More than technical: towards people-centric practices in historic building retrofits

Originally presented at: CIBSE Technical Symposium 2026 - Fit for 2050: Redesigning Spaces for Wellbeing, Inclusivity, and Sustainable Performance, 26–27 March 2026, University of Loughborough (UK). Abstract: In historic cities like Edinburgh, improving the energy efficiency and climate resilience of heritage buildings often present unique challenges due to their protected status. Whilst this constraint gives rise to new products and techniques, mature technology and measures are often not permitted in order to preserve buildings’ original features. The result is technical solutions that are sensitive to heritage, yet often at the expense of affordability, practicality, and usability. These human factors issues are seldom considered in the prevailing heritage building practices, creating a gap between conservation ideals and the reality for owners and occupants. Drawing on lessons learned from four Edinburgh projects, this opinion piece argues we must put people back at the centre of conservation and adaption efforts to ensure the long-term care of historic buildings. Original CIBSE online listing: https://www.cibse.org/ts-2026-papers