105 Construction & Engineering Awards 2020 BUILD Best Historical Building Restoration Specialists 2020 – London Best Georgian/Victorian Restoration Project (UK): Bushy House, NPL, Teddington lder buildings require specialist attention. In many cases, modern techniques would not work, looking out of character and ruining the charm of them. Since the turn of the century, Christopher Horne has worked on many fascinating and important historic buildings, restoring them and their brickwork to its former glory. The key area of focus in many projects is bringing a building back to its original state, namely how it looked when first constructed. The nature of old buildings means that this work varies enormously, and Chris and his team tackle jobs such as cleaning brickwork, using specialist machinery, as well as conducting the repair, replacement and colour matching of old brickwork on properties. Chris is playing a part in continuing a strong heritage of work in this field that is slowly being replaced by new techniques. Much of his work is not just in the practical elements of a building, but a knowledge of the history of it. Everyone who works on one of his projects must have a detailed knowledge of and passion for historic buildings, materials and techniques including tools and even the clothing! The team see themselves as not only continuing a tradition but also passing it on so future generations can maintain their environment. Being based in West London has kept the team immensely busy. London has so many historic buildings that require specialist attention. The appearance of more and more modern structures going up around these landmark premises creates an environment that is often not conducive to their continuance. Keeping these buildings in good condition, therefore, protects them from being torn down in favour of fashionable opinion, losing the long line of history that goes with a building. A residential project in Brentford, West London, demonstrates the care with which the talented team at CJH Brick Restoration approach every project. It involved the careful removal of a heavily painted pebble dash without causing any further damage to the brickwork behind. The team then had to repair and replace any damaged bricks, matching the stock with reclaimed bricks. After applying several coats of colour wash, it was time to reinstate the tuck pointing that was such a characteristic of the property. The finished building stands out from the rest of the houses in the street, creating an original and traditional feel against the modern painted or rendered houses. Ideally, this would begin a process of restoration along the whole road. As the country moves towards finding solutions that are both sustainable and manageable, the team at CJH Brick Restoration hope that some of the techniques from the past will be rejuvenated. They were both suited to the natural environment and used materials that are still around us. The firm’s future seems bright indeed, with many different projects to turn their hands to. Looking forward, Chris hopes to employ more young people as apprentices to pass on the unique skills of his trade to younger generations, creating a renaissance in knowledge of historic buildings and building techniques. Company: CJH Brick Restoration Name: Chris Horne Web Address: www.cjhbrickrestoration.co.uk Email: [email protected] O Brick restoration is a complex field, with tuck pointing being one of the most difficult to master. This historic technique has existed for hundreds of years, but as less and less buildings use the techniques involved, less people are competent in doing it. The team at CJH Brick Restoration are uniquely qualified to tackle repair, replacement and rebuild of historic properties, allowing them to regain their former glory. We take a closer look to see how they did it. Aug20537
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