Conservation
Here are some articles concerning the MBA architects in London, Wimbledon on the topic of Conservation
A Creative New Year
2020 taught. We quipped at the beginning ’20-20 vision’. By March accepted modes of work were fragile and just-about adaptable: we could work at a distance. The role of a design director became, as a rhetorical joke, that of ‘a conductor with members of the orchestra in different houses’. And then the videos of choirs and orchestras doing exactly that – the limitations a-synchronicity. Construction is based on coordination and networks of trust. One brick on top of another. Persevering to principles of conservation, research, evidence, peace-making, professionalism and fairness. This is the basis of all business relationships, especially when tested. Construction cannot be stopped: as most of our economy ground to a halt, construction continued throughout. To our colleagues in this great Industry, and to everyone, we wish you a holy, peaceful Christmas and a creative and prosperous new year 2021.
Read less.Lion Gates at Oriel
New Lion gates at Oriel College, Oxford. We tried to make the lions minimal, scary, powerful and welcoming. Laser cut and hand worked by artist blacksmith Ben Prothero.
Read less.All Saints notice board
A new notice board at All Saints Church South Wimbledon, Grade II listed.
Rhodes House Oxford
Rhodes house gains planning and listed building consent
Read more.Planning permission and Listed Building Consent were granted on 11 August. This is our first collaboration with Stanton Williams Architects who are designing a £37 million scheme which will radically transform this Grade II* listed building. Our role was to research the cultural significance of the building, landscape and setting, advise Stanton Williams on conservation and design aspects of the proposals and help them overcome the many conservation challenges during prolonged discussions with Oxford City Council and Historic England. It was fascinating to go through the Rhodes Trust archives to track Herbert Baker’s design development and the late evolution of the plan to incorporate what is now the Rotunda, the original correspondence sprinkled with sketches and diagrams, some on folded scraps of tracing paper. I seem to be following Cecil Rhodes around, after spending 5 years on the Rhodes building at Oriel college, where a major refurbishment by MBA added an extra floor. By adding another layer of history architects can add nuance and cultural context to our built heritage.
Read less.Ludgate House Dome
Works continue on re-roofing the cupola at Ludgate house, London. The work involves fitting copper sheeting over a complex domed and scrolled roof at the corner of Ludgate Hill and Farringdon Street in the City of London.
Read less.New College Oxford New Quad
A new development for New College and New College School at Savile Road Oxford was granted planning permission in June 2018.
Proposals include a new tower, south facing garden quads, new buildings interweaving with existing, some listed, in a conservation area containing a stretch of the civil war ramparts.
MBA are conservation architects advising David Kohn Architects and the construction team.
Our role to:
- assess the heritage significances of the site
- advise the design team
- engage with Historic England and Oxford City Council.
We are also involved in the construction stages of the project.
More here – David Kohn Architects
and here [Architects Journal]
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MBA acted in a similar role as conservation architects for Gort Scott at St Hilda’s College, granted planning permission in May 2018.
See here [Architects Journal]
Read less.Merton Priory Chapter House
Merton Priory Chapter House works are progressing on site. Phase 1, the installation of a new glass wall and stabilisation of the ruins will complete shortly. The museum will reopen in September 2018. More here.
Read less.St Hilda’s College Oxford gains planning permission
Planning permission was granted on 13 March 2018 for a major redevelopment at St Hilda’s College, Oxford, including a new tower. MBA are conservation architects for the scheme, working with Gort Scott Architects as lead designers. Our role was to research and analyse the heritage significance of the college, to advise Gort Scott during the design development, and to assess the heritage impact of the scheme. This is one of a number of projects where MBA support leading design practices in major conservation projects, using our experience in high value heritage assets and our design skills to offer conservation expertise to the design team.
Read less.New College Oxford, Morris Building – Works on site
Site works have begun at the Morris building in Oxford. Completion is expected in September 2018.
The scheme includes a new garden building providing fully accessible rooms, the conservation of four adjacent listed buildings, re-landscaping the Morris Yard, adjusting the collegiate offer to provide improved student accommodation and cluster flats including three fully accessible suites.
The new Garden building sits within the area of the outer ditch of Oxford’s medieval City Wall which dominates the New College campus.
(more…)
Conservation Brochure Updated
MBA Conservation Brochure with the latest case studies of our work in historic and highly protected environments, including in inner city areas, Grade I and II* Listed buildings and landscapes, Conservation Areas, Scheduled Monuments and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Link to the Conservation page here or directly to the Conservation Brochure.