Associate Matthew Wittrick joined Architecture Today to explore how historic buildings can meet modern performance demands without compromising their heritage value.
Drawing on our work on the Elizabeth Tower, he shared how complex projects can balance conservation, repair and carefully integrated new interventions, enhancing environmental performance, accessibility and long-term resilience while safeguarding significance.
The webinar, supported by Selectaglaze and Velux, brought together industry perspectives on this shared challenge, from fabric-first approaches and low-impact technologies to the role of social value and occupant experience.
Across the discussion, a consistent theme emerged: improving performance is not about imposing modern standards, but working with the inherent qualities of existing buildings.
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