“Renaissance specialise in the field of architectural renovation."
Period House Magazine
Renovation Seminars
Curriculum Options

Option 1.
Renovation Course

An introduction to living with old houses.
One-day course for homeowners or professionals starting a renovation project.
Now in its 9th year, the course is held monthly during 2004
at a number of historic houses in various parts of England.
An ideal venue is Sutton House, Hackney, owned by the National Trust,
whom applied SPAB methods in its renovation.
Hidden panels open to reveal historic construction methods,
which illustrates common renovation solutions.
Set in the c:1540 Tudor-period Sutton House,
course delegates are only a few yards from
the capital’s busy streets yet have a peaceful setting to

learn about old-houses.
Initial course dates 10am to approx 5pm. 18 March 2004 & 1 April 2004,
at Sutton House, 2 & 4 Homerton High Street, Hackney, London, E9.
For more information on the venue only contact:
www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
There is limited free car parking nearby in St John at Hackney Churchyard
and some public on-street parking. Nearest station; Hackney Central. 5-minute walk.
Highbury + bus 106, 253, D6. Call: 020 7222 1234.
We supply lunch and morning and afternoon breaks, and a full set of course notes.
£ 152.75 (inc VAT) per delegate.


Renovation Course venue: the oldest house in East London.
Sutton House, owned by the National Trust.
More one-day courses each month at historic architectural venues.


Option 2
Renovation Course & Heritage Tour

An introduction to owning an old-house in England.
A two-day course for people who prefer to learn from case histories.
Learn basic heritage law and its impact on the value of character and market worth.
Workable guidance on appropriate conservation methods that will not damage
character value, is given on a tour of a number of renovated historic sites.
Accompanied tour of a number of historic buildings near the course venue.
First-day course held at the Georgian Pump Room, Bath,
with a tour of the Roman bath's.
Then a tour of an ordinary Georgian house: 19 New King St,
where William Hershel discovered the planet Uranus;
and on to The Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel and the Building of Bath Museum,
where delegates can explore Georgian style and building methods;
and John Wood’s seminal The Royal Crescent,
with a look at the Georgian interior of No 1.
Second-day course at Kings Weston House, Bristol,
and a tour by the owner of this stately home, rescued from the dead-hand of the local municipiality.
Then a tour of fashionable Regency homes designed by John Nash at Blaise Hamlet.
From 10am to approx 5pm each day. 26 & 27 May 2004.
Accommodation is not provided as part of course,
although we are sometimes able to help find accomodation.
We supply lunch and breaks, and a full set of course notes. £ 303.50 (inc VAT) per delegate

.
Renovation Course & Heritage Tour venue The Pump Room,
at the heart of United Nations World Heritage City of Bath Spa.

Option 3.
Architectural Conservation Workshop

The principles of building conservation.
One-day course for groups of building associated professionals
who want to focus on recommended repair methods.
English Heritage, SPAB, Zurich Manual, UK & USA legislation,
and other guidelines, compared.
Mortgage lenders habitually condition a loan to protect a historic house as if it can meet
modern standards but planners ban damp and timber treatments unless consent is granted:
How can this conflict be reconciled?
Professionals become more experienced with each property they tackle
but there are amended heritage laws, revised tax schemes,
and ways to win planning approvals for benchmark alterations.
If you are serious about specialising in listed buildings or want to become a dedicated renovator.
This is the course for you.
By appointment. Venue of by arrangement. 10am to approx 5pm.
We supply lunch and breaks, and a full set of course notes.
£ 152.75 (inc VAT) per delegate.


The Bishop’s Palace, Wells,
where delegates at a previous course learn about
how to tackle problems that can challenge the modern renovator
of a listed building in England.

Option 4.
Listed Building Masterclass

One-to-one with the ‘The Old-House Master’.
An opportunity, to bring a specific scheme and discuss its feasibility.
An independent and experienced opinion on how an alterations and repairs scheme might go forward.
A development scheme for a listed building, or within a protected zone,
must undergo an additional planning process and emphasis is constantly changing.
A scheme may be before the design stage.
It may have been drawn-up by architects but fallen foul of the planners.
It may be too expensive, or perhaps tax reliefs have been forgotten.
It may be a security system is too obtrusive.
It may be the planners hate the style of a new conservatory.
We look at practicable guidance considering conservation methods.
Appointment by mutually convenient arrangement.
We supply lunch and breaks.
£ 152.75 (inc VAT) per delegate

.
Grade II* listed c:1721 London town house renovated by Renaissance. 
Found under layers of paint the badly cracked but original
Russian pine wall paneling was restored and finished with bees wax polish. 
The lost stone fire surround was reinstated matching an original found in the house. 
New  paint on original ceiling recreates centuries-old  smokey-colours.
 English ceramics and treasured items fill the dining table and corner cupboard.  
Picture from, The Georgian Society's 'The  Georgian House Book':

Option 5.
The Conservation Survey

‘The Old-House Master’ visits your property.
An expert assessment of a property in a survey anywhere in England.
It can answer many pre-buying or pre-works questions about dilapidation, or alteration ideas,
before taking the plunge into mortgage and planning application processes.
Site visit to designated property usually 2-4 hours duration.
By appointment.
£ 211.50 (inc VAT) per property.


