8.0 New buildings
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The foremost consideration for a new building within a heritage place is how well it responds to its context or setting: it must be sympathetic to the place's existing heritage features (ie: the building/s, landscape and spaces). This will require an understanding of the particular characteristics or qualities of a place that make it distinct or give it special value, such as siting and setting, scale, massing, form, architectural style and design details, and materials. At some places the historical or social characteristics of how a place has been traditionally used or valued will also be relevant.
Conservation principles in the Burra Charter advocate retaining an appropriate visual setting and significant relationships with other heritage places outside or elements within the place that contribute to the cultural significance of the place. New construction that would adversely affect a significant setting or relationship should be avoided.
Other matters which may be relevant include the management of significant landform and landscape elements and significant archaeological values. See section '11. Historic plantings and landscapes' for further advice on altering significant landscapes and landscapes elements.
For places that have been assessed against criterion (c) – potential to yield information - or there are known significant archaeological values, the Heritage Council may require the preparation of a Statement of Historical Archaeological Potential to ensure impacts to significant archaeological values are considered.
8.1 New buildings (generally)
New buildings that are:
- of a scale and sited such that they are not conspicuous;
- not attached to or in close proximity to heritage structures;
- not in an area that has significance for landscape values;
- not in an area that forms a significant setting for a heritage place; or
- not on a site of significant archaeological potential.
| New buildings that affect the place’s heritage values.
Appropriate outcomes:
Appropriate outcomes are new buildings that respond positively to:
- The character of the heritage place. This will normally require consideration of such aspects such as the siting and setting, scale, massing, form and style of historic buildings; materials, building techniques and details; and significant views of these places. At some places, understanding this character may require an analysis of broader qualities related to streetscape, townscape or landscape contribution.
- The scale of the heritage place and its setting. This will mean different things in different contexts. For example, a large multi-storey development is likely to be of an appropriate scale in the central business district of a town or city, more so than in a suburban area characterised by single or two storey houses. New buildings that are larger than the heritage place can have the visual impact of their scale reduced through various design techniques, for example, breaking long walls into bays; reflecting the historic arrangement, proportion and location of windows and openings; breaking up roof forms into smaller elements; and stepping or adopting setbacks for upper levels of buildings.
- The form of the heritage place and setting. Aspects to consider include roofline and roof forms; choice of materials; and the design and arrangement of facades and their window and door arrangement.
- Established and important streetscapes or significant views. Aspects such as orientation, location and setbacks should be considered. Significant landscape and landform elements and/or significant archaeological values should also be considered when selecting the location for a new building.
- Existing historic building materials, textures and colour. These characteristics can be creatively reinterpreted as part of a new building.
- Details that contribute to the character of a place or an area, including things such as predominate building materials; roof forms and materials; chimneys, parapets and so on. Such details do not need to be replicated, but can act as cues for the design details in new buildings.
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8.2 Temporary structures
Temporary structures where the structure:
- will be in place for a maximum period of six months (longer periods may be appropriate subject to the nature of the temporary structure and recognised heritage values of a place); and
- will not be located where it could damage or impact significant fabric, significant archaeological values or other aspects of significance including the setting and any significant landscaping or gardens, including vistas to and from the place.
| Temporary structures that will be in place for a period in excess of six months or for an indefinite period and which impact on the place's heritage values physically or visually.
The erection of temporary structures involving work that disturbs or otherwise has a damaging effect on significant fabric including archaeology. Appropriate outcomes:
Ensure that there is no lasting impact on the place’s heritage values. |
8.3 Adding freestanding structures (eg: garages, carports, sheds, outbuildings)
Adding a single storey, lightweight structure that:
- can be easily removed or relocated to restore the prior setting (eg: a sheet-metal garden shed); and
- has a footprint of less than 18m2; and
- does not occur within an area that has significance for landscape values or in an area that forms a significant setting for a heritage place; and
- will not impact on significant archaeological values.
| Structures that affect the place’s heritage values.
Appropriate outcomes:
Appropriate outcomes include new buildings that:
- Are located in visually unobtrusive locations, usually at the rear of buildings, where possible. Where this is not possible, care should be taken in the location and design of these structures to minimise adverse visual impacts (eg: garages and carports should be set back from the facade of buildings as far as can be practicably achieved);
- are free-standing structures, where sufficient room exists to allow this.
- Are of a scale or size that is subservient to the main building. That is, they should not visually dominate the scale of the historic building (ie: they should not visually dominate the building);
- Have materials or finishes that are darker or recessive colours, and non-reflective materials, or where the structure is screened by landscaping.
- Incorporate roof forms and other details compatible with that of the heritage building.
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Case Study (New Building): Hobart Fire Station, Hobart
As well as being the headquarters of the Tasmanian Fire Service, the Hobart Fire Station is a landmark building. The historic part of the structure was constructed in two stages; the first in 1911, followed by its matching half in 1925. The old fire station is distinctive for its strongly contrasting colours and materials, red brick and cream stucco, a popular design approach from the early twentieth century known as 'blood and bandages'.
Contemporary headquarters for the Fire Service were constructed alongside the old fire station.
The traditional brick and stucco colours were used extensively in the new building, with brickwork painted a rich red, while steel elements have a white finish. Details such as incorporating verandahs into the new building and matching the height of the verandahs and eaves also reinforce the strong horizontal lines of the old building. The design of the new building exhibits strong references to the original fire station. The scale of the structure is sympathetic to its neighbours and does not visually dominate what is a prominent junction in the city.
