Sinclair Building

The Sinclair Building is a vernacular landmark whose exterior speaks a period of civic pride. Ornament—cornices, pilasters, arched openings—composes the primary public face, and the masonry is the historic asset. The intervention lever is adaptive reuse: preserve the shell while opening the plan. Fenestration must respect existing openings with like-for-like double-glazing, allowing internal volumes to be expressive and contrast with the masonry.

Planning is managed through three layers: conservation (preserve the exterior), zoning (commercial/office), and the public realm (pedestrian permeability). Sustainability comes from thermal upgrades within the envelope rather than a wholesale rebuild.

Facade Treatment and Typology

The facade is the building’s most significant planning element. The masonry typology—a mix of heavy stone and brick—needs a conservation-led approach. The intervention preserves the historic skin while modernizing the interior.

Key facade treatments:

  • Cornices and pilasters: retained as the defining civic ornament
  • Arched openings: preserved, with fenestration upgraded to high-performance double-glazing in like-for-like frames
  • Masonry repair: repointing with lime mortar, stone consolidation where needed
  • Signage and lighting: discreet, reversible additions that do not mar the historic fabric

The fenestration strategy balances performance and preservation. The existing openings dictate the internal layout, and the new glazing is designed to be invisible from the public realm, maintaining the building's rhythmic facade without the thermal compromise of historic single glazing.

Adaptive Reuse and Internal Intervention

Adaptive reuse is the vehicle for the building’s continued life. By keeping the shell, the intervention preserves the historic asset while allowing a modern, expressive interior. The internal volumes can be a contrast of materials—steel, glass, and polished concrete—set against the coarse masonry of the facade.

The internal program is organized around the existing structural grid:

  • Ground floor: public-facing retail or exhibition spaces
  • Upper floors: flexible office or creative studio layouts
  • Circulation: a modern atrium or central stair that navigates the historic volumes without compromising the facade

The contrast between the heavy, ornate exterior and the light, legible interior is the design driver. The intervention is a palimpsest: the old masonry remains the public face, and the new interior is the functional engine.

Planning Layers: Conservation, Zoning, and Public Realm

Planning is structured in three layers that reconcile the building's history with its future.

Conservation Layer

The conservation layer governs the facade and the primary public face. The approach is retention: the historic skin is preserved, the internal program is modern. All interventions are reversible, and new materials are clearly contemporary rather than pastiche.

Zoning Layer

The zoning layer aligns the building with the surrounding commercial and office context. The ground floor is zoned for high-turnover retail or exhibition, while the upper floors are zoned for flexible professional use. This zoning maximizes the building’s economic viability while respecting its civic role.

Public Realm Layer

The public realm layer addresses the building's pedestrian interface. The pedestrian realm needs permeability—a seamless transition from the street into the ground floor. The intervention does not block the public realm; it reinforces the building’s role as a street-facing civic asset.

Materiality and Sustainability

Materiality is the hinge between the old and new. The masonry is the historic anchor, the steel and glass the modern expressive layer. The intervention is a palimpsest: the old masonry remains the public face, and the new interior is the functional engine.

Sustainability is achieved through envelope upgrades:

  • Thermal glazing in existing openings
  • Internal insulation that does not affect the facade
  • High-performance HVAC in the new internal volumes
  • Re-use of the existing structure and facade as embodied carbon

The intervention is a conservation-led modernization—a legible, expressive reuse of the Sinclair Building.

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