Building Regulations requirements. “There is strong academic evidence that a solid oak door would last for an hour, but nevertheless we had to get a certifi cate to satisfy building control and the fi re brigade,” said Davidson, adding that the design went through several iterations. Upstairs on the rooftop terrace a plan emerged to retain and adapt Victorian-era balustrading on the north side and add LED lighting into new handrails. This not only required tests on the existing balusters to prove they meet contemporary loading requirements, designers had to also fi gure out how to get light to the hand rails, which proved hugely complicated. “It took months and months,” says


ADF JUNE 2026


Davidson, “We went through about eight different iterations of how to get power to the hand rails without having to go through the inside or outside of the building to create new holes in the historic fabric.” Although most visitors will be unaware of these huge efforts taken by the designers and contractors, Davidson notes: “It’s exactly right, and we’ve kept a layer of history that’s important to the keep.” Norwich Castle’s successful


transformation has clearly been a careful balancing act between restoration and reinvention, not just preserving over 900 years of history but opening it up to create a fi t for purpose civic landmark to be enjoyed by future generations. 


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Getting the project over the line was a historic battle for designers and contractors


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