d+a | Issue 124 • 2022

/ OFFICE / 48 Internalised and converted into a toilet with tiles laid over the brick walls, the decision was made to undo it and restore the walls to be part of the external façade. In the process, it was discovered that the bricks were badly damaged. Ho shares that they went for a method known as “honest repair”, where the new interventions are obvious, while much of the original is kept intact as possible. For instance, it is clear where new bricks have been introduced to seal up the opening that was the toilet door, and bricks that still had cement remnants were simply cleaned without destroying the surface layer. As expected, there was no shortage of work to be done on other parts of the façade too, starting with the fenestrations. St James’ was originally made using mild steel windows that had slender frames, minimum sightlines, strength, security, quality finishing and a distinct elegance. Unfortunately, in the 2006 restoration, most of them were replaced with aluminium. To ensure a more authentic representation, all the latter-day aluminium windows were therefore replaced with custom-made mild steel window replicas that are also double glazed for acoustic and thermal comfort. “It helped that we found the catalogue from the original manufacturer, Crittal Windows, and W Architects could study the details in the mild steel frame and develop their own that matches the historic design and serves its new function,” explains Ho. 10 11 10. The original doors and windows that were inaccurately modified were carefully reinstated with the help of archival photographs and other existing records. / 11. One of the two brick-clad, standalone chimneys, which were left status quo as most of the damage was superficial.