Our Built Heritage

Alexis Nicolaidis
  • 5.0 (1)
  • DESIGN

This podcast is for anyone interested in historic buildings. This could be a traditional cottage, a Victorian terrace, a Georgian manor house or even a stately home. Whether it is listed or not, they are all special and interesting and part of Our Built Heritage. Each episode I will be talking to experts in their field who work in the heritage-built environment or own a traditional or listed property. We will be debunking myths, talking about how best to work with your traditional property and top tips.

  1. 2D AGO

    S6. Ep 5. In conversation with Adam Hickey, Founder and Managing Director at Pinnacle Conservation.

    In this episode I am joined by Adam Hickey, Founder and Managing Director at Pinnacle Conservation. Pinnacle are passionate about construction, conservation and enhancing venerable and fragile buildings. They offer a holistic approach to the repair and conservation of historic buildings. As conservation specialists they enjoy challenges posed by the most obscure heritage conservation projects presented to them and tackle them with enthusiasm. Adam shares how he became passionate about heritage and exposure to older buildings on family holiday subconsciously played a part. We talk about the types of projects he has been involved in and the thought process that goes into it. Adam shares his thoughts on the north south variation when it comes to the availability of projects and routes into the industry. We talk about the joy and magic of working on older properties and how tangible history is. We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes and misconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on a project and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties. If you liked what you heard it would be great if you can share Our Built Heritage with anyone else you think will find it interesting and also subscribe so that you know when the next episode has been released. It would be amazing if we between us can raise awareness on our built heritage.

    1h 1m

  2. APR 29

    S6. Ep 4. In conversation with Ruth Wightman, founder of Peak Project Solutions.

    In this episode I am joined by Ruth Wightman, founder of Peak Project Solutions where she helps architects, contractors, and specifiers across the UK deliver projects that are practical, buildable, sustainable and visually compelling. Part of Ruth’s offering is to source bricks and masonry that blend seamlessly with the existing building which can often be a planning condition when working on listed buildings and buildings in a conservation area. Ruth shares her journey and the array of roles she hasundertaken which led her to establish company. It is incredibly inspiring to hear! We talk about the projects Ruth has been involved in and howthey source, match and tint bricks to suit the clients and building’s needs and the importance of conservation and repurposing materials. Ruth describes what may happen when a building is demolished or there is over ordering/waste on a site and how in some cases change needs to happen and a more joined up approach. We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties. If you liked what you heard it would be great if you canshare Our Built Heritage with anyone else you think will find it interesting and also subscribe so that you know when the next episode has been released. It would be amazing if we between us can raise awareness on our built heritage.

    1h 1m

  3. APR 22

    S6. Ep 3. In conversation with Karen Haller FRSA, a global expert in Behavioural Design and Colour Psychology.

    In this episode I am joined by Karen Haller FRSA, a global expert in Behavioural Design and Colour Psychology. Shehelps businesses and design professionals use colour and design to support mental health, enhance well-being, and create positive, nature-aligned change. Karen consults and collaborates with companies looking for innovative solutions to social problems who seek new ways of improving the human experience in balance with nature. Her clients included architectural and design practices and leading global brands. She has helped hundreds of design professionals aroundthe world to deepen their knowledge of colour through her sought-after colour and design psychology courses and mentoring programmes. Karen is the author of The Little Book of Colour as well as being an in-demand media commentator,international speaker and awards judge. Karen shares her journey and how she became a colour phycology expert and how colour is more than how colour is placed around the colour wheel. Colour phycology is about how colour influences how we think, how we feel and how we behave based on a colour in isolation but also the combination of colours.   We talk about how colours have changed and how purple meant death if it was used by anyone else but Julius Caesar as he deemed it exclusively his to use. How the materials that made the paint often resulted in what was deemed exclusive to the rich and whether it was affordable until acrylic paint was invented along with synthetic dyes producing the results of the more expensive materials however that may result in a level of toxicity that is not seen in the natural world when using natural pigments. We discuss considerations when applying colour and appropriateness of materials and the context of the setting whilst also addressing how we feel in the space considering peoples behaviours. We talk about trends and how it is not a new thing and it can be driven by scarcity like purple or the availability of it when purple becomes widely available. Human nature to belongand feel like we are part of it and trends plays into this. We chat about heritage colours in a heritage context and how it can impact how you feel. Along with how people’s decor can be driven by how much external stimulation people areexposed to which was heightened during COVID when people could not leave their home which resulted in more colour or in some cases less colour being used tosupport their wellbeing. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties. If you liked what you heard it would be great if you canshare Our Built Heritage with anyone else you think will find it interesting and also subscribe so that you know when the next episode has been released. It would be amazing if we between us can raise awareness onour built heritage. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karen_haller_colour Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenHallerColourAndDesign LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenhaller   WEBSITE DETAILS Consulting https://karenhaller.com Free design industry e-book https://karenhaller.com/free-10-myths-ebook   Colour & Design courses https://karenhaller.com/courses  Little Book of Colour https://thelittlebookofcolour.com  Free first chapter https://thelittlebookofcolour.com/free-chapter

