CLARENDON STREET - Derry City Council

4.10 Signage and shopfronts4.10.1 Although there are few historic shop fronts within the Clarendon Street ConservationArea, the Design Guidance should be carefully considered in those instances where newdevelopment is proposed. Traditional shop front materials are painted timber frames anddoors. Sometimes, there are painted timber side pilasters, and a painted timber signboardwith a hand painted sign. Sometimes, the fascia and side pilasters are painted plaster withthe sign hand painted onto the plaster (or sometimes formed in plaster projecting from theplaster signboard). This type of treatment tends to work best on Georgian and Victorianproperties. Other materials may be considered acceptable but they, and the design of thefrontage or sign, must demonstrate that they respect the building façade of which theyare a part in terms of its composition, mix of materials and colours as well as the overallcomposition of adjoining facades or other context.4.10.2 The architectural quality of historic buildings (and many new buildings) can sufferfrom inappropriate signage. A plethora of signs of all shapes and sizes projecting frombuildings, illuminated sign boxes or individual polycarbonate lettering, along with large andsmall temporary “For Sale” or “To Let” signs can be unsightly.4.10.3 A new shop front or sign is a design opportunity to create something excellent andsympathetic to the existing historic or modern context. In the hands of a skilled and creativedesigner, the proportions and architectural expression of original façades can be respectedand reinterpreted to create innovative new shop fronts or signage that add positively to theconservation area.26. Maddens, Queen Street43