海角视频

Building on a legacy of 鈥榬etrofit first鈥�, the South West is embracing innovation to create a more resilient future.

Legacy runs deep in the South West. From Bristol’s national engineering heritage to Georgian architecture in Bath, the region presents a diverse landscape that is at the forefront of implementing a mix of innovative retrofit practices.

Retrofit was always the first thought in Bath – because it had to be.

Claire Smith, Partner and South West Market Lead

The city of Bath in particular, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, holds a special place – both culturally and professionally. It is where 海角视频 was founded in 1976, and where retrofit has long been a proactive design principle, not a reactive solution. As Claire Smith, Partner and South West market lead puts it: 鈥淩etrofit was always the first thought in Bath – because it had to be.鈥�

Today, the challenge is clear: How can 海角视频鈥檚 Bath office retrofit buildings across the region, in a way that strikes a balance between preserving heritage, meeting sustainability goals, and ensuring the existing buildings there will stand the test of time?

A heritage-led approach to retrofit

With architecture dating back to Roman times, the South West is rich in heritage buildings that not only shape local identity but also attract visitors from around the world. 海角视频 has been involved in retrofitting many of Bath鈥檚 historic landmarks – including the Theatre Royal, one of the UK鈥檚 oldest working theatres, and Newark Works, the former headquarters of Stothert & Pitt Cranes founded in 1785, which is now a vibrant mixed-use quarter.

Among some of the most iconic heritage projects 海角视频 has worked on in the region are Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths. At Bath Abbey, the century-old heating system was nearing failure. In response, the team implemented sustainable heating and water systems, alongside structural interventions to stabilise the deteriorating floor. These upgrades not only ensured the continued use of the historic site but also contributed to Bath鈥檚 net zero ambitions through energy-efficient design. Despite modernising the systems, the updates honour the city鈥檚 legacy, with the hot spring water still flowing through the original Roman Great Drain. This shows how the old and new can be integrated.

If you try too hard to amend a heritage asset, you inevitably disrupt the natural balance of the building.

Alice Brook, Director and South West Retrofit Lead

There are challenges when it comes to retrofitting heritage projects of this scale. But as Alice Brook, Director and South West retrofit lead notes, 鈥淚f you try too hard to amend a heritage asset, you inevitably disrupt the natural balance of the building.鈥� When it comes to working with existing heritage constraints, Claire also adds that, 鈥淥ften the constraints become the joy of the spaces you end up with. They may be quirky and unusual, but as a result the building becomes a richer place to be.鈥�

As for technique, there is not a 鈥榦ne size fits all鈥� approach to heritage buildings. Frequently, it depends on what is uncovered at the site. As Alice notes, 鈥淪ometimes, challenges faced on heritage buildings stem from previous repairs that used materials incompatible with the original construction, rather than traditional ones designed for the building鈥檚 age and fabric.鈥� On various projects, the team has worked with traditional repairers to not only re-install the original materials but also use traditional techniques.

A hands-on approach is often essential for successful retrofit. At the Concorde Museum in Bristol, daily on-site involvement enabled the team to carefully repair the timber Belfast Trusses (an industrial structural innovation from the 1860s) while preserving as much historic material as possible.

As Claire reflects: 鈥淲hat you would do with a blank canvas is entirely different from working with an existing structure. You have to approach it from a completely different angle.鈥�

Building on the 鈥楪reen Capital鈥�

Sustainability and retrofit often go hand-in hand, making use of what already stands. Whilst the need to preserve heritage is high, the team must also work to embed more sustainable principles into retrofit projects as the UK moves towards Net Zero. This can affect whether certain heritage elements or systems can remain. Balancing conservation with climate goals requires thoughtful choices and fresh thinking.

Bristol University鈥檚 鈥楻esearch Hub鈥� involved converting two connected 1850s gas sheds behind Bristol Temple Meads station. The older and larger of the two had deteriorating timber trusses, which posed a challenge to the client鈥檚 brief.

Alice and the team developed an innovative solution that retained much of the historic fabric, making thoughtful adaptations where necessary to enable a more sustainable design. By installing PV panels on the roof without overloading the historic structure, they successfully balanced heritage conservation with future-ready energy efficiency.

The South West is leading the country in terms of the green initiatives that are happening. There are a lot of natural assets in the region that have really pushed the green agenda.

Claire Smith, Partner and South West Market Lead

Sustainability goals are pertinent in the South West, particularly in areas such as Bath and Bristol, with Bristol awarded the title of 鈥楨uropean Green Capital鈥� in 2015, recognising its commitment to sustainability and environmental initiatives. Bath and North-East Somerset Council (BANES) also has ambitious climate goals, including the Green Heritage Homes project, which aims to tackle Bath鈥檚 unique challenge of retrofitting its historic building stock. 鈥淭he South West is leading the country in terms of the green initiatives that are happening. There are a lot of natural assets in the region that have really pushed the green agenda鈥�, says Claire.

Being on the BANES framework, 海角视频 plays a central role in shaping sustainability and retrofit policy across Bath and the surrounding areas. Alice notes how 海角视频 supported BANES in meeting their operational and embodied carbon targets, now embedded in council policy.

