RELATED PROJECTS
Services: Conservation
THE GREAT PAGODA, KEW GARDENS
Restoration of the iconic, Grade I Great Pagoda at Kew Gardens, London
The Great Pagoda, Kew Gardens
Austin-Smith:Lord was appointed to undertake the design and sensitive execution of fabric repairs to the iconic, Grade I Listed Great Pagoda at Kew Gardens, London.
The conservation team worked closely with the Historic Royal Palaces team to prepare proposals that are in keeping with this significant listed structure dating from 1761.
The Great Pagoda was designed by Sir William Chambers for Princess Augusta. Chambers was her architect and tutor to her young son George who would later become King George III.
Chambers created a series of architectural structures from around the world to create one of the most fashionable estates in England if not Europe at the time.
Only the Pagoda and Orangery survive to this day but other structures namely the Mosque, Alahambra and House of Confucius which were made of more ephemeral materials have been lost.
A major element of this important conservation work was to return the iconic building back to its original splendour and to rediscover or replace the eighty timber dragons which have become synonymous with the Pagoda.
The restored Pagoda reopened to the general public in July 2018 and is extremely popular with visitors from all over the world.
See Austin-Smith:Lord’s Director and Head of Conservation David Millar talk about the project in more detail in these short videos:
The Great Pagoda: about the project
Can 18th Century craft meet 21st Century tech in conservation architecture?
How can we ensure heritage is a gift that keeps on giving?
The astonishing clues in paint analysis about the history of buildings
Image credit (completed project): Robin Forster Photography
It has been fascinating to piece together the story of the elusive dragons, missing from this remarkable building for over two centuries. Using tantalising contemporary accounts and drawings, and taking inspiration from surviving eighteenth century dragons in houses and museums across Europe, we’ll be pulling together a team of specialist craftsmen to ensure the new dragons are as faithful to the original design as possible.
Craig Hatto – Project Manager, Historic Royal Palaces
LOCATION: LONDON
CLIENT: HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES
VALUE: £5m
COMPLETION: 2018
SERVICE: CONSERVATION, ARCHITECTURE
SECTOR: ARTS & CULTURE
CONTRACTOR: BLUE SKY BUILDING
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH: LORD
STRUCTURES: HOCKLEY & DAWSON
SERVICES: CHAPMAN & BDSP
COST CONSULTANT: MORHAM & BROTCHIE LTD
AWARDS:
2019 GEORGIAN GROUP AWARD
2019 CONSTRUCTING EXCELLENCE SECBE AWARD
2019 VE:FORUM VISITOR EXPERIENCE AWARD
2018 RICHMOND SOCIETY AWARD
LIVERPOOL CENTRAL LIBRARY
“It’s like going to meet your gran and finding she’s turned into Beyoncé’
Liverpool Central Library
The Liverpool Central Library and Archive Project is a unique and prestigious scheme within the heart of Liverpool’s World Heritage Site. The project provided a 8000m2 library and specialist archive and restored 4000m2 of Grade II* Listed historic buildings on William Brown Street.
A new 6-floor library, with an exciting atrium, gives the City of Liverpool a library for the 21st Century. The library connects to the historic Picton Library, the Hornby Library and Oak Room giving these areas a new lease of life and bringing them into public use.
A new archive repository provides storage for Liverpool’s most valuable collections and includes first class facilities for preservation and research.
Press and Publications
Liverpool Library video from Wash Design
Image credits: Shepherd Construction
It’s like going to meet your gran and finding she’s turned into Beyoncé
Frank Cottrell Boyce
Central Library is without doubt one of the most significant and celebrated buildings in Liverpool and its restoration is more than just bringing a venue back into use – its investing in the heritage of the city.
Breathtaking development.
Joe Anderson – mayor of Liverpool
LOCATION: LIVERPOOL
CLIENT: LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL/INSPIRE PARTNERSHIP
VALUE: £50m
COMPLETION: PHASE 1 2013. PHASE 2 2015
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE, INTERIORS, CONSERVATION
SECTOR: ARTS & CULTURE
CONTRACTOR: SHEPHERD CONSTRUCTION
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH: LORD
STRUCTURES: ROC CONSULTING
SERVICES: BURO HAPPOLD
COST CONSULTANT: SHEPHERD CONSTRUCTION
AWARDS:
2014 RIBA NW REGIONAL AWARD
2014 RIBA NW CONSERVATION AWARD
2014 RICS AWARD: NW PROJECT OF THE YEAR
2014 RICS AWARDS: NW COMMUNITY BENEFIT AWARD
2014 RICS AWARD: NW TRAVEL & TOURISM
2014 LANDSCAPE INSTITUTE AWARDS: HIGHLY COMMENDED
2013 BUILDING AWARD: BEST TECHNICAL INNOVATION
2013 NW REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION AWARDS: REGIONAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR
2013 LABC NW BUILDING EXCELLENCE AWARDS: REGIONAL WINNER
AYRSHIRE HOSPICE
Design of a supportive palliative care environment for those in Ayrshire with life-limiting illness
Ayrshire Hospice
Having been involved in early feasibility work to ascertain whether The Ayrshire Hospice could be redeveloped at its existing site close to Ayr Town Centre, Austin-Smith:Lord subsequently won a competitive tender and interview procurement process with Turner & Townsend as Lead Advisor under the Health Facilities Scotland (HFS) Framework to develop the new facility at 35-37 Racecourse Rd and the Hospices’ adjacent site at 15 Ronaldshaw Park.