    1h 17m

  4. APR 15

    S6. Ep 2. In conversation with Sarah Charlesworth, Business Skills Foundation Lead at the Hopwood Foundation and Hopwood DePree, writer, actor and Co-Deputy Chair of Historic Houses North-West Region.

    In this episode I am joined by Sarah Charlesworth, Business Skills Foundation Lead at the Hopwood Foundation and Hopwood DePree, writer, actor, director and producer and now Co-Deputy Chair of Historic Houses North-West Region. He is also a published author which details his restoration journey of a Grade 2 listed building, Hopwood Hall, which wasbuilt by his ancestors with parts of it dating back to the 1420s. Sarah shares how she started working within the heritage sector after studying building archaeology and then working in local government and Historic England. Hopwood grew up in Michagan and then lived in Los Angles where it is heavily influenced by Art Deco designs. When he found out that the stories from his childhood were true and Hopwood Hall was real, he visited the UK and saw the building and the state ofdisrepair but was overwhelmed by how the community was trying their best to care for it. Using the skills he learnt working in film he applied them to saving the building and his work continues. We talk about the importance of having the right level of resourcing and knowledge in planning departments to support projects and the impact it can have on a building when they are not in place. Hopwood shares the challenges they are facing in particular all the red tape which is more than he anticipated but the community has fuelled his passion to save the building forfuture generations. Hopwood describes his surprise at skills shortages given theage of the UK’s building landscape. Sarah talks about the programme they’ve established with prisons to build skills and provide work opportunities when they leave the prison system. We talk about Hopwood’s plans for Hopwood Hall and how itwill serve the community whilst offering it as an event space to generate income to help maintain the building for generations to come so it can be self-funding rather than rely on grants. We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties. If you liked what you heard it would be great if you can share Our Built Heritage with anyone else you think will find it interesting and also subscribe so that you know when the next episode has been released. It would be amazing if we between us can raise awareness on our built heritage. Links to organisations mentioned on today’s episode Hopwood Foundation https://hopwoodfoundation.org/ Architectural Heritage Fund https://ahfund.org.uk/ Heritage Fund https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/ Heritage Trust https://heritagetrustnetwork.org.uk/   Getting involved in the skills training/learn more about theprogramme Skills@hopwoodfoundation.org

    47 min

  5. APR 8

    S6. Ep 1. In conversation with Emma Fletcher, Director of Low Carbon Homes at Octopus Energy.

    In this episode I am joined by Emma Fletcher, Director of Low Carbon Homes at Octopus Energy which focuses on delivering sustainable and affordable energy solutions for residential properties. Emma is also Chair of the Residential Professional Group Panel and a member of the Knowledge and Practice Committee at RICS, where she contributes to advancing best practices in residential surveying. Emma shares how her interests in properties and visitinghistorical sites and subjects at school influenced her journey.   We chat about how buildings are driven by function and how historically the church would have played a central role both in terms of the community but also in terms of where buildings were located. We discuss how important health, wellbeing and warmth was in building design particularly since the industrial revolution and how these factors are still a fundamental consideration in building design today. Factors such as engineering, advances in technology and the choices in materials where the best they could afford, striving for excellence are all things we shouldcontinue to consider when designing buildings.     Emma talks about owning a Grade 2 listed property and thechanges the building has seen over years and how each generation has left its mark. This resulted in some surprises being uncovered and how important it is to live in the building before making any changes so that you fully understand the building. We talk about Emma’s work in bringing the first rural district heat network to the UK and how this could help replace oil and help with rising electric bills. Emma shares her top tips on how to manage gas and electricity bills and make the most of lower tariffs at night and the benefits of solar panels and how they may be perceived by homeowners. We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes and misconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on a project and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties. If you liked what you heard it would be great if you canshare Our Built Heritage with anyone else you think will find it interesting and also subscribe so that you know when the next episode has been released. It would be amazing if we between us can raise awareness onour built heritage.