A Survey in Hertfordshire.
An apparent original Tudor half-timbered cottage
masked a modern concrete-block construction.

Option 6.
VAT Reliefs or Grant Certification.

Claiming State benefit for listed building works.
The government gives homeowners money when carrying out approved works to a listed building.
Learn how to maximise returns and get the most out of the UK’s planning processes.
A professional service for property owners, or professionals
renovating or converting a period house, barn or cottage.
Upon instruction from owner or owner’s agent; usually done without a site visit.
Formula to prepare official paperwork and obtain State money for eligible works to approved property.
Up to 95% reduced VAT off builder’s bills is generally won.
£705.00 (inc VAT) per property.


` Traditional lime-plastered walls to a listed building
can get comprehensive VAT reliefs.
 

Course Leader.
“Adrian Dobinson has a growing reputation as the saviour
of heritage homes and combative scourge of planners.”
Daily Telegraph



Meet our course leader, ‘The Old House Master’ Adrian Dobinson,
a qualified architectural conservation consultant and designer
offering over 30-years experience working on historic buildings
spanning 1,000-years of period style.
He is a director of the family firm, Renaissance Architectural, a design & build firm,
based in Bath, managing renovation-building contracts at various sites in England.
He was formerly, operations director of a firm of chartered architects and
building contractors in the public house sector of the UK.
The Daily Telegraph says Adrian’s philosophy put simply is; ‘knowledge is power’.
From this viewpoint, Renaissance’s aim is to inform and explain the responsibilities
of preserving the past for future generations to come, whilst protecting today’s works budget,
and without unnecessarily compromising on style.
In addition, occasional speakers guide you through specialist subjects,
or conduct a guided tour of a historic venue.

If you're the owner of a Listed Building in need of TLC you could do 
a lot worse than attend one of these courses. Not  only will you come away 
buzzing with ideas and facts but also you will be inspired to pursue your 
project with  renewed  vigour, content that someone like
Adrian Dobinson is on your side. 
Homebuilding & Renovation Magazine
Course Topics
The format of courses is generally similar and relatively focussed.

# How to approach an old-house conservation repair.
# The impact of tax, security, or mortgage regulations on historic value.
# How to become your own house historian.
# Why planners want scheme drawings, surveys, and schedules.
# Approaches to converting and adapting a redundant building into a home.
# Extending accommodation or adding an appropriate extension.
# Assess the replacement value differences of graded listed buildings.
# How to choose paint colours and type of finish that is right for the historic house.
# What is conservation?
# Can a neighbour’s scheme adversely affect market value. Can it be stopped?
# Why use lime paint and lime plaster.
# Does rising damp exist and why spend a fortune stopping it?
# Fitting utilities without damaging valuable historic character.
# How to renegotiate a damp-proofing or timber-treatment mortgage condition.
# Why repair dusty old woodwork if new carpentry will do?
# Is that crack a big worry or just minor dilapidation?
# Can initial alteration ideas be realised physically?
# How to choose professional advisors.
# How to find good building contractors and prevent spiralling costs.
# Dealing with the local planning authority and building regulations.
# Availability of public money; repair grants, VAT reliefs.
# Cut costs insuring an old-property and meet security requirements.

On Tour
We have been carrying out surveys since 1973, planning and VAT advice
since 1984, and running the Renovation Course since 1995.
Previously always held in Bath, this year we are going on tour with a course
date each month at different venues in England.
This makes it easier for many delegates to choose venues to suit preferred
travel arrangements.
Venues are chosen because the building illustrates dilapidation problems
and renovation solutions discussed.
During 2004, we will be offering different venues.
In addition, we are expanding our range of educational courses and
benchmark services to help people make informed decisions
about the renovation of listed architecture.

How to Book
Cheques made payable to ‘Renaissance’.
Send in the mail, with your name, address, telephone number or email,
stating your preferred course, date and venue, to:
Renaissance, 15 Gay St, Bath BA1 2PH.
Full refund less £50 if your cancellation if notified within 5-days
before date of course. No refunds after that date.
Rarely, we might change venue or do not proceed with a course if it is not
fully booked and this may change published arrangements.
We keep you advised beforehand if changed.

Future Heritage Courses
Venues  are planned in Basth, London, Bristol, Newcastle, Chatsworth, Manchester, Surrey.
We participate in the UK Department of Culture's national 'Heritage Open-Days', 
an annual event each September when historic buildings closed to the public open their doors.


c:1621 Chapel in Henry VII Grade I listed Littlecote House, Berkshire.

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Renovation Design & Build. Listed Building & Conservation Planning Agents
Renaissance Architectural Ltd Regency House 2 Wood Street Bath BA1 2JQ England
Telephone: +44 (0) 845 9000 907
Renew@RenaissanceArchitectural.com