'The recipient of the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award is Sir Donald Insall, a figure whose name has been synonymous with the conservation, restoration, and celebration of architecture for the past six decades,' reports Building Design.
Following his studies and becoming a SPAB Lethaby scholar, Donald established Donald Insall Associates in 1958. He was later described as "one of the leading conservation architects of his generation" in Queen Elizabeth’s Birthday Honours List 2010.
Donald has long argued that change is inevitable. Whilst respecting the value of historic fabric is vital, adaptation is key to ensure that a building or place can continue to be in the future.
His trailblazing report, 'Chester: A Study in Conservation', was published in 1968 and encouraged recognition that ‘change and redevelopment in any city are continuous’. The report enabled Chester to become the first city to espouse the principles of conservation and the first to employ a Conservation Officer. We continue to act as stewards of heritage in Chester today, for example helping to implement a heritage action zone at the historic Rows.