Converted

INTRO DUCTION

Architecture is typically associated with designing and

erecting new buildings. Whenever possible, even if challenging for the site’s density or character, architects and planners

insist on novel structures. This approach has dominated over the centuries, resulting in patchwork-like urban and rural

landscapes filled with a great number of buildings that do

not necessarily work well together. The general consensus seems to be the more and the bigger, the better, no matter

the lack of space or amount of abandoned or ruined buildings.

Chaotic panoramas shaped by developments based on clear divisions between past and present architecture, however, do not represent the only possible strategy.

Over the last couple of years, an interesting tendency has

developed of “recycling” old buildings. Renovations followed by reconversions allow architects to celebrate the historical

heritage, while at the same time expressing the spirit of today.

Architects from across the globe have come up with stunning concepts and have linked pre-existing volumes with newly

added ones to create an inspiring fusion of architecture from various periods of time. Whether the old fabric inspires the

new to coexist in harmony or whether both are intentionally contrasted to create a more dynamic relation, the projects 6

simultaneously demonstrate both deep respect for the historic fabric and creative attitudes in designing contemporary elements.

Whether in the hearts of world’s greatest cities or in

the countryside, recent examples featured in this book

celebrate buildings with great history and enhance them

with contemporary architectural language, using innovative forms and materials. These revamps are often connected

with significant additions, creating particularly strong visual juxtapositions. The combination of the buildings’ original

glory and a contemporaneous flair brings a breath of fresh air but also has a transformative power. On a large scale,

the revitalisations can revive and redefine sites or their entire

contexts, on a smaller one they adjust old walls to 21st century requirements. Reinventing historical spaces, which are often listed monuments, despite the obvious limits, can create unlimited possibilities.

With the preservation of architectural heritage for future generations at the core, the architects have envisioned

stunning museums, hotels, and offices, as well as public

and residential buildings. The scope of ideas and the way new programmes are implemented is quite fascinating.

Silos are transformed into a contemporary art museum, a barn into a spacious house, and a factory into a luxury

retreat, to name but a few reinventions. There is one aspect that binds them all – the dialogue between the past and the

present offers the buildings’ users exceptional experiences.

7

INTRO DUCTION

Architecture is typically associated with designing and

erecting new buildings. Whenever possible, even if challenging for the site’s density or character, architects and planners

insist on novel structures. This approach has dominated over the centuries, resulting in patchwork-like urban and rural

landscapes filled with a great number of buildings that do

not necessarily work well together. The general consensus seems to be the more and the bigger, the better, no matter

the lack of space or amount of abandoned or ruined buildings.

Chaotic panoramas shaped by developments based on clear divisions between past and present architecture, however, do not represent the only possible strategy.

Over the last couple of years, an interesting tendency has

developed of “recycling” old buildings. Renovations followed by reconversions allow architects to celebrate the historical

heritage, while at the same time expressing the spirit of today.

Architects from across the globe have come up with stunning concepts and have linked pre-existing volumes with newly

added ones to create an inspiring fusion of architecture from various periods of time. Whether the old fabric inspires the

new to coexist in harmony or whether both are intentionally contrasted to create a more dynamic relation, the projects 6

simultaneously demonstrate both deep respect for the historic fabric and creative attitudes in designing contemporary elements.

Whether in the hearts of world’s greatest cities or in

the countryside, recent examples featured in this book

celebrate buildings with great history and enhance them

with contemporary architectural language, using innovative forms and materials. These revamps are often connected

with significant additions, creating particularly strong visual juxtapositions. The combination of the buildings’ original

glory and a contemporaneous flair brings a breath of fresh air but also has a transformative power. On a large scale,

the revitalisations can revive and redefine sites or their entire

contexts, on a smaller one they adjust old walls to 21st century requirements. Reinventing historical spaces, which are often listed monuments, despite the obvious limits, can create unlimited possibilities.

With the preservation of architectural heritage for future generations at the core, the architects have envisioned

stunning museums, hotels, and offices, as well as public

and residential buildings. The scope of ideas and the way new programmes are implemented is quite fascinating.

Silos are transformed into a contemporary art museum, a barn into a spacious house, and a factory into a luxury

retreat, to name but a few reinventions. There is one aspect that binds them all – the dialogue between the past and the

present offers the buildings’ users exceptional experiences.

7

HOTELS

HOTELS

Hotels

Hotels

YOUTH HOTEL OF ID TOWN

O-office Architects Shenzen, China 2014

The steel cases of the main entrance are an expressive

statement showing that geometry plays a special role in

the Youth Hotel of iD Town. The building originally served as

a dormitory building in Honghua Dyeing Factory’s residential

area during the first wave of industrialisation of the Shenzhen

area. Youth Hotel of iD Town was realised by O-office Architects, a studio established in 2007 by HE Jianxiang and JIANG Ying in

Guangzhou with a focus on hospitality architecture. Located on a hilltop in the seaside valley, it is a curious combination of the rough fabric and visually strong contemporary elements.

