I am sure you will be sad to hear of the passing of Sir Donald Insall OBE (1926-2026)
Tributes to his life and work can be seen from his firm, DIA in The Times and Chester Chronicle.
The publication of the INSALL STUDY of CHESTER in 1968 was an international landmark for urban conservation. The report heralded the start of the city’s regeneration. Historic buildings were conserved rather than demolished. Sir Donald became the Conservation Consultant to the City of Chester, an innovative move that led to the appointment of conservation officers by local authorities across the country.
Jane Harrad-Roberts, a Trustee of Cheshire Historic Buildings Preservation Trust added; “I recall visiting him in the DIA London office to locate a TV film of ‘The Conservation Game’ featuring Chester, and coming back from the basement gleeful he had found it for me from the 70s. He spoke with kings and hoddies in the same respectful and knowledgeable way, always an opportunity for him to learn more and exchange knowledge. He brought buildings back to life and was a joy to work with for his tribute to Chester at the Cheshire Society of Architects’ 60th anniversary dinner. He leaves one of the most respected companies in the World for architecture, to continue its achievements, and he will be sadly missed as an ever present standard in building conservation for us all.”
Photo: The Countess of Dartmouth, Chairman of the UK Committee for European Architecture Heritage Year, inspecting a model of the Bridgegate Action Area at Shipgate House in 1973. Sir Donald Insall looked on from the right.
