Issue 46 April 25 web - Flipbook - Page 59
Beyond the Replica
Paul Trace, Director of Stella Rooflight Discusses
Why True Conservation Rooflights Are More Than Just Aesthetic
Specifying rooflights for conservation projects is never a
box-ticking exercise. In fact, the rooflight is often one of
the most scrutinised elements in any planning application
involving a listed building or conservation area. For
architects, this makes the distinction between ‘conservation-style’ and truly conservation-appropriate rooflights
more than just semantics, it’s the difference between a
smooth planning process and a frustrating refusal.
In a market saturated with products that mimic the look
of traditional rooflights, it’s tempting to focus solely on
appearances. However, true conservation demands more
than a surface-level resemblance. To meet both regulatory
expectations and the design integrity of heritage architecture, rooflights must be carefully evaluated on their
materiality, construction, detailing, and compatibility with
historic building fabric.
The Illusion of Authenticity
Over the past decade, the term “conservation-style
rooflight” has become a catch-all label, used liberally
across the construction industry. Many modern products
adopt basic visual cues (with varying degrees of success)
- a black powder-coated frame, a central glazing bar, flush
installation - to achieve the appearance of a traditional
cast-iron rooflight.
However, when it comes to listed buildings and sensitive
heritage sites, appearances aren’t everything. Conservation officers are increasingly wary of imitation products
that fail to replicate the subtle nuances of historic detailing or that compromise the character of the building in
material or proportion.
For example, many off-the-shelf conservation-style
rooflights are based on aluminium frames, which while
lightweight and cost-effective, may lack the structural authenticity and durability expected in historically sensitive
contexts. Others use applied glazing bars, often stuck on
or sandwiched between glass layers, which can distort
sightlines and fail to replicate the depth and integrity of
traditional rooflight design.
What looks convincing at first glance may not withstand
the scrutiny of heritage specialists, nor deliver the
long-term performance and finish that architects and
clients expect.
