Donald Insall Associates - Conwy office

21/11/2019

In the second of this year’s review articles, Historic Buildings Researcher Megan Hari examines the revival of two key towns that make up parts of Greater Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale, while looking at some of the great work that we have undertaken in these former industrial towns.

Megan Hari outlines the future two key post industrial towns of Greater Manchester: Oldham and Rochdale, and the work Insall is undertaking

19/06/2019

Elinor Gray-Williams, lead of our Conwy office, has just been appointed to sit for a further four years on the Design Commission for Wales (Comisiwn Dylunio Cymru) board. Elinor, who recently served on the RSAW Awards judging panel, worked on the award-winning Copper Kingdom visitor centre to completion in 2014, which was described as the year’s ‘most exciting and innovative architectural project undertaken in Wales’

The Design Commission of Wales will be reappointing Conwy’s office lead Elinor Gray-Williams to serve a further four years on the board.

16/05/2019

Jeremy Trotter, Senior Architect and member of our Sustainability group, recently spoke to Heart of the City about building conservation being an inherently sustainable way to build, and how through the sustainability group we are making sure our values are reflected in the way we run our business:

Ahead of our environment workshop next week, we caught up with some of our architect members to hear about what they’re already doing to reduce the impact of their business on the environment.

08/05/2019

A great review on ArchDaily of our founder Donald Insall’s book Living Buildings, which was first published in 2008 and was reprinted last year: ‘Insall’s thesis is that the way buildings change makes them virtually live, which he explains in an early chapter called ‘Buildings Are Alive.’

Living Buildings, Donald Insall Book review by Simon Henley

02/05/2019

We took part in the ‘Have a Go’ event at Salford University yesterday – an event for years 8–10 schoolchildren focussing in on STEM subjects to encourage school children from years 8–10 into professional roles within the construction industry. One workshop focussed on explaining our role as Conservation Architects and Historic Buildings Consultants, challenging students to think about why buildings and places may be listed and what the reasons for the listings may be.

01/05/2019

Join us at our London office for ‘Style Wars’: a discussion on the boundaries of style with a panel including Amin Taha, Charles Holland, John Goodall and our director Tanvir Hasan; all chaired by Timothy Brittain-Catlin as part of the London Festival of Architecture, 26th June.

We are hosting a panel discussion: “Style Wars: Boundaries, past and present” as part of the London Festival of Architecture 2019 programme...

18/04/2019

Understanding the surviving fabric and significance at the Notre-Dame should take precedent over recreating what was before in exact facsimile; we should resist the temptation to replicate what has been lost. Francis Maude writing in the Architects Journal:

The knee-jerk reaction to faithfully replicate destroyed elements should not guide the overall restoration process, writes Donald Insall’s Francis Maude

17/04/2019

“We need to remind people of how France, and Europe, have recovered from other tragedies—the rebuilding after the World Wars for example. What makes fires like this so affecting is that they come when they are not expected.” - Francis Maude, in an interview with Newsweek:

“We need to remind people of how France, and Europe, have recovered from other tragedies,” said Francis Maude, a London-based conservation repair specialist.

10/04/2019

We recently sponsored the new High Sheriff Design Award at the High Sherriff’s Awards, a ceremony devoted to honouring Cheshire’s best and newest business talent. The winner, Louise Gardiner, said: “I am delighted to win this award and I hope that it will encourage more designer/makers to enter next time as the creative industries are paramount to a vibrant community.”

Awards for Enterprise handed out at event held at Chester Racecourse

01/04/2019

Helen Ensor, head of our Oxford office, discusses the importance of significance and the ways in which it influences design decisions.

‘The Vision’ is of course important to any development project, and defining the brief is perhaps the most crucial element of commissioning a new building.

29/03/2019

Are you an experienced architect with a keen interest in historic building conservation? Based in the Birmingham area? Come join our fast-growing Birmingham team, where we are working on a range of exciting projects from Mosley Road Baths to Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

We're a 100% employee-owned company with a strong collaborative culture. We have many perks such as flexible working for all, enhanced maternity and paternity leave, not to mention our epic all-branch Christmas party at some amazing locations like the Café Royal.

We welcome speculative applications from architects and creative support with a keen interest in high quality design and building conservation, including students finishing their Part 1 or 2 studies.

19/03/2019

A great piece by John Goodall in Country Life detailing the story of the original owner of the Arts-and-Crafts Hampton Lodge, which we worked on some years ago:

Hamptworth Lodge grew as a haven for collectors of all kinds, as well as a lovingly-created family home. Clive Aslet reports. Photographs by Justin Paget.