Issue 45 Feb 25 web - Flipbook - Page 121
Putney riverside
conservation and
extension
VATRAA used conservation principles to repair, restore and extend a derelict Victorian house
situated on the river Thames.
With a timeless presence respectful of the conservation
area on the outside, the surprise is left for the inside where
‘preserved as found’ features of the old property blend elegantly with influences of the homeowers’ Sri Lankan
background.
First step: addressing the structural problems
The property was bought by the client because it
reminded them of their Sri Lankan origins, with an overgrown garden and connection to water. However, it came
in a very bad condition, with serious structural issues that
required underpinning. To offset part of the costs into
gaining more space, we created a basement that contains
a corridor/ulility room, bathroom and a games room
connected to a lightwell leading to the front garden.
Article 12 of The Venice Charter (1964), which sets out
the international guidelines for the conservation and
restoration of monuments, states that ‘replacements of
missing parts must integrate harmoniously with the whole,
but at the same time must be distinguishable from the
original so that restoration does not falsify the artistic or
historic evidence’. The house was the only one around
left relatively untouched for many years. Although not
being a listed monument, we agreed with the clients that
it should be treated as such
i
At the front, the property was stripped of all nonbreathable mansonry paint and was restored in the ‘as found’
colour, with lime paint to the ground and first floor and
lime based roughcast render to the top gable wall.
Above, view from living towards dining
i
Conservation & Heritage Journal
119
