Built heritage

Located in a privileged position in the city of Cartagena, between the Roman Theatre Museum and the Cathedral, the Mr. Witt building is a rehabilitation project that reinterprets the architectural legacy of the city with contemporary sensitivity. The restoration, carried out by Martín Lejarraga Oficina de Arquitectura, is part of their consolidated approach, in which sustainability and respect for heritage form the basis for rehabilitating historic buildings. These interventions often include vertical extensions that emphasize the city’s historical layers. These new layers of meaning consolidate the development and urban growth within the historic center. Caption Caption On this occasion, the intervention has resulte... More

The creation of this cultural center stems from the need for a functional facility capable of bringing together services currently scattered throughout the town, in order to better serve local residents. Located in an historic bastide now identified as an area facing social and economic challenges, the project represents a first step in the renewal of Villefranche-de-Rouergue’s town center. It is conceived as an inclusive place, particularly attentive to disadvantaged populations, dedicated to sharing, education and cultural life. Mars architectes This project is not limited to a single programmatic identity. It is neither solely a library, a media library, a games room, nor an exhibition hall, but all of these at once. It can b... More

Total renovation and conversion of a 1960s concrete service building The public swimming pool Gartenbad Bachgraben was built in 1962 after plans by Otto and Walter Senn in collaboration with the engineer Heinz Hossdorf. The concrete buildings distributed across the site are exemplary of post-war modernism and are listed in the inventory of the Basel-Stadt monument preservation authorities. The service building directly next to the main entrance to the pool grounds had only been partially renovated since its construction and was in need of a complete refurbishment. The staff areas no longer met the current use requirements and the restaurant had not been in operation since 2011 due to various issues. Barbara Buehler architectural photogr... More

Industrial ponds brought to a new life  Belval is an ex-industrial site in the south of Luxembourg, undergoing vast changes in the last couple of decades. It used to be the center of the Luxembourg steel industry, and today with its unique urban development project offers the possibility to up-cycle and integrate its rich industrial heritage in a contemporary setting. Two sintering ponds lost their purpose decades ago when the blast furnaces ceased to operate and were abandoned ever since. © Jessi Lang In the context of the new urban development, this particular location will host a new central square, ‘Place des Bassins’, giving a new life to this forgotten lieu. How to engage in adaptive reuse and respect the... More

THE CENTER BRIDGES THE LEGACY OF THE ARTISTS’ COLLECTIVE DE PLOEG RENOWNED FOR ITS BOLD, COLORFUL DEPICTIONS OF THE GRONINGEN LANDSCAPE AND ITS SPIRIT OF EXPERIMENTATION WITH CONTEMPORARY ART. ALL OF THIS TAKES PLACE WITHIN A BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED 19TH CENTURY NATIONAL MONUMENT. Ewoud Rooks Caption National Monument Housed in the former St. Joseph School and Ludgerus Society in Wehe-den Hoorn, this national monument lies in the heart of the Groningen landscape. Designed in 1873 by Alfred Tepe in Neo-Gothic style, it was originally built as a parish house and later served as the Catholic St. Joseph School. After the school closed in the late 1970s–80s, the building stood vacant for many years and fell into disrepair.... More

In the heart of Toronto’s Annex neighborhood, the First Narayever Synagogue modestly nestles within a block of Victorian brick houses. It is unusual to find an institution embedded within the residential street, but the location makes the Narayever an easy walk for its congregants, and the building contributes to the neighborhood’s charm and sense of community. Younes Bounhar - Doublespace Photography Younes Bounhar - Doublespace Photography The single-story building was constructed as a Foresters’ Hall in the 1890s and subsequently served as Toronto’s first Mennonite congregation. It was acquired by the congregation in 1943, who maintained the simple, white-walled sanctuary, with only modest subsequent al... More

Historical BackgroundThe Plange Mill complex, constructed between 1906 and 1934, originally functioned as a wheat mill and stands as a key example of early 20th-century industrial architecture in Düsseldorf. Over the years, the site transitioned from a bustling facility to an abandoned industrial space. In recent decades, it underwent an impressive transformation, evolving from neglect to a vibrant waterfront campus. The once utilitarian silos were repurposed into dynamic, functional spaces, achieving full utilization after years of dormancy. © Hans Blossey The brick-clad Timber Silo was converted into a six-story loft building, creating new workspaces for the Fashion and Media industries, while the curved-shell Concrete Sil... More

