Chadburn Conversation Architect
Curriculum Vitae
Jeremy Chadburn
BA(Hons); Dip Arch; RIBA
MSc in Conservation of Historic Buildings
AABC
Member of SPAB and EASA
CONSERVATION WORK:
Over 35 years of experience
Education: PLYMOUTH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
March 2010- Sole practitioner
2007-2010 Parkes Lees Architects, Launceston.
2003-2007 Caroe and Partners, Wells.
1995-2003 David Kent Architects, Bath.
2001- University of Bath MSc in conservation
1994-1995 David Brain and Ptns, Bath.
1993-1994 Ferguson Mann Architects, Bristol.
1991-1993 Lainge Management. British Library, London.
1989-1991 Broadway Malyan, Bristol.
1991- RIBA Part III, Registered with ARB
1989- DipArch
1986-1987 Manning Clamp and Ptns, Richmond.
1986 BA(Hons) in Architecture
Philosophy of conservation.
The identity of a nation is as intangible as a mood or feeling. So what then is the catalyst that enables these feelings of identity to thrive and to be sustained within a culture to give it its unique identity?
The nation’s identity comes from the accumulated events and material that litter its history and has through accident, good fortune, or guardianship survived to the present day.
These events and objects are very wide-ranging; to name a few; poetry, literature, the arts, landscapes, statutory laws, the built environment, or events such as wars, invasions, exploration, and state events.
To the British culture, this could be, to pick a few of the above at random; Keates and Shelly, Shakespeare, the Bayeux tapestry, Turner, the gardens of Stowe house, the Magna Carta, the ‘two up two down terrace’, the Stephenson’s ‘Rocket’, the town market square, the local church, patches of woodland that have survived for over 1000 years or ruins of Roman occupation, your surname. They all lead us into the past.
Because these events and fabric are but a fragment of what actually existed at that time, the past can only be perceived with a very restricted vision. However, this is enough to bind our culture into a common view of its history and a platform for continuity and progress into the future.
Our built environment is a major part of our awareness of the past and is the key to shaping the nation’s thoughts about common history and its place within it.
English Heritage recognises this when it states the historic environment “forms a backdrop to everyday life”.[1] Conservation of historic buildings is very much a part of maintaining this ‘everyday backdrop’ and a canvas on which we can paint our future. The need for continuity in our built environment is summarised by English Heritage, whose “central idea of sustainability is that we should achieve an acceptable quality of life, where necessary through growth, without disinheriting our grandchildren or mortgaging their future”[2]
Conservation philosophies in practice.
My conservation philosophy is twofold and is used as a reference against which the client’s needs and the building needs are measured: (these are from most to least desirable).
Fabric repairs
Conserve as found;
Conserve and reinstate existing fabric where it survives. Reinstatement can only take place where records can verify their original position.
Minimise repairs without compromising the longevity of the fabric;
Like-for-like repairs, again using records were necessary;
Finally modern material as an honest repair or intervention, so long as this does not compromise the character of the listed building.
The character of the listed building. (Again from most to least desirable)
No change should take place to affect the character.
Where an intervention takes place, it is to maintain the character (reinstating lost features etc);
If there is to be an intervention it is to be fully reversible.
If the intervention is irreversible the design must be subservient to the character of the listed building. (This could be using modern or traditional materials, depending on the circumstances).
It should be noted that many projects involving historic buildings have elements of Conservation, Refurbishment, and Restoration within them, and navigating a path between all three in one building can be a challenge.
[1] ENGLISH HERITAGE leaflet “Sustaining the historic environment” Pg1 1997
[2] ENGLISH HERITAGE leaflet “Sustaining the historic environment” Pg2 1997