Darren McLean
@darrenmcleanuk.bsky.social
Building conservation university teacher and practitioner.
Historic building materials, construction techniques, and architecture. Studying Roman construction.
Interested in forgotten methods and materials.
UK/Italy
Historic building materials, construction techniques, and architecture. Studying Roman construction.
Interested in forgotten methods and materials.
UK/Italy
Pinned
- What would you like?
- Formal and serious. NO! I mean Rustic!
- Chicago meets Carcassonne?
- Perfect!
- Formal and serious. NO! I mean Rustic!
- Chicago meets Carcassonne?
- Perfect!
October 20, 2025 at 7:55 PM
- What would you like?
- Formal and serious. NO! I mean Rustic!
- Chicago meets Carcassonne?
- Perfect!
- Formal and serious. NO! I mean Rustic!
- Chicago meets Carcassonne?
- Perfect!
I need to have a word with the props department
October 20, 2025 at 5:21 PM
I need to have a word with the props department
There is a phenomena where thin slabs of natural (and reconstituted) stone cladding expand as they become heated from sun and solar gain
They contract, expand, contract... repeatedly
Eventually they stop contracting. Restricted spaces (eg bedded in hard mortar) cause them to 'belly' in the centre
They contract, expand, contract... repeatedly
Eventually they stop contracting. Restricted spaces (eg bedded in hard mortar) cause them to 'belly' in the centre
October 18, 2025 at 1:51 PM
There is a phenomena where thin slabs of natural (and reconstituted) stone cladding expand as they become heated from sun and solar gain
They contract, expand, contract... repeatedly
Eventually they stop contracting. Restricted spaces (eg bedded in hard mortar) cause them to 'belly' in the centre
They contract, expand, contract... repeatedly
Eventually they stop contracting. Restricted spaces (eg bedded in hard mortar) cause them to 'belly' in the centre
Reposted by Darren McLean
Or these tiles for when red roofs are obligatory paxos.solar/sbs/
Solarbiberschwanz (SBS) - Solar GmbH
Solarbiberschwanz (SBS) Mehr als nur ein Dach – Energie im Design einer klassischen Dachpfanne mit modernem Kern Mehr Erfahren Qualität […]
paxos.solar
October 18, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Or these tiles for when red roofs are obligatory paxos.solar/sbs/
Reposted by Darren McLean
It's obviously (a lot) less efficient, so you want to argue for efficiency first. There are a god number of options out there now for most roofs.
www.autarq.com/de-de/magazi...
www.autarq.com/de-de/magazi...
Photovoltaik und Denkmalschutz - Regeln 2025 ☀ Autarq
Wann und wie dürfen Solar- und PV-Anlagen auf historischen Gebäuden angebracht werden? ► Alle Regelungen hier nachlesen
www.autarq.com
October 18, 2025 at 9:43 AM
It's obviously (a lot) less efficient, so you want to argue for efficiency first. There are a god number of options out there now for most roofs.
www.autarq.com/de-de/magazi...
www.autarq.com/de-de/magazi...
String cornices on buildings are not architectural fluff.
Note on this (somewhat neglected) building how some of the old limewash still remains.
Note on this (somewhat neglected) building how some of the old limewash still remains.
October 18, 2025 at 10:37 AM
String cornices on buildings are not architectural fluff.
Note on this (somewhat neglected) building how some of the old limewash still remains.
Note on this (somewhat neglected) building how some of the old limewash still remains.
Another example is this bookshop which used to be a butchers. The sign says “ancient butcher”. Which I think means traditional more than literally “ancient”.
October 18, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Another example is this bookshop which used to be a butchers. The sign says “ancient butcher”. Which I think means traditional more than literally “ancient”.
