Historical Buildings, Modern VT

In this Project Spotlight, DOPPLER designs modern VT for historical buildings, upgrading the ride experience while respecting the local heritage.

by Konstantina Parisi

Elevators and escalators are part of a building’s structure, enabling functionality and mobility. During the process of fitting vertical-transportation (VT) systems into a building, architects and designers usually face challenges in terms of technical requirements and specifications. The procedure is far more demanding when dealing with a historical building, considering that only limited changes and adjustments are allowed.

When working on a historical project, DOPPLER strives to combine the historical aspects and decor of the building with the modern feel of the VT installed.

Newton’s Place

Newton’s Place is a £2m (EUR2.3-million) project to restore and convert the former St Leonard’s Church on Wolborough Street in Newton Abbot, England, into an accessible and improved museum (the Newton Abbot Museum) and community space.

The story began some years ago when the local community identified the need to create a community hub that would support many community amenities, such as the town council and the museum’s administrative staff. The town council purchased the former church in 2016, and with the utilization of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, they were awarded £950,000 (EUR1.1 million) for the development of the project and began implementing their idea.

The aim was to create an accessible community space that celebrates local heritage and also brings back to life a building with strong community connections. This project created greater access, improved interpretation, better care for the museum collection and a space for events, workshops and exhibitions.

The renovated Newton Abbot Museum is now equipped with a DOPPLER traction lift. The lift was installed by Dorset Lifts, a U.K.-based company with more than 30 years of experience in the field of elevator supply, installation and maintenance.

The lift installed was a FOCUS LH (Traction MRL) model with the following features:

• 1000 kg capacity
• 1 m/sec travel speed
• 2 stops
• Adjacent entrances

The INOX series cabin was the perfect choice for this project. The cabin’s industrial style gives a modern touch to the historical building. The aesthetic result is stunning, as the building’s heritage was respected during the renovation, ensuring the smooth coexistence of new and old aspects.

Valletta Market

Is-Suq tal-Belt, also known as the Covered Market, is a 19th-century market hall located in Valletta, Malta. It was the first building in Malta to be constructed mostly of prefabricated iron. The building was severely damaged in World War II and then rebuilt. Further alterations were made in later decades, and the market began to decline until it was renovated in 2016-2017 and reopened as a food market in January 2018. The Malta Environment and Planning Authority marked the building as a Grade 1 national monument on March 28, 2012.

Valletta Market is now equipped with two DOPPLER traction lifts. The lifts and escalators were installed by Titan International Ltd., one of Malta’s leading building-service companies, with over 40 years’ experience in electrical and mechanical engineering.

The lifts installed are Traction ECO model with the following features:

• 1000 kg capacity
• 1 m/s travel speed
• 4 stops
• Single entry in duplex arrangement

The client chose a full-glass panoramic cabin and full-glass under-driven doors, giving an extra touch of elegance in the building and an upgraded ride experience for users.

The two escalators installed are the XCM35-80K model with the following features:

• 0.5 m/s travel speed
• Height, 4450-mm rise
• 35° angle incline

Both projects are representative examples of how a modern lift can fit into a renovated historical building, projecting the aspects of the building in the most effective and impressive way.