Architect Luisa Manfredini has a new string to her bow these days: when trying to convince clients to save lovely old cedar skirtings, doors, floorboards and light fittings in their homes, she argues on the basis of sustainability.
Manfredini, whose mainly “alts and adds” practice has a heritage focus, says that 10 to 15 years ago, clients wanted to rip out everything and replace it with new materials and features.
“An example stands out in my mind – a house in Manly, for which we did a first floor and a basement addition,” she remembers.