10

The renovation included two main phases. The central

corridor first had to be equipped with new hotel infrastructure in order to facilitate the new living units. Then, a number of

prefab steel opening boxes were installed into the existing facade. The architects did this to create a more dynamic

interaction between the building and its natural surroundings.

This intervention resulted in giving the volume a much more

distinctive character. The dark colour of the cases, as well as

their size, stands out against the original wall, a contrast which enhances the rhythmic nature of the facade. The protruding boxes transform an otherwise non-distinctive volume into a playful piece of architecture.

This visual effect is achieved particularly in the upper levels,

where the windows are all the same size and shape. The ground floor, which functions as a multi-purpose social space with

a variety of facilities like reception, a cafĂŠ, an open kitchen,

and a common area, by contrast has irregular-shaped window

cases. These original structures received colourful glazing that creates even more dynamism. They also help form a curious visual connection between the inside and outside.

11

Hotels

Hotels

YOUTH HOTEL OF ID TOWN

O-office Architects Shenzen, China 2014

The steel cases of the main entrance are an expressive

statement showing that geometry plays a special role in

the Youth Hotel of iD Town. The building originally served as

a dormitory building in Honghua Dyeing Factory’s residential

area during the first wave of industrialisation of the Shenzhen

area. Youth Hotel of iD Town was realised by O-office Architects, a studio established in 2007 by HE Jianxiang and JIANG Ying in

Guangzhou with a focus on hospitality architecture. Located on a hilltop in the seaside valley, it is a curious combination of the rough fabric and visually strong contemporary elements.

10

The renovation included two main phases. The central

corridor first had to be equipped with new hotel infrastructure in order to facilitate the new living units. Then, a number of

prefab steel opening boxes were installed into the existing facade. The architects did this to create a more dynamic

interaction between the building and its natural surroundings.

This intervention resulted in giving the volume a much more

distinctive character. The dark colour of the cases, as well as

their size, stands out against the original wall, a contrast which enhances the rhythmic nature of the facade. The protruding boxes transform an otherwise non-distinctive volume into a playful piece of architecture.

This visual effect is achieved particularly in the upper levels,

where the windows are all the same size and shape. The ground floor, which functions as a multi-purpose social space with

a variety of facilities like reception, a cafĂŠ, an open kitchen,

and a common area, by contrast has irregular-shaped window

cases. These original structures received colourful glazing that creates even more dynamism. They also help form a curious visual connection between the inside and outside.

11

Public Buildings

Public Buildings

COAL DROPS YARD

Heatherwick Studio London, UK 2018

“It has been a huge privilege working on Coal Drops Yard,

not only because it’s the studio’s first major building completed in London, but also because it is in King’s Cross, where my

studio and I have been based for the last seventeen years,” reflects Thomas Heatherwick, the founder of Heatherwick

Studio. As part of the district’s re-development, this shopping

centre and public space is an inventive combination of two rail

buildings from the 1850s, with ultra-contemporary architectural elements in the form of dynamically and dramatically curved roofs meeting in the middle to form a covered area on the

ground level. The original Victorian architecture together with 106

this unexpected addition transforms the historical site into

107

an area entirely open to the public.

The industrial buildings made of brick and cast-iron take

the form of elongated coal drops and were originally built

as warehouses to receive, store, and distribute coal across London. The designers found them in desolate shape, so

their first goal was to restore them to their former beauty and preserve the Coal Drops’ original character, while adapting

to the structure’s new role of a retail area with fluid circulation and accessibility to all parts and levels.

The great revitalisation celebrating the historical fabric of

To realise this impressive concept, the studio extended the

boards, and the cobbled yard of stone setts), has a spectacular

the two viaducts to define the yard. As a result, this easy-

the site (retained aged ironwork, soot-stained brick, timber

touche finale in the form of the serpentine-like roofs placed on top of the existing buildings. This entirely new structure

creates the illusion of a floating upper floor. The central parts

of the roofs, stretched towards each other, were given floor to ceiling windows to prevent the new addition from dominating over the old architecture. It also offers a stimulating contrast

between the rigorously and rhythmically built brick floors and the technically advanced curvaceous addition that seems to defy gravity.

inner gabled roofs of the original warehouses, which link

to-navigate quarter now offers a central and partly covered public courtyard. “To create a self-supporting intervention

that also preserved the integrity of heritage elements, 52 new steel columns were threaded through the existing buildings, concealed behind aged brick and iron, and shored up by

concrete walls and cores,” explains the studio. The complex

structure of the roof, which seems to be levitating above the ground, embraces the historical architecture and provides integrity.

