Our Built Heritage

In this episode I am joined by Hannah Pallubinsky, Assistant Professor at Maastricht University where she co-leads the Thermoregulation and Metabolism research group. Hannah’s research focuses on how environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and air quality impact human physiology, health, and well-being. With particularly interest in how our bodies respond to indoor and outdoor environ...

In this episode I am joined by Mairi Claire Bowser, a Dundeeborn Production Buyer, currently based in the South of England. Mairi Claire has worked in the Film and TV industries across the UK since 2011, and has been actively engaged with, and has helped to lead movements for, environmentaljustice in relation to the screen sector since then. Mairi Claire shares her journey into film and TV product...

In this episode I am joined by Ellora Coupe Founder of HerRetrofit Space and Her Own Space, two interconnected member platforms empowering women to lead the UK’s home retrofit revolution. Ellora shares her journey from interior architecture andexposure to building sites at a young age thanks to her father. We talk about how she works with a client and the importance of understanding the client and...

In this episode I am joined by John Hall, Director at Remedial Repair & Restoration where they help clients to seamlessly blend old and new brickwork whilst also offering restorationservices on all types and ages of properties. John shares where his interest in bricks came from and thejourney he went on which led him to starting his specialist business which includes supply and restoration of...

In this episode I am joined by Aimée Felton, Director of Estates and Conservations at The Charterhouse, a grade 17-acre estate. Aimée plays a critical role in delivering the strategy which promotes excellence in the care, conservation and stewardship of this magnificent former Carthusian monastery. Managing, presenting and developing the estate, to ensure the ongoing care of the residents, present...

In this episode I am joined by Adam Hickey, Founder and Managing Director at Pinnacle Conservation. Pinnacle are passionate about construction, conservation and enhancing venerable and fragile buildings. They offer a holistic approach to the repair and conservation of historic buildings. As conservation specialists they enjoy challenges posed by the most obscure heritage conservation projects pres...

In this episode I am joined by Ruth Wightman, founder of Peak Project Solutions where she helps architects, contractors, and specifiers across the UK deliver projects that are practical, buildable, sustainable and visually compelling. Part of Ruth’s offering is to source bricks and masonry that blend seamlessly with the existing building which can often be a planning condition when working on list...

In this episode I am joined by Karen Haller FRSA, a global expert in Behavioural Design and Colour Psychology. Shehelps businesses and design professionals use colour and design to support mental health, enhance well-being, and create positive, nature-aligned change. Karen consults and collaborates with companies looking for innovative solutions to social problems who seek new ways of improving th...

In this episode I am joined by Sarah Charlesworth, Business Skills Foundation Lead at the Hopwood Foundation and Hopwood DePree, writer, actor, director and producer and now Co-Deputy Chair of Historic Houses North-West Region. He is also a published author which details his restoration journey of a Grade 2 listed building, Hopwood Hall, which wasbuilt by his ancestors with parts of it dating back...

In this episode I am joined by Emma Fletcher, Director of Low Carbon Homes at Octopus Energy which focuses on delivering sustainable and affordable energy solutions for residential properties. Emma is also Chair of the Residential Professional Group Panel and a member of the Knowledge and Practice Committee at RICS, where she contributes to advancing best practices in residential surveying. Emma s...

In this episode I am joined by Sarah Harrison, Co-Founderand Director of Harrison Stringfellow Architects who specialise in creatively reusing buildings. Sarah is particularly good at negotiating the planning system and finding creative solutions for tricky sites combining organisational skills with a creative flair she is also an accredited RIBA Principle Designer. Harrison Stringfellow Architect...

In this episode I am joined by Paul Mowbray, a Scottish award-winning craftsperson and artist who specialises in fine art, sculpture, wood carving and applied art. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the decorative arts, as well as a professional career working on many highly skilled craftsmanship projects and has crafted ornate decorationfor many renowned historic buildings. Paul has also feature...