One particular retrofit project that stands out for both Claire and Alice is Lakeshore in Bristol. The project was completed in various phases, but the first began some years ago. Claire notes, 鈥淭he project was really forward thinking in terms of its sustainability criteria. It really pushed a lot of those technologies at a time when it was unusual to do so.鈥�

The Lakeshore development saw the former Imperial Tobacco headquarters re-imagined into a unique development of environmentally efficient homes. The team conserved the Cor-Ten exoskeleton (a weathering steel material) to safeguard the site鈥檚 history, and implemented sustainable strategies, including geothermal borehole systems and low energy lighting.

A change in focus

While heritage buildings remain a central focus for the team due to the character of the region, the types of retrofit projects in the South West have shifted in recent years. The scope now spans a diverse range of sectors, including commercial, cultural, and higher education.

One building typology that Claire and Alice increasingly encounter is mid-to-late twentieth-century structures in need of retrofit. Alice is leading the St David鈥檚 Hall project in Cardiff; a Grade I listed concert hall currently under repair because of the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) panels in the roof 鈥� a material commonly used in construction between the 1950s and 1970s.

But it鈥檚 not just about the buildings themselves. A growing part of the team’s role involves guiding clients through risk assessment and evaluating the viability of existing assets. Helping clients balance risk and opportunity has become a key aspect of retrofit strategy.

In the South West, there is also a notable focus on land regeneration, particularly on brownfield sites where industrial buildings have been cleared. These projects often blend the reuse of existing structures with new development. At Lakeshore, Claire highlights how the team demolished a small section of the original building to install new foundations, enabling the construction of a taller structure over part of the footprint while repurposing other areas. The result was a building that fused old and new. Claire describes projects like this as complex yet ultimately rewarding: 鈥淚t鈥檚 why we like them.鈥�

Retrofit at scale

We are really trying to work with clients now to look more widely at their whole estate to decide where retrofit should be prioritised.

Alice Brook, Director and South West Retrofit Lead

When applying retrofit principles to individual buildings, both Claire and Alice have observed a growing trend: clients are increasingly looking to regenerate entire estates rather than focus on single structures. Large estates, particularly in the commercial and higher education sector, are now a central focus for retrofit. Alice explains, 鈥淲e are really trying to work with clients now to look more widely at their whole estate to decide where retrofit should be prioritised.鈥�

Claire has been leading the development of Bristol University鈥檚 Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus (TQEC), located on the site of the former Royal Mail sorting office. The project goes beyond university refurbishment and drives wider change across the area, including infrastructure upgrades, housing, retail, and leisure spaces.

To help clients understand the full potential of retrofit, Alice describes the team鈥檚 鈥楾op Trumps鈥� approach, which presents different buildings across an estate with tailored retrofit strategies for future use. Reflecting on 海角视频鈥檚 work with the University of Portsmouth, she says, 鈥淲e are trying to be more involved in early conversations with clients, to be seen as a trusted advisor early on, so that we can impart that knowledge and guidance when they are making those key decisions.鈥�

This estate-wide evaluation of retrofit, as Alice says, 鈥渋s something that you cannot look at on a discipline-by-discipline basis – you have to look at it holistically.鈥� 海角视频鈥檚 integrated design approach brings together cross-disciplinary teams to deliver retrofit solutions that balance sustainability, functionality, and heritage.

A digital approach

One of the ways the team are guiding clients through this process of estate-wide retrofit is through digital tools. As Alice says, 鈥淒igital tools are really powerful for us to when supporting clients in the very early stages of deciding the best approach for their building.鈥�

These tools are transforming how retrofit decisions are made. For example, 3D modelling technologies, such as the rapid prototyping tool developed by Paul Roberts, Director at 海角视频鈥檚 Copenhagen office, enable swift scenario testing for building adaptation. This allows clients to assess feasibility and scope early on, streamlining decision-making.

Claire also highlights the long-term value of tools like Digital Twins, which can enhance ongoing building maintenance. By enabling facilities management teams to monitor performance in real time, these tools offer a smarter, more proactive approach to building operations.

What next for the South West?

Looking ahead, retrofit is becoming the default approach in the South West. Companies are increasingly looking beyond London, and Bristol in particular is emerging as a destination where growth and sustainability can move together. With its strong climate agenda and reputation as a Green Capital, the city is set to drive a new wave of retrofits that combine energy performance with quality of life.

We need to think about how we make historic buildings more robust against the changes in climate they are facing.

Alice Brook, Director and South West Retrofit Lead

The challenge is resilience. Extreme weather is already testing historic buildings built in an age of more stable conditions. As Alice notes, 鈥淲e need to think about how we make historic buildings more robust against the changes in climate that are facing.鈥� Questions that once seemed certain 鈥� whether a building that has stood for a century will last another 鈥� no longer have simple answers.

Yet the opportunity is clear. Retrofit in the South West is no longer only about conserving heritage: it is about creating places that cut carbon, support net zero ambitions, and improve health & wellbeing for the people who use them. From Lakeshore to Bath Abbey, and from estate wide strategies to digital tools, the region shows how old and new can work together. The South West is uniquely placed to lead the way, blending preservation with sustainable design to create buildings that respect the past, whilst preparing for the future.