Public Buildings

Public Buildings

COAL DROPS YARD

Heatherwick Studio London, UK 2018

“It has been a huge privilege working on Coal Drops Yard,

not only because it’s the studio’s first major building completed in London, but also because it is in King’s Cross, where my

studio and I have been based for the last seventeen years,” reflects Thomas Heatherwick, the founder of Heatherwick

Studio. As part of the district’s re-development, this shopping

centre and public space is an inventive combination of two rail

buildings from the 1850s, with ultra-contemporary architectural elements in the form of dynamically and dramatically curved roofs meeting in the middle to form a covered area on the

ground level. The original Victorian architecture together with 106

this unexpected addition transforms the historical site into

107

an area entirely open to the public.

The industrial buildings made of brick and cast-iron take

the form of elongated coal drops and were originally built

as warehouses to receive, store, and distribute coal across London. The designers found them in desolate shape, so

their first goal was to restore them to their former beauty and preserve the Coal Drops’ original character, while adapting

to the structure’s new role of a retail area with fluid circulation and accessibility to all parts and levels.

The great revitalisation celebrating the historical fabric of

To realise this impressive concept, the studio extended the

boards, and the cobbled yard of stone setts), has a spectacular

the two viaducts to define the yard. As a result, this easy-

the site (retained aged ironwork, soot-stained brick, timber

touche finale in the form of the serpentine-like roofs placed on top of the existing buildings. This entirely new structure

creates the illusion of a floating upper floor. The central parts

of the roofs, stretched towards each other, were given floor to ceiling windows to prevent the new addition from dominating over the old architecture. It also offers a stimulating contrast

between the rigorously and rhythmically built brick floors and the technically advanced curvaceous addition that seems to defy gravity.

inner gabled roofs of the original warehouses, which link

to-navigate quarter now offers a central and partly covered public courtyard. “To create a self-supporting intervention

that also preserved the integrity of heritage elements, 52 new steel columns were threaded through the existing buildings, concealed behind aged brick and iron, and shored up by

concrete walls and cores,” explains the studio. The complex

structure of the roof, which seems to be levitating above the ground, embraces the historical architecture and provides integrity.

Public Buildings

109 108

Public Buildings

109 108

Public Buildings

Public Buildings

KRESEN KERNOW ARCHIVE CENTRE Purcell Architects Redruth, Cornwall, UK 2019

Kresen Kernow, a new archive and local studies centre

for Cornwall, found its home in the historic Redruth Brewery

located at the centre of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site.

The complex of industrial structures was developed during a period of over two hundred years and functioned as

a brewery until 2004. Derelict and devastated after two

fires, the building underwent a major restoration by Purcell

Architects. In accordance with conservation standards, the

realization aimed at creating a vibrant contemporary space

for the new educational centre, gathering manuscripts, books, and documents on Cornwall’s history.

110

The new complex includes a public search and exhibition space, education rooms, and workshops, as well as staff offices and

volunteer facilities. Apart from the restoration, the architects

also envisioned some entirely new components “The building

now includes a two-storey environmentally controlled archive store which is externally clad in precast concrete panels,

designed to be a robust yet discrete addition to the existing

building,” they explain. This addition echoes the silhouette of

the historical structure, thanks to which it blends into the wall of existing facades, although made of different materials than the other buildings.

Preserving the historical fabric by incorporating the remaining structures and the original character of the interiors was the architects’ main goal. They reintroduced historical features

like the openings, which were newly glazed and became a great source of light. In addition, the original cast iron columns were re-used in a newly designed supporting frame made of steel.

111

Public Buildings

Public Buildings

KRESEN KERNOW ARCHIVE CENTRE Purcell Architects Redruth, Cornwall, UK 2019

Kresen Kernow, a new archive and local studies centre

for Cornwall, found its home in the historic Redruth Brewery

located at the centre of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site.

The complex of industrial structures was developed during a period of over two hundred years and functioned as

a brewery until 2004. Derelict and devastated after two

fires, the building underwent a major restoration by Purcell

Architects. In accordance with conservation standards, the

realization aimed at creating a vibrant contemporary space

for the new educational centre, gathering manuscripts, books, and documents on Cornwall’s history.

110

The new complex includes a public search and exhibition space, education rooms, and workshops, as well as staff offices and

volunteer facilities. Apart from the restoration, the architects

also envisioned some entirely new components “The building

now includes a two-storey environmentally controlled archive store which is externally clad in precast concrete panels,

designed to be a robust yet discrete addition to the existing

building,” they explain. This addition echoes the silhouette of

the historical structure, thanks to which it blends into the wall of existing facades, although made of different materials than the other buildings.

