Paul Hewitt

An integrated part of eco arc's projects is working with the conservation of existing buildings with our colleague Paul Hewitt.

Paul Hewitt BA(Hons), Dip.Arch, MA (Sheffield), RIBA, AABC is an architect with 18 years experience in private practice, is a member of the Association for Environment-Conscious Design (AECB) and is on the Register of Architects Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC).

Paul combines both an interest and experience in existing historic buildings with a wish to work in environmentally sound ways in existing and new buildings. He is committed to working on the design, specification, and inspection of high quality environmentally conscious building work, both the construction of new buildings and the alteration, extension, repair and adaptation of existing buildings.

His aim is to produce healthy and beautiful buildings and spaces with low environmental impact and low energy use.

Although the construction of new buildings in an environmentally sound way is of great importance there are clearly a great number of existing buildings that require repair, conservation and alteration with the same attention to the quality of their care, maintenance and alteration.

It is important that there works are carried out both in materials and techniques that match those used originally and that are environmentally acceptable. The two considerations often coincide and it is often the case that the original techniques were by their nature using sound materials and low energy construction.

The same principles apply to the alteration and extension of older and historic buildings; the materials and techniques need to respect the existing structures and also be carefully chosen to be environmentally sound where new elements are introduced.

The practice carries out the following types of work to existing buildings of any age including historic listed buildings:

1. Conservation and repair, including specialist advice on stonework, leadwork and timberwork
   
   
2. Extension & alteration.
   
   
3. Adaptation and re-use.
   
   
4. Advice on maintenance including carrying out Quinquennial or five yearly inspections to advise and guide the planning of long term maintenance and care.
   
   
5. The installation of services.
   
   
6. The use of environmentally sound materials.
   
   
7. Domestic alterations.
   
   
8. Preparation of applications for Listed Building Consent.

Paul Hewitt draws on ten-year experience with a major conservation practice and has gained several Civic Trust awards for his work to historic buildings including the extension on an historic church and the extension of an existing lodge to form residential accommodation. He also won a commendation in a recent competition for the design of 'Zero CO2 Housing'.

For more information got to www.paulhewittarchitect.co.uk.