Construction Magazine May 2018 | Page 51

Jeremy Blake , a Senior Partner at Purcell , explains the practice is known for working on heritage projects which need a careful and faithful conservation / restoration thrust , such as the Leighton House Museum in Kensington which won a Europa Nostra award . “ We also go into heritage assets that need a new lease of life , potentially through their transformation , public accessibility or even a change of use . To that end , we ’ re involved with the restoration of Battersea Power Station ,” reveals Blake “ On a number of key projects like this we find they ’ ve become tired , not only in the condition of the fabric , but also in their engagement with their existing use – public or private .”
Purcell ’ s work is inextricably linked to sustainability , though Blake remembers much scepticism in the industry around early developments in this area . “ What ’ s happened since , particularly when oil prices surged , is the dawn of a commercial reality because of the genuine economic savings that can be achieved through responsible sustainability ,” he says . Paradoxically , Blake notes a phenomenon in the industry of what he calls ‘ eco-bling ’ or ‘ green-wash ’,
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