Heritage architecture

From monastery to community neighborhood The former Franciscan convent at the eastern edge of Montreal’s Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie borough is a compelling example of how a site once devoted to spiritual retreat and self-sufficiency can become disconnected from its urban surroundings. Its transformation into a vibrant, inclusive community offers a rare opportunity to reconnect its layered past with contemporary needs, bringing together memory, biodiversity, and collective life within a renewed urban fabric.   NÓS Architects   Echo of the past Le Couvent de la Résurrection is a convent complex inspired by neo-Gothic monastic architecture. Originally, the built ensemble included the convent, the ch... More

Life Hub @ Bund Central, a mixed-use complex comprising of a retail mall and a 180m-tall office tower, is a key component in the urban regeneration of the larger Hongkou Lot 18 in Shanghai. Yang Tao, Courtesy of DP Architects The project brief detailed the redevelopment of a 4.6ha city block to accommodate retail, commercial and cultural functions, which features Gongyi-Fang, one of the largest conserved in-situ ‘shiku-men’ neighbourhoods, as well as Shanghainese Cultural Centre and the Shanghai Literature Museum.  A Composed City Gallery Courtesy of DP Architects Courtesy of DP Architects Courtesy of DP Architects Along the south, the project anchors the junction of Haining Road and North Sichuan Roa... More

This glass extension in Bath represents a combination of historic character and modern minimalism. We designed and installed this beautiful and functional frameless glass extension to this listed building using our Invisio Frameless Structural Glazing System. Caption Caption The upper floor showcases three expansive glass panels seamlessly connected to create uninterrupted views. Structural silicone subtly reinforces the structure, enabling the homeowners to fully immerse themselves in panoramic garden views from the comfort of their dining room. This frameless glazing system extends upwards, transitioning flawlessly into a glazed roof, flooding the interior with natural light. Caption Caption On the ground floor, a sl... More

 The project involves the rehabilitation and renovation of a house located in the Alquería del Pi complex, in L'Horta Nord, in a resilient area such as the orchard. (L’Horta) The building object of this rehabilitation dates from the late nineteenth century, although there are elements that are part of the set that is declared BRL ( Bienes de Relevancia Local – assets of local relevance), which are from the thirteenth century. If there is something characteristic of this house, at least in its facades and most visible elements from the orchard is that its walls are built with exposed stone, it has a distinct character from the rest of the complex, and that has been preserved from  the beginning  of our proje... More

In Museum Bezau, two architectural styles converge to create a reimagined “Wälderhaus” (forest house). Located in the town of Bezau, within the Bregenzerwald region of Austria, the museum’s original listed house is seamlessly integrated with a contemporary extension. Designed by Bezau-based studio Innauer Matt Architekten, the updated museum building is an impressive exhibit in its own right. Dominic Kummer Dominic Kummer   The Wälderhaus A local history museum, the Wälderhaus was founded by Anna Katharina Feuerstein who had recognised increasing threats to cultural heritage. Feuerstein and the local Heimatschutzverein, a heritage preservation society, purchased the historic property in Bez... More

Built between 1910-1915 by the Sydney Harbour Trust the heritage listed Finger Wharf at Woollomoolo was a former wharf and passenger terminal. It narrowly escaped demolition in the late 1980’s due to public outcry and instead was renovated into a boutique hotel, apartments and hospitality precinct. Its heritage and cultural significance is diverse and anyone that lives or has spent any amount of time in Sydney knows it as a major landmark on the Harbour. Prue Ruscoe Prue Ruscoe These Wharf apartments were built in the late 1990’s - developer driven, the smaller apartments lacked any charm as was the case during this time when energy and funds were chanelled into the large, glamorous apartments. Fast forward to 2023 an... More

