Latest news with #heritagepreservation
News.com.au
18 hours ago
- General
- News.com.au
Hawthorn: 115-year-old church transformed into a family home
Transforming a former house of worship into a home can be challenging but the outcome spectacular. Melbourne-based Studio Doherty director Mardi Doherty spent about 18 months on a project to restore and convert a 1910s Hawthorn church for her clients, a family of five. And they're not the only ones as the converting religious hubs into homes has been growing in popularity as an increasing number of churches hit the market across Victoria. Ms Doherty said that a previous residential conversion, dating to the late 1990s or early 2000s, had left the space feeling 'dark, overly partitioned and lacked sensitivity to the building's original spirit'. 'There was a heritage overlay on the exterior of the building, so we approached the project with a strong focus on retention and respect,' she said. 'Key heritage elements like the timber trusses, parquetry flooring and original stained-glass windows were preserved and celebrated.' Ms Doherty said that her clients were deeply engaged in the design process and had an appreciation for the building's original character. 'They added some of their own layers too, like introducing personal religious artefacts, including a decorative crucifix in the outdoor bathroom that they had found and repurposed,' she said. A particularly special moment in the design process was the creation of an outdoor bath, located in a second-floor courtyard just off the main bedroom. 'The client had always loved the idea of bathing outdoors, but with a sense of enclosure and privacy,' Ms Doherty said. 'From this space, you can look up to the sky and across to the stained-glass windows and glass void below.' However, lighting the three-storey interior stairwell proved a complex feat. 'We commissioned a custom chandelier by Christopher Boots, designed to work with the scale of the space and complement the stained-glass windows,' Ms Doherty said. 'Installing it was no small task – it required full scaffolding, a careful choreography of hands, and a lot of patience to safely suspend the fitting across the full height of the void.' An important tip for house hunters keen to renovate a church is to keep thermal performance top of mind. 'Churches aren't built for modern standards of insulation, so you'll need to plan carefully around heating, cooling, and glazing,' Ms Doherty said. 'But if you're drawn to buildings with history and soul, there's something really powerful about repurposing a structure with a previous life. 'It requires sensitivity – but the results can be incredibly special.'
Hospitality Net
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
B&B Hotels Advances Sustainable Building with First Modular Timber Hotel in Germany
B&B HOTELS is set to complete its first hotel using modular timber construction in Neustadt in Holstein by autumn 2025. The project combines modern modular techniques with the restoration of a listed historic building, reflecting a strategic focus on faster, more economical, and environmentally conscious hotel development. Combining modular construction and heritage preservation The new 100-room hotel will be located near the Neustadt train station as a hybrid building that integrates a modern new structure with a revitalized, protected agricultural storehouse. While the ground floor and stairwell core will be built using traditional solid construction methods, the upper floors will utilize prefabricated timber modules. These modules, produced under controlled factory conditions, come fully equipped with insulation, windows, wall finishes, and technical installations, and are transported to the site for rapid assembly. Collaboration with Timber One and sustainable production The hotel project is realized in partnership with Timber One, serving as the general contractor. The timber modules are manufactured by hobb Holzveredlung GmbH, a shareholder in Timber One, using wood sourced exclusively from certified sustainable forestry in Germany. This production process meets B&B HOTELS' rigorous quality and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. Toward efficient and sustainable hotel development B&B HOTELS' Neustadt project is positioned as a model for sustainable hotel construction, leveraging modular timber technology to shorten construction periods, reduce site disturbances, and lower emissions. The project aligns with industry trends seeking environmentally responsible solutions alongside operational efficiency, combining heritage preservation with modern design and construction methods.
Zawya
15-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Athlone Power Station's redevelopment hits roadblock
Cape Town's ambitious plans to transform the long-defunct Athlone Power Station into a flagship green energy hub are facing a major setback, as a provisional heritage protection order placed on the site by Heritage Western Cape (HWC) threatens to stall the development indefinitely. The City of Cape Town, which has been exploring the redevelopment of the site since the iconic cooling towers were demolished in 2010, now finds itself entangled in a legal and bureaucratic dispute that pits sustainable development goals against historical preservation. The provisional protection order, issued in 2022, covers not just the old power station structure but also adjacent land including a wastewater treatment plant, a refuse transfer station, and even a section of the N2 highway. According to HWC, the entire precinct holds cultural and historical significance and must be preserved or carefully assessed before any new development is allowed. In a bid to move the project forward, the City has filed a case in the Western Cape High Court, challenging the legitimacy of the heritage order. Officials argue that while some components of the site may hold historical value, the blanket protection of the entire area is excessive and counterproductive. Environmental protection measures The City, meanwhile, reports efforts to secure the site, limit environmental harm, restore structural integrity, and undertake a comprehensive environmental clean-up. "The City has done a considerable amount of work to secure the site and ensure that there's minimal environmental impact. To further secure the site, the city intends to remove and restore the structural integrity of some of the structures in addition to conducting an environmental clean-up," City Mayco member for Energy, Xanthea Limberg, said. For residents of Athlone and surrounding areas, the debate feels personal, with some having advocated back in January 2024 for the site to be used for housing instead. Heritage Western Cape, however, is standing its ground. Although its spokespersons are unable to comment directly due to the matter being sub judice, HWC has previously stated that the Athlone precinct represents an important piece of the city's industrial and social history. The power station, operational from the 1960s until its decommissioning in 2003, was central to Cape Town's electricity supply for decades and is viewed by heritage advocates as a landmark worth preserving—at least in part. The City of Cape Town continues to make it clear that it will not abandon its renewable energy ambitions and insists that it remains committed to working within legal frameworks. However, unless the heritage protection order is overturned or amended, the future of the Athlone redevelopment hangs in the balance. As South Africa continues to grapple with energy insecurity, the stakes are high. The Athlone power station's transformation could become a beacon of green innovation—or a cautionary tale about red tape in the face of climate urgency. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
