the approved design, or find ways of adapting itwithin the key parameters of the original design approach. We requested a new application, but saw no realistic way of resisting what could be considered as apparently minor changes (imagine fighting the appeal!). The cumulative effect was a significant loss of quality on a site where it is vital. This case has obvious wider parallels for anyone dealing with a proposal in which a specific architect and/or the quality of a specific design is advanced as a prime reason for approving a contentious scheme, and in which achieving the required outcome depends on canying through and developing the approved design approach in the details and construction. One mitigating factor was the agreement by the vendor and the purchaser not to provide any physical separation between the properties. The Willow House garden flows round, with only low planting dividing the private areas; the resulting flow of space makes a great difference on a ve,y cramped site, and helps to maintain a sense of the original cu rtilage with the new building appearing as ancillary within it. However the owner of De Stijldied recently, and a new occupant may want to define the curtilage more positively-so erocling another of the special measures taken to try to assimilate the new building. Salix-refurbishmentand alteration The third of the original 'white' houses, Hugh Hughes' Salix of 1934, has been refurbish eeland altered with listed building consent. The refurbishment was featured in tl1e Sunday Telegraph's Property section (7 I 4/1996). The article highlighted the removal of some internal walls, to provide an open-plan cooking and eating area in place of the previously poky kitchen, which had been designed for use by live-in staff and not the owners themselves. Michael Walton, the architect was quoted "The aim of listing is not to fossilise buildings. In this case the Conservation Officer accepted that needs had changed and was happy that we were extending the life of the house". Willow House-repairs and other issues Willow House itselfhas undergone major repairs. An unsuccessful application was made for English Heritage grant aid towards repairs to the roofs, render and windows, and treatment of rising clamp. English Heritage took the view that the market value of the building in a repaired condition would considerably exceed the cost of repairs required, and that therefore there was no justification for offering a grant; however the owner did not want to sell the property. The Council has since helped with the cost of roof repairs and other works. When the owner's new architect,John Winter, looked at the windows, he found that the original small lead sills had been replaced, and that the replacements had broken because of thermal movement. The Crittall windows themselves were largely beyond economic repair, in the specialists' opinion. Listed building consent was granted for the replacement of the windows with newdoubleglazed Crittall windows closely matching the original frame sections, apart from one original in a protected location below the balcony, which has been retained .Willow House is let, and one of the problems has been t1ying to get tenants to understand the special character of the building. An inappropriate door has been inserted (now removed) but intrusive external cabling remains a problem. John Preston. Conse17Jalion and Design OJ~ .ficer, Cambridge City Council; !HBC Education Officer. This article updates par/ of my paper to-tbe !AAS York 1993 Conference on Conse17Jalion and Repair of C20 Buildings - see publisbed proceedings Ecological & Traditional Building Products Context65March2000 Natural Paints Lime f roducts Earth Products I Timber ~roducts We supply a range of technically excellent products for breathing constructions. Designed for today's requirements they are user-friendly, economic, energy efficient and backed by full technical support. They produce practical, healthy and attractive building solutions. Our products are already used by several national institutions and local councils, as well as on a diverse range of historic and environmental building projects. They are available through specialist outlets around the country. Natural Building Technologies - Developing the historic building tradition . .( Natural BuildingTechnologies Ltd, Tel:01491 63891 I Fax:01491 638630 e-mail: info@nacural-building.co.uk www.natural-building.co.uk 13
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