New shopfront, Kells
Traditional style shopfronts contribute so much to the character of our historic towns and villages yet sadly these are now becoming rare, being all too easily replaced by poor quality approximations even when subject to statutory protection. This is a shopfront we designed for a new retail premises formed in an existing house on Farrell Street, Kells, which is a designated Architectural Conservation Area. This practical and economical design derives from various nineteenth century exemplars. Contrary to the mistruth that new works in historic places must only be in contrasting Modernist styles, new designs based on traditional examples such as this are in fact just as valid in terms of current international architectural conservation guidelines and in many ways are more appropriate, helping for instance to restore lost character and maintain continuity in this important area of traditional design and craftsmanship.
