Architecture
Renovating
Do You Know the Difference Between Restoration and Renovation?
Architect and historian Stuart Harrison launches season three of 'Restoration Australia' and answers burning questions
With season three of Restoration Australia set to start on Sunday 11 October 2020 (7.40pm on ABC TV and iview), Houzz interviewed presenter, architect and historian Stuart Harrison about the difference between restoration and renovation. Here he reveals the common (and uncommon) pitfalls of these ambitious heritage projects, and the thorny issue of working on heritage-protected properties.
Episode one’s Milton Terrace before works. Image provided by ABC.
Why is Australia a nation of renovators?
I guess lots of people want to make their living environment better – the problem is getting the fundamentals in dwellings right is what is actually needed – and this can be hard to bring in later. Working with existing buildings is a good idea; it is good sustainably, and in terms of history and authenticity.
The challenge is how good design and contemporary living can work within and around them, and how those existing buildings can be worked with intelligently. Good design is bringing all the decisions together with an idea, and resisting the distractions that often flood our screens. Getting good advice is the key, and as the two seasons of Restoration Australia I hosted hopefully show, if you have an architect then things tend to work out better.
Find a sympathetic architect for your renovation or restoration near you on Houzz
Why is Australia a nation of renovators?
I guess lots of people want to make their living environment better – the problem is getting the fundamentals in dwellings right is what is actually needed – and this can be hard to bring in later. Working with existing buildings is a good idea; it is good sustainably, and in terms of history and authenticity.
The challenge is how good design and contemporary living can work within and around them, and how those existing buildings can be worked with intelligently. Good design is bringing all the decisions together with an idea, and resisting the distractions that often flood our screens. Getting good advice is the key, and as the two seasons of Restoration Australia I hosted hopefully show, if you have an architect then things tend to work out better.
Find a sympathetic architect for your renovation or restoration near you on Houzz
Milton Terrace after works. Image provided by ABC.
What is the difference between renovation and restoration?
Restoration is one method of conservation – renovation can be any kind of upgrade really. Often renovation means to bring in line with current tastes, whereas restoration can be about taking it back to a point in the past. Most projects, on the show and more broadly, aren’t actually restorations, they are more a mix of restoration, other conservation methods as well as alternations and additions.
What is the difference between renovation and restoration?
Restoration is one method of conservation – renovation can be any kind of upgrade really. Often renovation means to bring in line with current tastes, whereas restoration can be about taking it back to a point in the past. Most projects, on the show and more broadly, aren’t actually restorations, they are more a mix of restoration, other conservation methods as well as alternations and additions.
Milton Terrace. Image provided by ABC.
In the first episode (Milton Terrace), the heritage advisor decided the original floorboards must remain, but the owners decided float a floor over the top. What purpose does this serve for heritage value?
The heritage architect here is advising the best practice and to be consistent with the broader conservation principles of the Burra Charter [the theory and practice of cultural heritage management].
Retaining the floorboards essentially protects them, the new floor on top is then able to be removed later. This principle, removability, is important in heritage practice when adding new elements – it means later on if someone decides to restore the house (perhaps more faithfully) they can remove the new and expose the original condition. The other option of course would have been to work with the original boards, but in this episode there was a very different vision for the interior, which was in contrast to the restored exterior.
In the first episode (Milton Terrace), the heritage advisor decided the original floorboards must remain, but the owners decided float a floor over the top. What purpose does this serve for heritage value?
The heritage architect here is advising the best practice and to be consistent with the broader conservation principles of the Burra Charter [the theory and practice of cultural heritage management].
Retaining the floorboards essentially protects them, the new floor on top is then able to be removed later. This principle, removability, is important in heritage practice when adding new elements – it means later on if someone decides to restore the house (perhaps more faithfully) they can remove the new and expose the original condition. The other option of course would have been to work with the original boards, but in this episode there was a very different vision for the interior, which was in contrast to the restored exterior.
Nanima restoration. Image provided by ABC.
What is the role of heritage advisors – who do they answer to and to what extent can they be negotiated with?
There are both heritage architects/consultants, who work for the clients, and then heritage advisors on the regulatory side. Heritage architects tend to be registered architects who have specialised in heritage work.
In the first episode of season three, Milton Terrace, we see the heritage architect try to ensure the project is consistent with its approvals and the CMP (Conversation Management Plan) – the heritage architect is in fact on the side of the owners, and the original building. It’s really with the regulatory bodies issuing the heritage and/or development permits where the careful negotiation needs to happen, and here a good heritage architect is invaluable, like the one used on Milton Terrace.
What is the role of heritage advisors – who do they answer to and to what extent can they be negotiated with?
There are both heritage architects/consultants, who work for the clients, and then heritage advisors on the regulatory side. Heritage architects tend to be registered architects who have specialised in heritage work.
In the first episode of season three, Milton Terrace, we see the heritage architect try to ensure the project is consistent with its approvals and the CMP (Conversation Management Plan) – the heritage architect is in fact on the side of the owners, and the original building. It’s really with the regulatory bodies issuing the heritage and/or development permits where the careful negotiation needs to happen, and here a good heritage architect is invaluable, like the one used on Milton Terrace.
Nanima restoration. Image provided by ABC.
What are some expected restoration hurdles people should know about?
Not having suitable professional help, then the normal cost and time issues, which are often made easier by having professional help from a suitable architect and/or heritage architect.
What are some unexpected restoration hurdles?
The design and regulatory stages – that stuff at the start of the job, which can often take longer than the building work itself. This doesn’t get covered much on shows like Restoration Australia and Grand Designs Australia, but it is the ‘dark matter’.
