Avanti Architects has developed a particular interest and expertise in working with listed modern buildings dating from the 1920s and into the post-war period, including celebrated works by the pioneer architects Lubetkin, Goldfinger and Connell Ward & Lucas. We have been commissioned by The National Trust for their Modern Movement building acquisitions and have been engaged by English Heritage to undertake the conservation plan for Dudley Zoo and contribute to their Modern Movement conferences. We undertook the restoration of the street facades at the listed 1920s estate Levita House for the London Borough of Camden and completed regeneration of a significant ‘50s housing scheme by Lubetkin. Our rescue project for Isokon, Wells Coates' 1934 modern icon won the Crown Estate Conservation Award in 2005 and our work on Harbour Meadow has been shortlisted for the 2006 award.

This work has involved the development of conservation principles and repair technology to the problems of ailing modern construction. But in many cases there is the additional challenge to accommodate new requirements within the existing fabric in a way that respects the historic interest of the design. In other circumstances our task can entail the formulation of appropriate new uses where abandonment of the original use threatens a structure that deserves to be saved.

In all cases the work must be founded on an intimate knowledge of the building and an understanding of the cultural context in which it was built. At the same time we are concerned to achieve solutions that while respecting the desire for authenticity also minimise future maintenance commitments. Thus we believe that working with listed and historic properties is a process of ‘managing change’, a creative activity requiring as much knowledge, insight and judgement as that demanded by any other branch of architectural design.