Last Updated on: 10th February 2026, 02:56 pm

As a country, the UK is home to many beautiful properties, all showcasing the design styles and build techniques relevant to their time. By the same token, a modern house designed today would also follow latest trends and requirements, so what happens when people choose to live in a period property but want latest styles? We renovate.

Here at DSA, we have worked as the structural engineers on many such modernisation projects, such as our most recent one in Furlong Road in Islington, London. We like to think of modernising as preserving all at the same time, for many years to come.

London townhouse refurbishment

When we were appointed as the structural engineers to work on an Islington, London townhouse renovation, we were stunned by the beauty and elegance of the period property. In its original layout it was clear to see it didn’t fit modern living aspirations and our clients wanted a more open-plan and flexible living space, that felt minimal, bright and airy.

Classic looks, modern interior

DSA structural engineers worked hard to preserve the outside while completely transforming the inside with a sympathetic extension to the back of the property. Preparing thoroughly with detailed structural investigation and planning we devised a temporary work scheme for where walls had to be removed to create the open plan spaces.

Preserve while we modernise

As the project’s structural engineers, DSA met the modern brief while preserving the character. By modernising this house, we ensured a safe and stable home for years to come. Due diligence of surveys and site tests revealed that fundamental repairs and maintenance were required which might otherwise have gone unnoticed had the modernisation not happened. There were various construction inconsistencies as well as shallow foundations that needed careful intervention and strengthening. By taking the opportunity to restore and renew, the house is fully aligned with modern day living.

There were several interesting moments during the build when it appeared historic drawings were not as accurate as todays technical drawings would be, probably due to decades of adaption and patchwork fixes, but modern-day structural engineering techniques enabled us to deal with these as they appeared.

The house evolution

When it comes to preserving our structural heritage there are two choices – restore exactly how they would have been built originally or renovate to suit modern day preferences. For this project in Furlong Road, it became clear that by modernising the building we have potentially rescued it from age related decline, preserving the character and craftsmanship that has gone before. When you find the right balance of blending the two you can retain a property’s timeless charm and add a modern lease of life – we think of it as thoughtful evolution.

If you’re thinking of a restoration or renovation project, get in touch with DSA.