. ‘I WoKe UP this morning in the 21st century and there was nothing I could do about it.’ Architect Robert Adam speaking at a debate about the controversy over the replacement of Lord Rogers as architect for the redevelopment of Chelsea Barracks. ‘The clUb is open to all who have had buildings destroyed in their lifetimes, simple as that. There are very few rules, we never meet up, I don’t even know who they all are. Self knowledge makes you a member of the club, it’s all a fantasy but not an entirely empty fantasy. ‘certain ground rules have nonetheless been put forward as means of providing club coherence. firstly the building’s architect must be alive and not party to its destruction, secondly the building must be built with the intention of permanence (exhibitions, shops and interiors are not eligible) and thirdly it must be deliberately destroyed or radically altered, it can’t simply burn down. The worst thing you can do is connive in the destruction of your own building and such involvement would lead to lifetime disbarment from the club. ‘Architects are not trying to say a building is good or bad. buildings should be reused as much as possible, careless knocking down of landmarks illustrates the fragility of their masterworks. I’m a great believer that buildings should be reused as much as possible, the public are entitled to live in a somewhat stable visual environment. ‘It’s a bit like losing a baby, we don’t want to shame people. It’s a very touchy matter whether replacements are the superior or not, it’s subject to the vagaries of public opinion and the architect is never in charge, they are always at the behest of instructions from the client.’ Architect Isi Metzstein explaining the Rubble Club in Prospect magazine ‘We [and the Prince of Wales] share a high proportion of the same objectives on issues like craft training, buildings at risk, traditional materials and energy saving. Indeed we commend him for the various initiatives he has taken. ‘however we do hold differing views on the best way to repair and extend old buildings, arguing for good, new design rather than reliance on past styles. This has been the society’s view since its foundation byWilliam Morris in 1877. Indeed the society’s manifesto warns against “feeble and lifeless forgeries”. ‘historic buildings inevitably change and adapt over time. As they evolve they generally contain elements from different historical periods. This adds to their interest and story. We hope that future generations will look back at the extensions and alterations made today, and value them as worthwhile contributions of our own time.What matters to us is first-class design, materials and craftsmanship. for example, the recent refectory at norwich cathedral seems to us a successful marriage between new and old.’ SPAB secretary PhilipVenning expressing his regret that the Prince ofWales was unable to renew his patronage of the society when it expired last year. ‘In SoMe cases it might make more sense to rationalise the stock or redevelop an existing estate. There may be money available for estate renewal and affordable new build and things like that.’ David Lunts, London head of the Homes and Communities Agency, advising local authorities that have lost out on funding for refurbishing council homes to consider demolishing them and rebuilding.This follows the government’s decision to divert £150 million from the Decent Homes refurbishment programme into new house building.
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