HERITAGE & CONSERVATION CONSULTANCY SERVICES
Our built heritage gives our country and our communities a distinctive character and identity that cannot be replicated and, once lost, is lost forever. Today, many of our historic buildings are in need of restoration, strengthening, and adaptation if they are to survive into the future, and continue to offer social, economic, and environmental benefits.
Making decisions about the conservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse of heritage and historic buildings requires careful research, along with expert knowledge and understanding of cultural heritage value, materials, and deterioration mechanisms. With specialised training and expertise, Chessa is able to undertake this research, and provide professional guidance on the best ways to conserve, adapt, and maintain any heritage or historic structure.
Chessa provides the following heritage consultancy services to architecture and design practices, organisations and local authorities with heritage and character building projects:
- building biographies
- condition surveys and reports
- feasibility studies (for building use)
- remedial work plans
- conservation management plans
- maintenance plans
- heritage effects assessments
- documentation required for Resource and Building Consents (such as Assessments of Environmental Effects)
- funding application assistance
EXPERIENCE
AMP Society Building (image by P. McCredie)
- AMP Society Building, Wellington, NZ:* Facade Condition Assessment and project architect for Facade Refurbishment at this Category I listed Sydney sandstone and granite building constructed c.1928.
- Old Public Trust Building, Wellington, NZ:* Façade Condition Assessment for this iconic c.1905 Category I listed building designed in flamboyant Edwardian Baroque style.
- Gordon Wilson Flats, Wellington, NZ:* Resource Consent Application for façade works to this purpose-designed multi-unit housing development constructed during the 1950s and listed in the Wellington City Council District Plan.
- Mt Eden Prison [Heritage Building], Auckland, NZ:* Developed and Detailed Design for the seismic strengthening and adaptive reuse of the imposing Victorian prison building, and Mothballing Report providing guidance on how to protect the building while decisions on its final use were being made.
- Lochaber House, Lower Hutt: Conservation Plan for this little known but historically significant Lower Hutt house constructed c.1910
As part of her MA course, Chessa also had the opportunity to be involved with works at Durham Cathedral World Heritage Site in the UK while on placement at Purcell, a prominent practice specialising in conservation architecture and heritage consultancy. Alongside the project architect, Chessa undertook condition analyses of medieval stonework and replanning exercises for the Georgian cathedral offices.