On Wednesday 20 March, Blake Lapthorn's Construction law team were joined at the Construction green breakfast by Oliver Smith of 5th Studio. Oliver's talk was titled 'the challenges and rewards of making our built heritage sustainable – lessons from Trinity College Cambridge'.

1. The challenges and rewards of making our
built heritage sustainable
– lessons from Trinity College, Cambridge
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2. 5th Studio
5th Studio is an award-winning design practice based in the UK, with studios in London and
Cambridge.
5th Studio’s work encompasses architecture, urbanism and landscape. We avoid specialism.
We work in a studio setting which fosters a spirit of collaboration and a creative energy that are
central to our work.
5th Studio is an innovative, can-do organisation ready to take on any challenge. We think big, while
our work is grounded in the particular conditions of each project and site. We create designs and
strategies that are radical, beautiful and sensitive.

3. Why make our built heritage sustainable?
“At present 45% of the UK’s energy is consumed heating air and
water in existing buildings, and 85% of today’s buildings will form
70% of the building stock in 2050. If we are to get anywhere near
meeting the CO2 emissions reduction targets (80% reduction in
emissions relative to 1990 to be achieved by 2050), then all existing
buildings will need a major retrofit to ensure the improved efficiency
of energy use.”
Professor Michael Kelly. CSA to DCLG from 2006.
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4. Why make New Court sustainable?
+ Relationship between college’s refurbishment cycle and changing
climate and regulatory context
+ Energy price futures
+ Carbon Reduction Commitments
+ Well-being, comfort (and productivity) of occupants
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5. New Court
Built 1822 - 5 2. Sustainability
Fabric and systems
William Wilkins a.
b.
Photovoltaic panels
Fresh air intake and outlets
a.
Grade I Listed
c. Extract air and heat exchange b.
d. Fabric upgrades c.
- air tightness
- insulation
e. Underfloor heating
f. Ground-source heat boreholes
159 Rooms
2/3 Shared facilities d.
e.
3. Facade
f.
1/3 Ensuite rooms Renewal of fabric
Accessible Rooms
Fellows teaching
and residential sets
Seminar Room
1. Rooms
Character and comfort
Complete new ©
services installations

6. Outcomes
100% Existing carbon emissions of New Court
60% reduction in demand
– improved insulation, reduced air leakage, improved use
of daylight.
40% 43% increase in efficiency of the systems that
meet this reduced demand
– more efficient heating, lighting, ventilation equipment
and control systems.
23% 55% reduction in the carbon in the energy
(electricity/heat) supply
- pv generation, ground source heat pump.
10% Future carbon emissions of New Court
- reduced by 89.74%, to 10.26%, of existing
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7. Four things:
1. Agency landscape - strengths / weaknesses
2. Policies - local and national
3. Building - fabric and character
4. An integrated package of works
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8. 1. Agency landscape - strengths / weaknesses
independent
technical advisers
English
Stratecic
Planning
Glasgow Historic
Caledonian Scotland
Heritage University
ROGER BOWDLER CHRIS SMITH STEVE TROW
CADDW
Environmental
Listing Designation National Planning Director Heritage Protection
Director
Archimetrics
REGIONAL
DIRECTORS
National Trust
BILL BORDASS Keith Jones
Triage Development Chief Technical Officer
(unpaid)
Historic Building
Studies
REGIONAL
OFFICERS
Georgian Group
Environemntal
BRIAN RIDOUT
Senior Architectural
Conservator.
(Expert in Timber)
Intelligence
Inspectors
Other amenity
groups
Advisors
Science
+ Technology
Conservation
CHRIS WOOD SPAB
Head of Conservation and Jonathan Garlick
Research. Chief Technical Officer
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9. 2. Policies - local and national
MANAGING CHANGE TO SIGNIFICANT PLACES
CONSERVATION Retaining the authenticity of a place
PRINCIPLES is not always achieved by retaining
POLICIES AND GUIDANCE
as much of the existing fabric as is
Consider the effects on authenticity and integrity
91 Evidential value, historical values and some aesthetic values, especially artistic
FOR THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT ones, are dependent upon a place retaining (to varying degrees) the actual
fabric that has been handed down from the past; but authenticity lies in
technically possible.
whatever most truthfully reflects and embodies the values attached to the
place (Principle 4.3). It can therefore relate to, for example, design or function,
as well as fabric. Design values, particularly those associated with landscapes or
buildings, may be harmed by losses resulting from disaster or physical decay, or
through ill-considered alteration or accretion. Design value may be recoverable
through repair or restoration, but perhaps at the expense of some evidential
value. Keeping a large machine, like a water mill or boat lift, in use, may require
replacement and modification of structural or moving parts which could be
retained if it ceased to operate, producing a tension between authenticity of
fabric and function.
92 The decision as to which value should prevail if all cannot be fully sustained
always requires a comprehensive understanding of the range and relative
importance of the heritage values involved (guided by the assessment of
significance: paragraphs 82-83), and what is necessary (and possible) to sustain
each of them. Retaining the authenticity of a place is not always achieved
A desire to retain authenticity tends
by retaining as much of the existing fabric as is technically possible.
93 A desire to retain authenticity tends to suggest that any deliberate change to a
significant place should be distinguishable, that is, its extent should be discernible
through inspection. The degree of distinction that is appropriate must take
account of the aesthetic values of the place. In repair and restoration, a subtle
to suggest that any deliberate change
difference between new and existing, comparable to that often adopted in the
presentation of damaged paintings, is more likely to retain the coherence of the
whole than jarring contrast.
94 Integrity (literally, ‘wholeness, honesty’) can apply, for example, to a structural
to a significant place should be
system, a design concept, the way materials or plants are used, the character of
a place, artistic creation, or functionality. Decisions about recovering any aspect
of integrity that has been compromised must, like authenticity, depend upon a
comprehensive understanding of the values of the place, particularly the values
of what might be lost in the process.
distinguishable, that is, its extent
95 Every place is unique in its combination of heritage values, so, while it is
technically possible to relocate some structures, their significance tends to be
diminished by separation from their historic location. There are exceptions,
for example public sculpture not significantly associated with its current site, or
moving a structure back from an eroding cliff edge, thus recovering its intended
should be discernible through
relationship with the landform. Relocated structures may also acquire new
values in a new location.
45
inspection.. In repair and restoration,
a subtle difference between new and
existing..is more likely to retain the
coherence of the whole than jarring
contrast.
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