HERITAGE & CONSERVATION
At DROO, we specialise in the conservation, transformation, and adaptive reuse of listed buildings and projects within sensitive conservation areas. Our team has developed extensive expertise across historic and listed contexts throughout London, the UK, and Europe, engaging with buildings at multiple scales—from restoring individual architectural elements to reimagining large civic complexes. In projects such as the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green, DROO merged digital and traditional craftsmanship within a complex existing structure to enhance conservation outcomes while introducing contemporary spatial clarity. Working through intricate layers of historic construction, our design balanced retention of original character with new programme requirements, ensuring that restored elements coexist with innovative typologies to produce a unified and culturally resonant environment.
This ability to weave new life into heritage architecture is further demonstrated in our transformation of Fulham Town Hall, a Grade II* listed landmark. This ambitious project—supported by extensive condition surveys, archival research, and ongoing consultation with statutory authorities—preserves unique heritage features while enabling substantial structural and environmental upgrades. From reinstating ornate plaster mouldings, stained glass, and Scagliola finishes to designing full service integrations and fire‑safety improvements, our work maintains the building’s historic coherence while supporting its future as a hotel, workspace and cultural venue.
Our expertise extends into conservation areas where architectural legacy must coexist with evolving urban requirements. The Paintworks in Shoreditch exemplifies DROO’s sensitive approach to working with existing industrial structures and complex neighbourhood constraints. By introducing a custom‑textured façade referencing the site’s artistic history, combined with carefully calibrated bay windows responding to privacy and sight‑line challenges, the building reasserts its presence within a dense conservation context while preserving the legibility between old and new.
Our work in the Moorfields Conservation Area further illustrates our capability to design within highly stratified historic environments. By crafting lightweight rooftop extensions and a performative metal envelope that folds over a glazed façade, we ensured minimal impact on the historic fabric while creating a clear distinction between original and contemporary interventions. This approach prioritises reversibility, legibility, and long‑term adaptability—allowing heritage buildings with layered pasts to continue evolving meaningfully within the city.
Across all heritage projects, DROO embraces adaptability and reuse as central drivers of sustainability. By extending the lifespan of existing structures, reducing embodied carbon, and designing future‑proofed upgrades that anticipate changing community needs, we craft architecture that looks forward while respecting its origins. Our continual engagement with archival research, conservation authorities, and community stakeholders ensures that each project is grounded in a deep understanding of cultural context. From Bethnal Green Town Hall to Fulham Town Hall and numerous Grade II and II* buildings, our work reflects a commitment to safeguarding architectural legacy while shaping resilient, meaningful environments for generations to come.
