Heritage Buildings and our Responsibility

Montsalvat in Eltham - Melbourne

My love for heritage homes, classic buildings and timeless architecture has only grown stronger over the years. Growing up in Stockholm, I would rush past the most significant old buildings daily, and never really pay them too much attention. When something becomes your routine, the details tend to be forgotten.

It was not until sometime after I moved to Australia that I realised how much I missed the stories behind the walls. I grew up visiting museums as they were almost a weekly event. There is something about the walls that do talk and if you “ain’t afraid of no ghost”, and superstition aside, the lives and stories of the bygone eras can be relived and experienced in these old buildings.  If there is something that makes my heart sing, it is to breathe life into old buildings that have been neglected.

23-25 Elizabeth Street Melbourne

Restoration and renovation and giving buildings a second life through careful design is something we cherish at Architeria Architetcs. Elizabeth Chambers (23-25 Elizabeth Street Melbourne CBD) is one of the projects that we have taken on and restored. We were beyond pleased that Melbourne Heritage action felt that the way we treated this magnificent building was something they could really support.

Well on the way, and near completion, this restoration will give this 1890’s building its former glory back. While we are not spoiled with choice when it comes to restoration of old heritage buildings, and while we may not get the opportunity to restore chateaus a’ la Dick and Angel from Escape to the Chateau, Melbourne and Sydney still have a lot of history and buildings that need some tender, love and care.

Then there are the well-maintained and wonderful estates under the care of the National Trust who deserve so much respect for conserving these historical places. We are frequent visitors of Ripponlea Estate, the Labassa Mansion and Montsalvat amongst a few of the magnificent pieces of Australian history, and each time we discover new details or get inspired which helps us when restoring buildings, but also when designing new classic and timeless homes.

Being respectful of the existing environments, particularly in areas with heritage listed homes require a respectful approach to design.  There are, of course, many good examples, and some of our beautiful hotels have undergone renovations over the years with keeping the design in accordance with the age of the buildings.

Restoration Design by Architeria Architects

It is important to have the right knowledge when it comes to restoring heritage buildings as restoring and repairing old brick walls and keeping existing old roofs and preserving old details inside the buildings come with their own challenges

Architects have a responsibility to appreciate the built heritage when proposing extensions or renovations. There are too many bad examples of overdevelopment where developer’s greed has been given more consideration than the environment and heritage of the buildings, and we strongly believe that we all have a part to play as designers and architects to keep our buildings and their stories for future generations.

We would like to be the gatekeepers of our history in the way we know best, by designing with purpose and intention, and keeping our designs appropriately respectful.

Kate Gawi is an interior designer at Architeria Architects

Author of “Tea with the Dutchess: How to do anything with style”.

 Her book is also sold by National Trust Victoria, at the Ripponlea Estate.