Conservation & Heritage Issue 52 Summer/Autumn 2026 - Flipbook - Page 40
What Building Better
really means in
tr aditional buildings
Niall Crosson, Group Technical Director at Ecological Building Systems with over 25
years’ experience in the building industry, looks at the lessons we can all learn from the
past when it comes to preserving traditional buildings, the principles of which are just as
relevant for modern homes.
What do we mean when we talk about Building Better?
When traditional buildings were created, long before
building regulations and technical guidance documents
were introduced, they were designed to work in tandem with
climate, materials and place. Energy ratings and embodied
carbon are relatively new terms. Traditional buildings were
designed to work in conjunction with, and in respect of,
the local climate, using locally sourced materials and skills
rooted in vernacular building traditions.
of sustainability. Their means of controlling moisture
movement and how they react to climate conditions and
risks are quite different.
They respond to the local climate through the use of locally
sourced materials, regional craftsmanship and a clear focus
on continuous maintenance and durability.
Why this matters today
From the stunning thatched cottages of Donegal in Ireland
to the traditional farmhouses across the Lake District in the
UK, traditional buildings are deeply rooted in place.
In a changing climate, contemporary construction can
learn much from the past. Traditional buildings have stood
the test of time and remain one of the clearest expressions
They embody principles now recognised as essential: reuse
of materials compatible with both the building fabric
Below, Lake District Farmstead retrofit
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