Preserving the historical fabric by incorporating the remaining structures and the original character of the interiors was the architects’ main goal. They reintroduced historical features

like the openings, which were newly glazed and became a great source of light. In addition, the original cast iron columns were re-used in a newly designed supporting frame made of steel.

111

206

207

206

207

Offices

Offices

10 JAY STREET OFFICES

ODA New York, USA 2019

The site of 10 Jay Street Offices has a dream location – flanked by the Manhattan Bridge, with a waterfront view. It used to be a neglected area, but has now become a sought-after

neighbourhood with a high degree of visibility. Initially a sugar refinery dating back to 1898, the building was later converted into a winery and was significantly reduced (originally the

complex reached the river), only to be abandoned for half a century and fall into disrepair. The concept developed

by ODA, in close partnership with the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, cherishes the historical value

of the building and reflects today’s needs of a modern and 208

flexible office space. The building’s relationship with the

neighbourhood as well as its proximity to the river helped determine the sensational transformation.

ODA’s renovation included restoring the three facades to

the north, south, and east to their historical masonry state.

The most spectacular part of the refurbishment is the

waterfront facade, a multifaceted glazed shell that refers

to its initial function as a sugar refinery. Sunlight interacts with

its sugar cane–like texture throughout the day to create playful reflections, which echo the shimmering surface of the water.

209

Offices

Offices

10 JAY STREET OFFICES

ODA New York, USA 2019

The site of 10 Jay Street Offices has a dream location – flanked by the Manhattan Bridge, with a waterfront view. It used to be a neglected area, but has now become a sought-after

neighbourhood with a high degree of visibility. Initially a sugar refinery dating back to 1898, the building was later converted into a winery and was significantly reduced (originally the

complex reached the river), only to be abandoned for half a century and fall into disrepair. The concept developed

by ODA, in close partnership with the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, cherishes the historical value

of the building and reflects today’s needs of a modern and 208

flexible office space. The building’s relationship with the

neighbourhood as well as its proximity to the river helped determine the sensational transformation.

ODA’s renovation included restoring the three facades to

the north, south, and east to their historical masonry state.

The most spectacular part of the refurbishment is the

waterfront facade, a multifaceted glazed shell that refers

to its initial function as a sugar refinery. Sunlight interacts with

its sugar cane–like texture throughout the day to create playful reflections, which echo the shimmering surface of the water.

209

Offices

Offices

210

211

Seen from the waterfront perspective, the building is like

a chameleon. To emphasise the effect, for the other facades, the architects choose to keep the original grid of openings

placed regularly in the simple brick walls. “A delicate balance

of glass, steel, brick, and spandrels give the building gravitas

without compromising industrial heritage,” observes the studio.

The structure was “originally two buildings with a shared,

piecemeal interior façade that held no landmark heritage,”

but ODA decided to make “this violation part of the narrative by

creating a variation on the faceted look: a broken geode smooth on the outside and crystalline within.” The interior layouts are very flexible, which suits its new role as an office building.

The welcoming lobby features octagonal brick columns that

are stitched together to emphasise the industrial past; the brick vault ceiling and columns on the upper levels also reference

this.”. The highly flexible layout offers spaces oriented towards the faceted facade, with unique lighting options. The dynamic arrangement of open floors offers lovely views of the river.

Offices

Offices

210

211

Seen from the waterfront perspective, the building is like

a chameleon. To emphasise the effect, for the other facades, the architects choose to keep the original grid of openings

placed regularly in the simple brick walls. “A delicate balance

of glass, steel, brick, and spandrels give the building gravitas

without compromising industrial heritage,” observes the studio.

The structure was “originally two buildings with a shared,

piecemeal interior façade that held no landmark heritage,”

but ODA decided to make “this violation part of the narrative by

creating a variation on the faceted look: a broken geode smooth on the outside and crystalline within.” The interior layouts are very flexible, which suits its new role as an office building.

The welcoming lobby features octagonal brick columns that

are stitched together to emphasise the industrial past; the brick vault ceiling and columns on the upper levels also reference

this.”. The highly flexible layout offers spaces oriented towards the faceted facade, with unique lighting options. The dynamic arrangement of open floors offers lovely views of the river.

Many thanks to the editorial team at Lannoo Publishers: Viktoria De Cubber and Niels Famaey for their support and advice.

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Converted. Reinventing Architecture Original text and layout: © Agata Toromanoff, Fancy Books Packaging UG, 2020

Copy-editing: Allison Silver Adelman Cover design: © stramien

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© Lannoo Publishers, Tielt, Belgium, 2020 ISBN: 9789401468930 Depot D/2020/45/561 NUR 640/648

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