In this episode I am joined by Jim Whitson, owner and blacksmith at The Blazing Blacksmith based in Peebles. Theethos of the Blazing Blacksmith has always been to give clients the choice to enrich their homes, gardens and lives with innovative and exciting work which is created to suit their practical requirements whilst being sympathetic to thesetting of the piece. Whether it is a practical piece...

In this episode I am joined by Angela Nicholls, a historianand published author whose interest lies in the provision of housing for the poor in early modern England, in particular the nature and variety of post-Reformation almshouses from the 16th century onwards. Angela’s book “Almshouses in Early Modern England”, addresses a neglected element of English welfare history, examining the role and si...

In this episode I am joined by Stephanie Harris, an associate lighting designer at CBG Light Perceptions where they provide bespoke design, consultancy and project management services for lighting and associated systems for historic, religious and other important buildings. Stephanie is also a member of the Society of Light and Lighting. We talk about how important it is to understand a space, how...

In this episode I am joined by Venetia Flint, a Material Broker and Commercial Partnerships Lead at Material Index, a leading platform providing the digital infrastructure for end-to-end material reuse in the Construction and Real Estate sectors, achieving a material reuse rate that is 10 times the UK average. With a BSc Hons in Real Estate from Oxford Brookes and five years experience in the Arch...

In this episode I am joined by Kathryn Ferry, a historian specialising in Architecture, Design and Seaside Culture. Kathryn has published several books which range from the history of beach huts, through Victorian homes and 1950s kitchens, to the official history of Butlin’s and the story of Britain’s largest Anglican convent at East Grinstead. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society...

In this episode I am joined by Sarah Dowd, serial heritageand cultural entrepreneur, founder and chair of The Tricolor Collective, which is 15 years old this year, as well as Founder and Co-Managing Director of Les Raconteurs and host of “History FFS”, a podcast looking at the intersection ofhistory as seen through the arts. Sarah takes us on her journey of where her passion forheritage came from...

In this episode I am joined by Lorraine Finch, Director andFounder of LFCP where they are accelerating climate and environmental action in cultural heritage through research, knowledge sharing and resource creation and training. LFCP provides remote and onsite consultation, training opportunities and mentoring to museums, libraries and archives nationally and internationally to help them work sust...

In this episode I am joined by Rory Keenan, a SeniorArchitect at Purcell where they offer architectural, master planning and heritage consultancy services.  Purcell’s approach is based on thoughtful understanding of our shared heritage. Inspired by the qualities of each place, they design responsibly for future generations working throughout the UK and abroad.  We talk about how Rory became an arc...

In this episode I am joined by Dan Bland from UplandArchitecture. Where he offers a refreshing approach to architecture, conservation and the traditions of building. Dan is also passionate about regenerative agriculture as a means to support sustainable land management and he also raining to be a dry stone waller.  We talk about how Dan became passionate about working with older properties and how...

In this episode I am joined by Benedict Ryan, Director at Charles Cooper , a Conservation, Restoration & Heritage Consultation Project Manager and Chair of the Young Irish Georgian’s- London Chapter. We talk about how Benedict got into the industry and theincredible projects he has worked on and how he approaches and project and building. We touch on paint analysis and how this may influence t...

In this episode I am joined by Robyn Pender who provides afresh look at the climate emergency through the twin lenses of science and history. Robyn is passionate about the world and promoting change for the better! Robyn was originally a physicist and then studied wall paintings and conservation which then lead her to working in the built environment andworking for Historic England as a Senior Bui...

In this episode I am joined by Russell Trudgen, Architectand Director at Arctic Associates, an award-winning Conservation Architects practice working with heritage properties based in West Yorkshire. They offer thoughtful conservation, restoration, adaption, and extensions of listed buildings as well as new buildings in historic and sensitive settings. We talk about where Russell’s interest in her...

In this episode I am joined by Cait Whitson from Whitson’s and Carte Blanche. The aim of Whitson’s is to manufacture, source and supply exceptional products for the decorationindustry. Carte Blanche which was Cait’s first business offered high-end decorative painting and restoration services. We talk about Cait got into the industry and the trainingshe undertook and the kind of properties she work...