The existing 20 bedded Inpatient Unit to the rear of the existing listed property at No.35 Racecourse Road will be replaced with a modern compliant inpatient unit comprising 12 single en-suite patient rooms and family areas.
LOCATION: AYR
CLIENT: AYRSHIRE HOSPICE
VALUE: £13M
COMPLETION: SCHEDULED 2024
SERVICE: CONSERVATION, ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: HEALTHCARE
CONTRACTOR: MCLAUGHLIN + HARVEY
STRUCTURES: STRUER
SERVICES: ATELIER TEN
COST CONSULTANT: TURNER & TOWNSEND
LLANELLY HOUSE, CARMARTHENSHIRE
Restoration of this Grade I Listed Georgian Town House to its 18th Century glory
Llanelly House, Carmarthenshire
Austin-Smith:Lord was commissioned by Carmarthenshire Heritage Regeneration Trust to carry out the conservation and restoration of Llanelly House in Llanelli. The aims of the project were to restore the Grade I Listed Georgian Town House to its 18th Century glory and turn it into a major visitor attraction. The listing of the building at Grade I reflects its importance in Britain on a national scale.
The restoration of Llanelly House was undertaken around a high quality programme of conservation and restoration that has drawn from and enriched the communities of Llanelli.
Project funders included the HLF, ERDF, Cadw, Llanelli Town Centre, Carmarthenshire County Council and GrantScape.
We are delighted with the high quality of conservation that has been achieved at Llanelly House and the central role that ASL’s team played in achieving this.
Claire Deacon – Carmarthenshire Heritage Regeneration Trust
LOCATION: CARMARTHENSHIRE
CLIENT: CARMARTHENSHIRE HERITAGE REGENERATION TRUST
VALUE: £6M
COMPLETION: 2013
SERVICE: CONSERVATION, ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS
SECTOR: CULTURE
CONTRACTOR: JOHN WEAVER CONSTRUCTION
STRUCTURES: OPUS
SERVICES: ROBERT BLOXHAM JONES
COST CONSULTANT: PARRY DAWKIN
AWARDS:
2014 RICS AWARD: PROJECT OF THE YEAR
2014 RICS AWARDS: BUILDING CONSERVATION AWARD
LEEDS CITY MUSEUM
Extensive interior refurbishment of Grade II* listed building
Leeds City Museum
Leeds City Museum, located in the ‘Cultural Quarter’ area around Millennium Square in the centre of the city, is a central hub for Leeds’ network of museums and cultural attractions. The Museum is part of a larger scheme which includes the new ‘Discovery Centre’, a museum collections building located in the Clarence Dock area of Leeds. The Museum is located in the refurbished Grade II* Listed Leeds Institute, an imposing mid-Victorian building designed by Cuthbert Brodrick.
Austin-Smith:Lord prepared proposals for the extensive repair, alteration and restoration of the original building to accommodate a range of state-of-the-art galleries, a museum shop, a café, conference/education suites and back of house facilities.
Austin-Smith:Lord has proved to be imaginative and sensitive
Martin Gresswell – Project Development Officer, Leeds City Council
LOCATION: LEEDS
CLIENT: LEEDS CITY COUNCIL
VALUE: £27M
COMPLETION: 2007
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, CONSERVATION, LANDSCAPE, INTERIORS
SECTOR: ARTS & CULTURE
CONTRACTOR: LAING O’ROURKE
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD
STRUCTURES: BURO HAPPOLD
SERVICES: BURO HAPPOLD
COST CONSULTANT: RIDGE
STOCKPORT COLLEGE CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT
Masterplanner, lead consultant and designer of the Phase 1 and 2 redevelopment programme
Stockport College Campus Development
Austin-Smith:Lord was appointed by Stockport College as masterplanners, lead consultant and designers of their Phase 1 and 2 redevelopment programme. This programme was designed to bring forward a 21st Century Flagship Campus on the existing site and the recently acquired St Thomas Hospital site, which together sit on the southerly approach to the town centre.
This 37,500m² flagship campus enhances the College’s image and profile across all areas of the curriculum and further strengthens its reputation.
The new campus reflects an exciting mix of substantial new build accommodation, retained and refurbished Victorian listed buildings and the best elements of the previously existing estate.
