Materiality and the Reimagining of Historic Buildings

Re-use projects demand a nuanced approach to design to create spaces for today without discarding the value of existing building fabric. As the climate crisis escalates, finding creative ways to transform these buildings becomes increasingly critical. Opportunity abounds--there are billions of extant square feet nearing the end of useful life and a near-constant demand for space to accommodate new offices, community spaces, housing, and more. Architects are in a position to make these existing places useful again, for the benefit of their communities and the planet.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After reading this article, you should be able to:

• Understand how materials contribute to the unique character of existing buildings.
• Determine the most important aspects of an existing building and how to prioritize these in reuse.
• Explore strategies to make change in a culturally sensitive and sustainable way.
• Learn about particular resources to empower architects, including technical tools and supporting communities.