The restoration of historic buildings is a constant challenge for everyone in the architectural community. Often, the question is whether or not to restore them at all, as demolishing the structures entirely and starting from scratch can be more economical and time-effective. If it is decided that the existing structure should be retained, what aspects of it should be kept" Of course, that depends on the overall condition of the building and any historical merit it might have that’s worth preserving. Sometimes, these buildings are in good enough condition to have their characteristic period features highlighted and combined with new elements, resulting in incarnations that are altogether new. These are often the most successful conservation and preservation projects, when old and new come together to embody both the times gone by and the now under a single roof.
A recent project by David Connor Design and Kate Darby Architects has done exactly that by preserving an old cottage within a new construction in England?s West Midlands. The collaborative team is responsible for conserving the cottage’s 18th-century timbers, which were in a severe state of decay. Instead of restoring the rotting structure, the concept behind the build was to keep everything exactly as it was and to incorporate it into a new construction. The designers said, “The strategy was not to renovate or repair the 300-year-old listed building, but to preserve it perfectly. This would ...