CONTEXT 183 : MARCH 2025 51 up with ‘People who work with historic buildings and places.’ What is the biggest frustration in your job? The lack of general awareness around the role that historic buildings can play in not only the climate emergency, but also the housing crisis. So much emphasis is being placed on building new homes when so many quality buildings are sitting empty or falling into dereliction, and decisions are still being made to demolish perfectly good historic buildings rather than exploring more sustainable options such as adaptive reuse and informed retrofit. By investing in the maintenance, repair and appropriate retrofitting of our existing building stock, we could revitalise our towns and cities, contribute towards the demand for quality homes and community spaces, establish new opportunities for training in traditional craft skills, and promote building practices and planning approaches for a more sustainable and climate-friendly future. What would you like to be doing in five years’ time? Life has a funny way of surprising you, so I try not to plan too far ahead. But wherever I am, and whatever I find myself doing, I hope that I am enjoying the work I do and making a positive difference. What is your favourite building? The Chrysler Building in New York. I can still remember the first time I saw its gleaming silver spire on my first visit to the New York, as I was lugging my suitcase along 3rd Avenue. I was blown away by the scale and detailing of the exterior, but even more so by the original art-deco lobby, with its magnificent elevator doors, marble walls, floors and decorative ceiling, which seemingly transports you from the busy streets of Manhattan to a hidden fiery grotto. Your favourite place? After many years of being away from Pembrokeshire where I grew up, I recently returned and visited Newgale Beach. This was the beach I always used to come to with my family, and it was wonderful to see that it has not really changed at all. It’s a great place to regain a much-needed sense of calm and perspective. Your favourite book? NewYork, theWonder City, 1932 by W Parker Chase. Published in 1931, it is a history of New York and contains all manner of statistics and data on the city’s people, business and buildings. No one knows exactly who W Parker Chase was. It is likely that the book was a promotional piece for the city, possibly in response to the financial collapse of 1929. What do you do in your spare time? I make plenty of space for dog walks, relaxation and cooking. I completed a diploma in coaching last year and have been working on further developing my skills as a coach and setting up my own coaching practice. What organisations are you a member of? I am a full member of the IHBC, a member of the Association for Coaching, and a member of the Art Deco Society UK committee, coordinating its preservation committee. Which one issue would you particularly like the IHBC to campaign on? Raising the profile of historic buildings and places as part of the response to the climate crisis. Angharad Hart is consultant education and application support officer with the IHBC, and a coach and heritage consultant. Margot Gale with a photo of the Jefferson Market Courthouse, New York
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