The world's ugliest skirtingboard / baseboard of some weird 1950s material in imitation of wood
October 18, 2025 at 9:17 AM
The world's ugliest skirtingboard / baseboard of some weird 1950s material in imitation of wood
Solar panels can also be in copper to suit historic buildings
October 18, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Solar panels can also be in copper to suit historic buildings
A former goldsmith's shop
October 18, 2025 at 9:11 AM
A former goldsmith's shop
Reposted by Darren McLean
It's finally October and time for #31DaysofGraves 🪦💀 ⚰️
A huge thank you to @annaandthedead.bsky.social for putting this together 🪦
#History
A huge thank you to @annaandthedead.bsky.social for putting this together 🪦
#History
October 1, 2025 at 4:52 PM
It's finally October and time for #31DaysofGraves 🪦💀 ⚰️
A huge thank you to @annaandthedead.bsky.social for putting this together 🪦
#History
A huge thank you to @annaandthedead.bsky.social for putting this together 🪦
#History
Reposted by Darren McLean
October 4, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Reposted by Darren McLean
West Ridge, tile #025 in the archive. Enjoy.
October 9, 2025 at 1:13 AM
West Ridge, tile #025 in the archive. Enjoy.
Reposted by Darren McLean
Another update
(almost completed)
(almost completed)
October 8, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Another update
(almost completed)
(almost completed)
Reposted by Darren McLean
There seems to be a big deal about 'eco-bricks' made from stone in the UK..., meanwhile in Italy, almost every building supplies outlet sells these.
October 15, 2025 at 7:14 PM
There seems to be a big deal about 'eco-bricks' made from stone in the UK..., meanwhile in Italy, almost every building supplies outlet sells these.
Reposted by Darren McLean
I know this won’t convince the Tartarians and others who believe that Giants built our buildings but…
We have records for everything, including apprenticeships.
It also contradicts the myth that people didn’t travel back in the day and stayed in their village
We have records for everything, including apprenticeships.
It also contradicts the myth that people didn’t travel back in the day and stayed in their village
October 17, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I know this won’t convince the Tartarians and others who believe that Giants built our buildings but…
We have records for everything, including apprenticeships.
It also contradicts the myth that people didn’t travel back in the day and stayed in their village
We have records for everything, including apprenticeships.
It also contradicts the myth that people didn’t travel back in the day and stayed in their village
I know this won’t convince the Tartarians and others who believe that Giants built our buildings but…
We have records for everything, including apprenticeships.
It also contradicts the myth that people didn’t travel back in the day and stayed in their village
We have records for everything, including apprenticeships.
It also contradicts the myth that people didn’t travel back in the day and stayed in their village
October 17, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I know this won’t convince the Tartarians and others who believe that Giants built our buildings but…
We have records for everything, including apprenticeships.
It also contradicts the myth that people didn’t travel back in the day and stayed in their village
We have records for everything, including apprenticeships.
It also contradicts the myth that people didn’t travel back in the day and stayed in their village
There seems to be a big deal about 'eco-bricks' made from stone in the UK..., meanwhile in Italy, almost every building supplies outlet sells these.
October 15, 2025 at 7:14 PM
There seems to be a big deal about 'eco-bricks' made from stone in the UK..., meanwhile in Italy, almost every building supplies outlet sells these.
Reposted by Darren McLean
And the roads were paved with gold. Sort of.
October 10, 2025 at 11:27 AM
And the roads were paved with gold. Sort of.
Reposted by Darren McLean
Reposted by Darren McLean
An unusual mosaic floor for Italy.
October 10, 2025 at 9:39 AM
An unusual mosaic floor for Italy.
Reposted by Darren McLean
Don’t believe people who tell you that their rubberised coating is bc a good solution for your dodgey outdoor tiles.
October 7, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Don’t believe people who tell you that their rubberised coating is bc a good solution for your dodgey outdoor tiles.
Reposted by Darren McLean
A Trompe l’oeil ceiling in imitation of beams, joists and carved decorations.
October 5, 2025 at 8:58 AM
A Trompe l’oeil ceiling in imitation of beams, joists and carved decorations.
Reposted by Darren McLean
Look up while you’re walking
October 4, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Look up while you’re walking
Reposted by Darren McLean
I’m leading a tour of 18 churches in Hampshire. This is Fareham, St Peter and St Paul. Visible Saxon origins and thirteenth and twentieth century rebuilds. Only 17 churches to go!
October 10, 2025 at 4:14 PM
I’m leading a tour of 18 churches in Hampshire. This is Fareham, St Peter and St Paul. Visible Saxon origins and thirteenth and twentieth century rebuilds. Only 17 churches to go!