1970s renovation

What would he say, former mayor and “Loam Baron” Josef Gloo, who built Beim Fuchs in Unterföhring near Munich? What would he say if he knew that almost 120 years after building his befitting residence at the center of his municipality, it is still being cherished by his direct descendants? What would he say about the property’s new incarnation - its conversion and restoration - set in motion by his great-great-grandson in collaboration with IFUB*? We'll never know, but one thing is for sure: this house is as magnificent now as it was back then. IFUB* Caption IFUB* This is what the property looked like at the beginning of the 19th century - half farm, half Mayoral residence. A bit of local history: the... More

Revitalizing a 1970s Wooden House in Sumida: Adaptive Reuse with Modest Updates In Mukojima’s eastern district, a short walk from the station, stands a 65m² wooden, two-story house built in the 1970s. Previously dark and compact, the house has now been updated to better suit contemporary lifestyles through thoughtful, modest changes.  Akira Nakamura Akira Nakamura Akira Nakamura This renovation is part of Roovice's Kariage initiative, through which we renovate old vacant properties and sublease them at no cost to the owner. The project was launched in response to Japan's ongoing akiya issue, with over 10 million vacant properties across the country. Akira Nakamura Akira Nakamura Akira Nakamura... More

In the context of an increasingly growing trend of reactivating abandoned building stock in the centre of Athens, the apartment "Ochra" highlights the need for an original redesign at the core of contemporary architectural practice. Pangrati, where the apartment is located on the 4th floor of a 1970s apartment building, is one of the most vibrant and youthful urban neighbourhoods in Athens. The owner requested the renovation of the apartment on a relatively low budget, with minimal interventions, while ensuring that the design would not lack originality or authenticity. Vasso Paraschi Vasso Paraschi Initially, the layout of the 70 sqm apartment was redefined by creating a functional connection between the kitchen, dining room, li... More

De Zwarte Hond has completed the circular renovation and extension of Leiden University’s former Cluster Zuid building, now named Herta Mohr, serving the Faculty of Humanities. Originally designed by Joop van Stigt in the late 1970s, this structuralist masterpiece now offers 11,400 square meters of space, comprising over 700 teaching spaces, two lecture theatres, work and meeting rooms, and libraries for both the African Studies Centre and the Middle Eastern Studies program. Enhancing orientation and natural lightTo improve orientation and bring in more natural light, the central zone of the building was demolished and replaced with a spacious, light-filled atrium. This transformation not only enhances visitor navigation but also cre... More

Near Fukuma Beach, known for its beautiful sunsets, a friend who is also the client found a piece of land with an old house built in 1979. The project began with a consultation on whether this old house could be renovated into a combination shop and guesthouse. YASHIRO PHOTO OFFICE YASHIRO PHOTO OFFICE The single-story irimoya-style wooden structure had signs of cheap renovations, such as printed plywood exterior walls and polycarbonate corrugated roofing, but the original structure was evidently well-built. The knotless cypress pillars, the impressive large domestic pine beams, and the long-span log girders were truly remarkable. Although 1979 is not old enough to be considered an old folk house, it represented the last era when... More

The house was built in the 1970s. It was sited on two sides on the border. Its facade pretended to be a neo-classical 19th-century facade. In a semi-detached development with a neighboring building maintained in a completely different character, it was an extremely mismatched pair. Radosław Gałczyński Radosław Gałczyński Radosław Gałczyński We decided that the whole thing was not an example of architecture worth preserving for future generations. We had an irresistible impression that the building itself would like to change its appearance. It would like to straighten up, not pretend anything, and look appropriate to the times in which redevelopment found it. It should refer to the times when great Polish modernists such as... More

A couple based in Los Gatos approached our firm looking for a retreat to fuel their love for surfing and golfing, as well as a comfortable, spacious, airy home to host weekend visits from family and friends. After purchasing a 1970’s fixer upper that lines the Monterey Peninsula Country Club, our team envisioned an extensive remodel that channels a distinctively Californian mid-century feel. Wood and concrete finishes reference the iconic visual language of Sea Ranch – the exterior is clad in Western Red Cedar siding and dark metal. Casual, colorful, and Malibu inspired modern interiors from Orange County-based Raili Clasen brighten foggy days and sit in contrast with understated, natural material selections. David Tsay... More

The project involved the full renovation of a 230m² family home in Girona. Being one of a select few houses built in the nature reserve in the 1970s, the house was protected and the volume could not be increased but the facade and interior distribution could be adjusted. ©Pol Viladoms The challenge was in turning a very ugly facade into something beautiful and breaking open the traditional maze of interior rooms and passages into an open plan airy set of spaces with an inside-outside flow and a celebration of the spectacular views over the surrounding forests. ©Pol Viladoms Despite its tight size, we were able to fit 3 spacious bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 separate kitchen-living-dining spaces, a machine and storage r... More