Restoring the Classics Part 1 Project 2025 George Atkinson Lancaster University | UK Restoring the Classics transforms a disused industrial site in Skelwith Bridge, Lake District into a hybrid facility for the restoration and electric conversion of classic vehicles, specifically Land Rover Defenders and Jaguar E-Types—vehicles deeply rooted in British heritage and rural culture.Set within a UNESCO world heritage site, the proposal responds to the UK’s shift toward clean mobility and net-zero carbon goals, while acknowledging the region’s reliance on older vehicles. The design brings together production, EV manufacturing, education, exhibition, and client engagement within a single, adaptable environment.Materiality is central to the project’s identity: an exposed, bolted steel frame and removable titanium cladding ensure the architecture can be disassembled, reused, and reconfigured as technologies evolve. Retained slate stone walls and Corten steel interventions reference the site’s industrial past while embracing future adaptability.The proposal is not only a place of production, but one of learning, preservation, and progression—where the architecture frames both the surrounding Lake District landscape and the vehicles it reimagines. By blending craft, innovation, and environmental responsibility, the project sets out a vision for how rural industry can evolve, creating a flexible model that supports a low-carbon future while respecting cultural identity. Tutor(s)