To modernise or preserve?
That is the question

The UK is fortunate to have cities filled with period homes that almost look frozen in time. But look behind these elegant façades, more and more homes are telling a different, more modern, story of how they are lived in today. Sympathetic renovation is always the ambition, but not so easy to define, and it begs the question, how much is too much?

London townhouse refurbishment

We were recently appointed as the structural engineers to work on a London townhouse that put this question right under the spotlight. As an authentic and stunning period property in London, our clients wanted to create a more open-plan and flexible living space, that felt brighter and airier — not the kind of spaces historic layouts usually provide.

A classic exterior, a completely new interior

From the outside, nothing has changed. The property still looks like the model period home it always was. But inside, it’s a complete transformation. With robust structural planning and a temporary work scheme, walls have been removed and living spaces opened up in line with how our clients want to live.

Modernisation and preservation might be the same thing

As the project’s structural engineers, we quickly discovered that “preserving” this beautiful building actually required a modern approach. Left alone the building would deteriorate, just like every property requires ongoing maintenance. So, if repairs and renovations are required, it makes sense to tailor these to modern day living preferences.

During our early investigations, we discovered various construction inconsistencies as well as shallow foundations that needed careful intervention, and having strengthened these as part of the project we have made the house safe and stable for many years to come.

There were several interesting moments during the build when it appeared historic drawings were not as accurate as todays technical drawings would be, probably due to decades of adaption and patchwork fixes, but modern-day structural engineering techniques enabled us to deal with these as they appeared.

So, should we modernise or preserve?

This project is one of many renovations and refurbishments to show that there is no black and white answer. Here in Furlong Road, it became clear that by modernising the building we have potentially rescued it from age related decline, preserving the character and craftsmanship that has gone before. The real opportunity is finding the right balance of blending the two.

In this townhouse, while the outside has retained its timeless charm, the interior has taken on a whole new lease of life, offering loads of light, space and comfortable contemporary living. This house is no compromise, we believe it is thoughtful evolution.

Building on the past for a better future

Sometimes, modernising an old home is the very thing that protects it. After nearly two years of planning, investigation, design and construction, this townhouse stands as a reminder that old buildings don’t need to be frozen in history to be respected.

With intelligent structural engineering and constantly listening to what the structure reveals, it’s possible to modernise and preserve buildings, while ending up with something better and stronger than if either were done in isolation.