LOCATION: STOCKPORT
CLIENT: STOCKPORT COLLEGE
VALUE: £85M
COMPLETION: 2010
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, CONSERVATION, MASTERPLANNING, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: EDUCATION
CONTRACTOR: WATES CONSTRUCTION
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH: LORD
STRUCTURES: CLARKE BOND CONSULTING ENGINEERS
SERVICES: ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DESIGN
COST CONSULTANT: THE SIMON FENTON PARTNERSHIP
AWARDS:
2011 MSA AWARD: BUILDING OF YEAR + COMMUNITY BUILDING OF THE YEAR
2011 RIBA SHORTLIST
THE READER, CALDERSTONES PARK
Refurbishment of the Grade II Mansion House within Calderstones Park to create The Reader’s International Centre for Shared Reading
The Reader, Calderstones Park
The project vision was to refurbish the Mansion House within Calderstones Park to create The Reader’s International Centre for Shared Reading. Alongside its International profile, The Reader is primarily a community based organisation. This project sought to build on that relationship and improve both the facilities and its offer.
The Mansion House was constructed in 1828 and is grade II listed. It includes an art deco outdoor theatre in the ‘secret garden’ to the rear of the house, added in 1945.
LOCATION: LIVERPOOL
CLIENT: THE READER ORGANISATION
VALUE: £3.46m
COMPLETION: 2019
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE, INTERIORS, CONSERVATION
SECTOR: ARTS & CULTURE
CONTRACTOR: JOHN TURNER CONSTRUCTION GROUP LTD
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH: LORD
STRUCTURES: CURTINS
SERVICES: CHARLES ANDREWS LTD
COST CONSULTANT: TODD & LEDSON
GALLERY OF MODERN ART
A project to restore the clock tower at one of Glasgow’s most famous buildings
Gallery of Modern Art
A project to restore the clock tower at one of Glasgow’s most famous buildings led by Austin-Smith:Lord has now been completed. Restoration work at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) focused on the 189 year old clock tower and weather vane, which have been cleaned, restored and reinstated.
Previously coated in stained cream masonry paint and cement repairs, together with vegetation growing out of the Corinthian column bases, the clock tower needed an extensive series of conservation repairs.
Glasgow Life, which manages GoMA, instructed conservation accredited architects at the Glasgow studio of Austin-Smith:Lord to assess the true condition of the tower and advise on a suitable repair strategy.
The project, which was undertaken by City Building Group LLP and CBC Stone, received financial grant support from Historic Environment Scotland.
The Gallery of Modern Art is a building firmly tied to the history of Glasgow itself. We are delighted to reveal the restored clock tower and weather vane, in complete working order just in time for its 200th anniversary.
I’m very pleased with the delicate restoration work undertaken by Austin-Smith:Lord, who were careful to ensure the results were sympathetic to the historic keeping of the building and the wider environment. This refurbishment ensures generations to come have the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful building in full as it was originally intended.
Councillor Archie Graham – Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow Life
LOCATION: GLASGOW
CLIENT: GLASGOW LIFE
VALUE: £360k
COMPLETION: 2016
SERVICE: CONSERVATION, ARCHITECTURE
SECTOR: ARTS & CULTURE
CONTRACTOR: CITY BUILDING GROUP LLP
MASONRY: CBC STONE
MONASTERY OF ST FRANCIS & GORTON
RICS NW Building of the Year: Restoration and extension of the near derelict Grade II* Listed Church and Friary
Monastery of St Francis & Gorton
The Grade II* Listed Church and Friary of St Francis, designed by the acclaimed Victorian architect, Edward Pugin, for the Franciscan Order, was listed by the World Monuments Fund as one of the ‘Hundred Most Endangered Monuments’ in the world. Austin-Smith:Lord was appointed as architects, conservation architects and landscape designers for the project which restored and extended the near derelict building.
The restored Monastery building now houses a commercially run visitor, conference and events centre incorporating an education and training suite. It was completed in 2007 and has been the recipient of many awards including a Civic Trust Commendation.
The dedication of Austin-Smith:Lord has been one of the main factors that has enabled our project to survive.
Elaine Griffiths – Project Director, Monastery of St Francis & Gorton Trust
LOCATION: MANCHESTER
CLIENT: THE MONASTERY OF ST FRANCIS & GORTON TRUST
VALUE: £6.5m
COMPLETION: 2007
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, CONSERVATION, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: ARTS & CULTURE
CONTRACTOR: WILLIAM ANELAY LTD
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH: LORD
STRUCTURES: ATKINS
SERVICES: RW GREGORY & PARTNERS
COST CONSULTANT: DAVIS LANGDON
AWARDS:
2009 RICS NW BUILDING OF THE YEAR
2009 RICS NATIONAL CONSERVATION AWARD COMMENDATION
2008 CIVIC TRUST COMMENDATION