The Colonnade

Significant water ingress had caused deterioration to external and internal elements, including structural components, commercial units, and the unusable Coastal Office. DBR Southern was appointed to repair the failed stucco balustrade, cornice, and façade, replace the asphalt terrace, and install new channel drainage to direct water away from structural elements and internal spaces. To allow trapped moisture to escape while protecting the building from the harsh marine environment, ‘Roman’ cement was used for render repairs and KEIM mineral paint for the external finishes. Following completion, the entire façade, balustrade, and cupolas were redecorated to match the original paint schemes.

To enable complete waterproofing of the terraces, the lower-level quarry tiles were carefully removed and a liquid waterproofing system installed before the tiles were relaid in their exact original positions. Where existing tiles were inevitably lost, like-for-like replacements were sourced from local reclamation yards, with a large proportion recovered from a church reordering project in a nearby village. This careful selection of reclaimed materials achieved a sympathetic match while supporting the reuse and recycling of historic materials.