Design is a way of making decisions, and a clear design strategy is needed. Then a process to get through the permits is needed – projects can often have three sequences of permits: heritage, planning (or DA) and building permits. All before you can start making a mess on-site.
Keen to browse beautiful historical restorations on Houzz? Click here, type into the search bar and select Photos
What are some expected restoration hurdles people should know about?
Not having suitable professional help, then the normal cost and time issues, which are often made easier by having professional help from a suitable architect and/or heritage architect.
What are some unexpected restoration hurdles?
The design and regulatory stages – that stuff at the start of the job, which can often take longer than the building work itself. This doesn’t get covered much on shows like Restoration Australia and Grand Designs Australia, but it is the ‘dark matter’.
Design is a way of making decisions, and a clear design strategy is needed. Then a process to get through the permits is needed – projects can often have three sequences of permits: heritage, planning (or DA) and building permits. All before you can start making a mess on-site.
Keen to browse beautiful historical restorations on Houzz? Click here, type into the search bar and select Photos
Stuart Harrison in Milton Terrace. Image provided by ABC.
How can people strike a balance between contemporary living (open space, sunlight and garden views) and respecting historical properties?
That’s the trick – it’s often the case people want the cultural kudos and location of heritage-listed properties but want contemporary living within them – this is the design negotiation.
Good design and good heritage practice gets you that balance, and with the Milton Terrace project one way was to keep a previously created ‘opening up’ of two rooms, rather than restore them into separate rooms again. Another way is to make the most of the open spaces that already exist and not add in elements that close them back up – there are a few examples in this season of where that did happen, and where it didn’t.
How can people strike a balance between contemporary living (open space, sunlight and garden views) and respecting historical properties?
That’s the trick – it’s often the case people want the cultural kudos and location of heritage-listed properties but want contemporary living within them – this is the design negotiation.
Good design and good heritage practice gets you that balance, and with the Milton Terrace project one way was to keep a previously created ‘opening up’ of two rooms, rather than restore them into separate rooms again. Another way is to make the most of the open spaces that already exist and not add in elements that close them back up – there are a few examples in this season of where that did happen, and where it didn’t.
Egan House. Image provided by ABC.
What are some examples of situations where people encountered unexpected – and huge – restoration challenges?
There are plenty of problems you normally get on-site, but uniquely this season has a few episodes were the effects of the crises come into play – whether it be drought, bushfires or of course now the pandemic.
We’ll see one couple in Wellington, NSW, battle against hardship caused to their community by the drought, and in Ballarat, Victoria, there’s an owner who is driven to the brink – and for both of these, the buildings they are working on are unmanageably large.
What are some examples of situations where people encountered unexpected – and huge – restoration challenges?
There are plenty of problems you normally get on-site, but uniquely this season has a few episodes were the effects of the crises come into play – whether it be drought, bushfires or of course now the pandemic.
We’ll see one couple in Wellington, NSW, battle against hardship caused to their community by the drought, and in Ballarat, Victoria, there’s an owner who is driven to the brink – and for both of these, the buildings they are working on are unmanageably large.
Egan House. Image provided by ABC.
Where have you seen restoration theory put into practice well?
In season three, the Egan House project does this quite well, leaving a previously opened up space and making it a living room facing out towards a park from the first floor. In the Ballarat Baptist Church project, a highlight of the season, the owner and design team do a good job of maintaining the quality of the original space, and how it had been changed over time – a layered approach.
For historical properties, is it better to make the old and new parts relate and integrate with each other or create a contrast so both eras are acknowledged?
Good heritage practice is to make new different to old – this allows clear readings of what has been done when, and allows for removability. There are some exceptions to this approach, but generally it’s how things should be done, through ‘layers’ of history.
Despite this, there is still a wide-ranging belief to the contrast – among home owners, their builders and even those in the world of TV!
Season three of Restoration Australia starts on Sunday 11 October 2020 (7.40pm on ABC TV and iview).
Your turn
Have you had experience restoring a historical property? Tell us about it in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Love restoration projects? Read the inside story behind this Georgian makeover in Sydney – Parisian Chic in an Oversize Apartment for a Family With 4 Teens
Where have you seen restoration theory put into practice well?
In season three, the Egan House project does this quite well, leaving a previously opened up space and making it a living room facing out towards a park from the first floor. In the Ballarat Baptist Church project, a highlight of the season, the owner and design team do a good job of maintaining the quality of the original space, and how it had been changed over time – a layered approach.
For historical properties, is it better to make the old and new parts relate and integrate with each other or create a contrast so both eras are acknowledged?
Good heritage practice is to make new different to old – this allows clear readings of what has been done when, and allows for removability. There are some exceptions to this approach, but generally it’s how things should be done, through ‘layers’ of history.
Despite this, there is still a wide-ranging belief to the contrast – among home owners, their builders and even those in the world of TV!
Season three of Restoration Australia starts on Sunday 11 October 2020 (7.40pm on ABC TV and iview).
Your turn
Have you had experience restoring a historical property? Tell us about it in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Love restoration projects? Read the inside story behind this Georgian makeover in Sydney – Parisian Chic in an Oversize Apartment for a Family With 4 Teens
Season three of Restoration Australia features some of our country’s bravest heritage warriors as they transform tumble-down ruins into their remarkable historical homes.
The series follows homeowners as they embark on the massive tasks of restoring their old homes, from a Federation rambler in country NSW, to a massive but derelict Baptist Church in Victoria’s Ballarat; from a beautiful old Queenslander in the Noosa hinterland that was cut up and bought for $21,000, to a grand inner-city terrace under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.