Restoration
GBCA reflects the lifelong objectives of its Principal, Christopher Borgal, who brings to the firm over 30 years of experience and training in the field.
Conservation and restoration requires sophisticated techniques based on the careful analysis of the extant heritage building fabric. Each building is different. Most buildings vary in their age, design and construction materials, but they also vary in context, patina, uses, and personal history. Historic buildings are our largest cultural artifacts, they grace our lives and anchor us in time and place. They add artistry and depth to our streets and shape the context of our lives. It is the unique quality of our city’s heritage buildings that most memorably distinguish one city from the next, one culture from the next, and one epoch from the next. In a time where universality of design and mass production of buildings has masked cultural differences, the retention of our heritage resources is ever more important. As we lose our heritage buildings so do we lose the unique identity of our country, cities, towns, neighbourhoods and streets.
GBCA understands the irreplaceable nature of the buildings we work on. The practical application of universally accepted principles for conservation directs our approach to our work. These principles stem from International, Canadian, Provincial and Municipal standards and charters. More importantly, our knowledge of the practical application of these principles is a result of a long-standing active practice in the field of restoration and adaptive reuse.
Drawing from international charters, such as the ICOMOS Venice Charter, we use the following principles in our work.
.1 Building conservation shall be undertaken on the basis of research into the historical and architectural aspects of the existing buildings.
.2 The condition, layout and design of the existing building(s) and surroundings shall be recorded before commencing work. Changes made in or to a building shall be documented to contribute to the historic record.
.3 Building repairs shall be designed and managed to preserve as much original building fabric as possible.
.4 The conservation of heritage buildings is always facilitated by making use of them for some useful purpose. New uses for a space should be as compatible with the existing building as possible, requiring minimal alteration, utilizing existing doors, windows, rooms or other features in a logical relationship to the new use.
.5 Distinguishing original qualities, characters and attributes of a building, their relationship to each other and the site, should be identified and preserved, and the removal or alteration of any historic material, or distinctive architectural feature(s) should be avoided if at all possible. This includes a building’s original location.
.6 Alterations or additions should be appropriate to current times. The historic portions of the building are distinctive to their own time and shall not be inappropriately copied or emulated to blur the distinctions between the historic and the new.
.7 Changes, additions and modifications that have been made to historic buildings over time are valid representations of their history and use, and shall be recognized and respected.
.8 Deteriorated architectural features shall be repaired rather than replaced (if possible) to ensure functionality and safety. If necessary, replacement features and materials shall sensitively respect the original design and construction.