Set on a dramatic clifftop site The Imperial Hotel Building at Clifton has sat neglected and boarded up following the collapse and closure of Lawrence Hargrave Drive some 15 years ago. With the road now open again with the opening of the Seacliff Bridge, Welsh + Major were engaged to design and document an iconic new hospitality venue that will serve as a catalyst for rejuvenation of the area. Clinton Weaver The heritage-listed building features restored balconies and rejuvenated internal spaces, accompanied by 2 new dining rooms, each with sweeping views up and down the coastline of the Illawarra Escarpment. Clinton Weaver Designed for locals and visitors alike, the project is a response to site, and of the original building&rs... More

In Maastricht, Netherlands, a heritage building has been transformed into a cutting-edge, sustainable headquarters for dsm-firmenich, a global developer and producer of nutrition, health, and beauty solutions. Commissioned by developers EDGE and 3W Real Estate, Rotterdam-based architectural studio Broekbakema led on the project’s architectural renovations and new-build elements, while Delft-based Fokkema & Partners Architecten designed the interior architecture. The project mixes a healthy, green working environment with a clubhouse ambience. The dsm-firmenich headquarters is the first Paris-Proof national monument in the Netherlands. It has achieved both BREEAM Outstanding and WELL Platinum certifications. Norbert van Onna... More

Transformed from its beginnings as a community church and theatre, The Church has undergone a remarkable rejuvenation, emerging as a three-level contemporary dwelling that seamlessly blends modern living with the historic charm of its heritage-listed brick and sandstone façade. Katherine Lu Katherine Lu Preserving the integrity of the original building, The Church successfully maintains its historic exterior while introducing a modern aesthetic within. The architectural intervention delicately navigates the balance between tradition and contemporary design, employing thoughtful reinterpretation through geometries, material selection, and lighting. Katherine Lu Katherine Lu By adhering to the existing footprint,... More

The project for the transformation of an 18th century patrician country residence, at the centre of an agricultural estate in the hills of central Italy, to be reconverted into a Boutique Hotel designed for long-stay stays. Caption Caption The project envisages the preservation of the original access routes and the conversion of the entrance portico into a winter garden, overlooking the large lawn to the north, to house the reception. This leads to a large central hall overlooking the valley along the north-south axis, on either side of which are two suites to the east and two suites to the west.  On the second floor, a series of junior suites overlook the garden. Caption Caption The approach has been not to alter... More

Renovation of a single-family row residence, typical of the Notre-Dame-de-Grace/Cote-des-Neiges district, on the edge of the city of Westmount. Sensitive intervention which consisted of a reconfiguration of the original spaces in order to allow an urban family life for the young family with 2 children. Maxime Brouillet Maxime Brouillet Maxime Brouillet Maxime Brouillet Maxime Brouillet Search for fluidity, lightness, natural lighting and space for children and parents. Objective to preserve the atmosphere of the original house. Use of materials, artisanal technique (staircase, revisited shaker style kitchen cabinet) and texture (exposed brick, ceramic and slate of the fireplace) in order to mediate with the origi... More

The former henequen hacienda of San Antonio Hool is for its quality of spaces and construction, a gem of the hacienda architecture of Yucatan. The estate is listed as a heritage and of cultural significance for the city of Mérida and Yucatán. The intervention project to rescue it from a state of neglect in which it was found, thanks to the vision of the Diaz Mantecon family, was implemented by the architecture studio reyes ríos + Larrain architects. The main objective is to restore the existing buildings and adapt the complex as a hospitality destination and social and  corporate events. Comprising a multidisciplinary informed conceptual design and technical project parting from the conservation criteria from the N... More

The Lady Lamington Herston Quarter was named after Lady Lamington, the wife of Queensland's governor from 1896 to 1901. This precinct was the earliest surviving nurse's quarters in Queensland.  Located in the state heritage-listed Brisbane General Hospital Precinct, Lady Lamington was constructed in five stages between 1896 and 1938 to provide onsite accommodation for nursing and training staff. Scott Burrows A remarkable building in an Arts and Crafts-influenced style, the ‘E Wing’ of Lady Lamington was Robin Dod’s first major project in Queensland and established his reputation as a leading architect in the state. Completed by 1938, the two Spanish mission-influenced towers by Atkinson and Conrad present a co... More