The Marlim Costa Cabral refurbishment project is located in the city of Porto and aimed to convert the existing four-storey building into seven flats of different types. João Rey João Rey The intervention sought to maintain the structure and interior configuration of the existing building, adapting the spaces to the functionalities introduced by the new programme and to contemporary way of living. It sought to safeguard the character of the pre-existing building, which was well preserved, providing it with better living conditions and comfort through new solutions, materials and finishes. Characterising elements such as interior doors, friezes, trims, skirting boards, carved ceilings, stonework and others were kept... More

Located in the locality of Naxxar, known for its rich architectural heritage, Naxxar House by AP Valletta involves the refurbishment and extension of an 18th-century palazzino. The property lies just outside the boundary of the designated Urban Conservation Area, making it susceptible to the recent rise of higher apartment blocks in its vicinity. These developments now overshadow the low-rise residence and overlook its garden. Julian Vassallo The proposed interventions respond to the family’s functional needs while demonstrating a careful sensitivity to the house's historic memory and its surrounding context. The brief called for the design of a screen wall on the façade to ensure privacy for the terrace behind it and the... More

A century-old duplex in Montreal's Mile-end, abandoned for several years, has been extended with a large rooftop apartment and a backyard bedroom wing on each floor. The project aims to answer the delicate and sensitive question of “architectural intervention on modest heritage. ". How to densify in a gentle way by adding new housing, while retaining the authenticity of the original design and the urban landscape of the street and the lane. How to achieve this in a dialogue between the existing and the new, without one speaking louder than the other, while maintaining the modesty that forms a district of the city. Raphael Thibodeau Raphael Thibodeau Raphael Thibodeau The answer for the project was to lay a white veil o... More

The Dune du Pilat is both powerful and fragile, a source of fascination, hence the high standards imposed for its conservation and for receiving the public. The surrounding infrastructure carries the Grand Site de France label, so the restoration project had to embrace a sustainable development dynamic and welcome visitors in a quality environment. It was important that its rehabilitation lived up to its exceptional nature. Agnès Clotis The project would bring the site up to standard and included a diagnosis, with a view to proposing various design and planning scenarios. Rehabilitation objectives included: upgrade of existing huts; development of administrative, reception, educational and commercial functions; and improved flo... More

Muntanya 18 and 20 embody the quiet character of Mallorca’s rural heritage. These cases de poble, traditional village houses, were built in 1852 and have been carefully renewed to preserve their essence while embracing the comfort and sophistication of contemporary living. Set within a privileged landscape that offers the serenity of the countryside, both houses express a dialogue between tradition and modernity. Their stone façades and time-worn textures speak of memory, while the interiors reveal soft light, natural materials, and precise craftsmanship that elevate everyday life with subtle luxury. Now offered as exclusive holiday rentals in Consell, the homes invite guests to experience authentic Mediterranean living, where... More

Muntanya 18 and 20 embody the quiet character of Mallorca’s rural heritage. These cases de poble, traditional village houses, were built in 1852 and have been carefully renewed to preserve their essence while embracing the comfort and sophistication of contemporary living. Set within a privileged landscape that offers the serenity of the countryside, both houses express a dialogue between tradition and modernity. Their stone façades and time-worn textures speak of memory, while the interiors reveal soft light, natural materials, and precise craftsmanship that elevate everyday life with subtle luxury. Now offered as exclusive holiday rentals in Consell, the homes invite guests to experience authentic Mediterranean living, where... More

In the quiet landscape of Consell, Cas Padrins stands as a testament to Mallorca’s rural heritage. This family possessió, a traditional country estate, was originally built in 1878 and has remained in the same family ever since. Carefully renewed with respect for its agricultural past, the house now welcomes guests to experience the serenity and authenticity of the Mediterranean lifestyle. The architecture reveals a dialogue between memory and modern comfort. Stone walls, limewashed surfaces, and wooden beams preserve the island’s spirit, while new interventions bring clarity, light, and a discreet sense of luxury. The restoration sought not to transform but to continue, recovering original textures, restoring the rhythm... More