    1h 25m

  6. JAN 28

    S5. Ep 10. In conversation with Sarah Harrison, Co-Founder and Director of Harrison Stringfellow Architects.

    In this episode I am joined by Sarah Harrison, Co-Founderand Director of Harrison Stringfellow Architects who specialise in creatively reusing buildings. Sarah is particularly good at negotiating the planning system and finding creative solutions for tricky sites combining organisational skills with a creative flair she is also an accredited RIBA Principle Designer.Harrison Stringfellow Architects ethos is centred around Community, Conservation, and Climate. We talk about Sarah’s journey into conservation and her work as an architect and how exposure to older properties at the start of her career influenced her career progression andviews on repurposing buildings. Sarah and I chat about advances in technology and how trends often influence a build but whether they are appropriate depending on the client and the age of the property and the buildings overall health and understanding this is integral before you start. This will then ultimately lead to creating the right solution to address any issues in lifestyle, building health etc. Sarah describes some of the incredible projects she has worked on, the thought process behind them and the importance of heritage making sure it was centric to the final designs. We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

    1h 10m

  7. JAN 21

    S5. Ep 9. In conversation with Paul Mowbray, a Scottish award-winning craftsperson and artist who specialises in fine art, sculpture, wood carving and applied art.

    In this episode I am joined by Paul Mowbray, a Scottish award-winning craftsperson and artist who specialises in fine art, sculpture, wood carving and applied art. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the decorative arts, as well as a professional career working on many highly skilled craftsmanship projects and has crafted ornate decorationfor many renowned historic buildings. Paul has also featured in Country Life, The Guardian, The Times and Scottish Field magazine to name a few, and some of his decorative projects have featured on More4 and the BBC.   Paul shares his journey into the industry and how his interests started at an early age and grew as his skills developed working with some incredible mentors and how some of his work ended up in America. It is inspiring how his hard work and dedication led him to work on some amazing projects in a multitude of disciplines. We talk about the importance of understanding the provenance of a piece and how it was crafted and thereforehow it should be cared for so that it remains relevant in today’s world. Paul and I talk about training opportunities, and the lack of them in some cases and how hard it can be to find opportunities to gain hands on experience but also some top tips. We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

    1h 13m

  8. JAN 14

    S5. Ep 8. In conversation with Jim Whitson, owner and blacksmith at The Blazing Blacksmith.

    In this episode I am joined by Jim Whitson, owner and blacksmith at The Blazing Blacksmith based in Peebles. Theethos of the Blazing Blacksmith has always been to give clients the choice to enrich their homes, gardens and lives with innovative and exciting work which is created to suit their practical requirements whilst being sympathetic to thesetting of the piece. Whether it is a practical piece or purely sculptural Jim strives to create work which is individual and striking. We talk about how Jim became a blacksmith, the training he undertook and how he approaches a project and thevariety in the work he is commissioned to produce. From things like strawberries to gates and anything in between. We also discuss the usual challenges, common themes andmisconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property. It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

    59 min
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About

This podcast is for anyone interested in historic buildings. This could be a traditional cottage, a Victorian terrace, a Georgian manor house or even a stately home. Whether it is listed or not, they are all special and interesting and part of Our Built Heritage. Each episode I will be talking to experts in their field who work in the heritage-built environment or own a traditional or listed property. We will be debunking myths, talking about how best to work with your traditional property and top tips.

Information

  • Creator
    Alexis Nicolaidis
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Alexis Nicolaidis
  • Show Website
    Our Built Heritage

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