Integrating Heritage and Modern Design – Best Practices for Architects

Introduction

In “Integrating Heritage and Modern Design – Best Practices for Architects,” you’ll learn practical ways to combine modern design with heritage preservation. Using real case studies, the presentation explores how to meet heritage regulations, add modern features, and maintain the character of heritage buildings. Whether working on a historical property or in a conservation area, this session offers useful insights for balancing new design with heritage requirements—perfect for architects looking to enhance their skills in heritage projects.

Biography

Nathalie Scipioni Director at Nathalie Scipioni Architects   Registered Architect  & Heritage Architect

Nathalie Scipioni is an experienced architect with nearly 30 years of expertise in both contemporary design and heritage restoration from Italy and France.   She holds a Doctorate of Architecture from the Universita degli Studi di Firenze, where her thesis on the “Barbicans of the Châteaux de Caen” was published as part of the exhibition La Normandie dans la Guerre de Cent Ans: 1346-1450, held at the Musée de Normandie in Caen. This work highlights her deep engagement with historical architecture and her expertise in architectural preservation.    Nathalie further advanced her skills through post-graduate studies in heritage architecture at the École de Chaillot, a prestigious French institution dedicated to training architects in the fields of heritage restoration and conservation. Established in 1887 and affiliated with the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine in Paris, the École de Chaillot equips its students with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to preserve and adapt historic monuments, ensuring their cultural and historical integrity while integrating them into modern contexts.

In France, Nathalie worked under Architect en Chef des Monuments Historiques, Pier Yves Caillault, overseeing significant restoration projects, including the restoration of Place Stanislas in Nancy, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the restoration of the painted vault at Église Notre-Dame de Bon Secours in Nancy. Her work on the vault involved meticulous restoration techniques to preserve the intricate frescoes and decorative elements, ensuring that the historical and artistic significance of this architectural gem was maintained for future generations.

In 2005, Nathalie moved to Sydney and joined Otto Cserhalmi and Partners as part of their heritage team, collaborating on major projects such as the adaptative reuse of Carriageworks in Eveleigh and the creation of the new side entrance of Sydney Town Hall. These roles allowed her to apply her expertise in heritage restoration within an Australian context, contributing to the revitalization of key cultural sites. 

In 2007, she founded Nathalie Scipioni Architects, a firm that specializes in modern architecture as well as the sensitive restoration of heritage buildings and renovation in conservation areas. 

Nathalie remains actively connected to European architectural trends by traveling annually to leading European trade shows in Milan, incorporating the latest design concepts into her projects. 

At the end of this presentation, attendees will:

Understand Heritage and Modern Design Principles:

1. Participants will be able to explain key principles of heritage conservation and how they relate to contemporary architectural practice.
2. Participants will be able to identify heritage values and incorporate them into design solutions that also address modern requirements.

Apply Heritage Regulations and Standards:

1. 1. 1. Participants will be able to collaborate with heritage consultants and regulatory bodies to ensure the successful integration of new designs within heritage contexts

Projects:

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