Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026
Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026

Historic restoration

An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about historic restoration

Project • By Michel ArchitectsPrivate Houses

Lloyd Wright Restoration

Designed by Lloyd Wright in 1959, the De Jonghe Residence — now home to Bill Kaulitz — sits in the hills of Los Angeles with a quiet authority — board-formed concrete, deep overhangs, and a landscape always intended to be read as part of the architecture. Our work began with a comprehensive exterior masterplan, refining a vision for outdoor living that the site had long suggested: a 600-square-foot flagstone pool, an elevated spa with views to the Hollywood Sign, and a cast-in-place firepit and terrace. Materials were chosen in close dialogue with the original — flagstone sourced from the same quarry, concrete details inspired from the texture of the house itself. A dedicated footpath between the carport and garden w... More

Product • By MarvinMarvin Ultimate™ Collection

Marvin Ultimate™ Collection

The result of relentless refinement, Marvin Ultimate™ windows and doors offer nearly endless design possibilities for the most ambitious projects. More

Project • By OPN ArchitectsCourthouses

Polk County Historic Courthouse

The restoration of the Historic Polk County Courthouse accommodates the functional needs of the Fifth Judicial District while also preserving the defining characteristics of the 1906-Beaux Arts Classical style structure. Main Street Studios Over the last century, as the county’s needs evolved and changed, immediate demands on courtroom space resulted in short-term solutions that became long-term. Superficial repairs and changes were made without consideration of the historical context. The original building had six courtrooms. By 2014 the historic courthouse was operating with 29 courtrooms. In some instances, one of the original courtrooms had been subdivided into as many as 4 to 6 courtrooms. The building was overcrowded. Safe... More

Project • By ThreadRestaurants

The Buttermarket

The Buttermarket in Redruth, Cornwall, England, is a heritage-led regeneration of five Grade II-listed buildings around a central courtyard. Designed by Somerset-based Thread, a studio specialising in conservation architecture, the transformative regeneration of this historic town square-style site has preserved its character while creating flexible workspaces, food units, and a first-floor gallery. The project offers a sustainable model for community-led regeneration within Redruth’s Conservation Area and Cornwall and West Devon’s UNESCO Mining World Heritage Site. Claire Fear Thread ❌︎ Remove Applied Products block will be inserted here Creating a communal hub Originally built in 1825 as a marketplace for... More

Project • By Aidlin Darling DesignWorkshops

Geneva Car Barn & Powerhouse

Originally the home of San Francisco’s first electric railway, the Geneva Car Barn & Powerhouse is the one of the last physical reminders of that historic transit system. Now owned by the City’s Recreation and Parks Department, the historic building is being transformed into a cultural and educational community center. Phase One is a 300-person event space; future phases for two-building complex will include classrooms and a black box theater for youth arts education. Matthew Millman Matthew Millman Matthew Millman Matthew Millman Matthew Millman Matthew Millman More

NewsNews • 20 Feb 2025

TRANSAT architekti completes new art gallery space in historic mill building

Continuing the restoration and adaptive reuse of Automatic Mills in the Czech city of Pardubice, Brno-based TRANSAT architekti has completed the new headquarters for the Gočár Gallery in the historic mill’s main building. The gallery is named after influential Czech architect Josef Gočár: Automatic Mills, designated a national cultural monument in the Czech Republic, is one of the first buildings designed by Gočár. BoysPlayNice BoysPlayNice BoysPlayNice Automatic Mills stands on the banks of the Chrudimka River in the center of Pardubice. The distinctive landmark was built between 1910 and 1911 for the business-savvy Winternitz brothers. The mill was extended between 1921 and 1924 with... More

Project • By Tuncer Cakmakli ArchitectsCar Parks

Renovation of Mansion- Carpark and Porch

The restoration and enhancement of a historical mansion in Lugano herald a captivating journey into the seamless integration of heritage preservation and modern functionality. This project, marked by the addition of a new porch and a thoughtfully designed car park, represents a harmonious blend of architectural legacy and contemporary convenience. Nestled in the heart of Lugano’s rich history, this mansion stands as a testament to the city’s cultural heritage and is now poised to embrace a renewed era of elegance and utility. Caption Caption The decision to renovate this historical mansion stems from a deep commitment to preserving Lugano’s architectural treasures while catering to the evolving needs of its resi... More

NewsNews • 8 Feb 2024

Atelier Archiplein adds an impressive open stone gallery in the restoration of a Capuchin convent

Geneva-based architecture and urbanism firm Atelier Archiplein has completed the restoration and transformation of a historic Capuchin convent in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, a region in eastern France. Dating back to the 18th century, the convent’s buildings have been reappropriated for use as an artist residence. Atelier Archiplein’s careful approach to the restoration establishes a connection between the convent’s living spaces, its facades, and cobbled courtyard via new monumental openings. On the garden side, an impressive open gallery made from Hauteville limestone (from Plateau d’Hauteville in eastern France) connects the convent’s north wing with the landscape. 11h45 Built in several stages... More

Project • By Brightside ArchitectsHotels

A guest in the woods

Set in the tranquil woodlands of Soest in the Dutch province of Utrecht, this hostel and hospitality complex was formerly comprised of ad hoc additions which lacked a clear visual order. To draw out the inherent aesthetic qualities of the historic buildings and establish a clear cohesion between the functions of the complex, P·A's strategy included both demolition of underfunctioning buildings, and the subtle introduction of a new form. The historic buildings have been fully restored, and their connection to each other enhanced through the insertion of a new build element with wood finishing that gently contrasts with the brick of the historic forms, and blends with the surrounding woods. Its L-shaped form carves a courtyard in the... More

NewsNews • 21 Dec 2020

Ecuadorian restoration and infill project celebrates original materials and typology while inserting dynamic greenspace

Located in the historic centre of Ibarra, an Ecuadorian town set in the Andes, CACMU Verde is a building restoration with a spatially innovative infill element. The project, undertaken by Procesos Urbanos, highlights original materials and typology while inserting additional greenspace in a dynamic way.   Bicubik Listed with the Ecuadorian National Institute of Cultural Heritage, the building's fabric was retained and restored to the fullest extent possible. Original stone and brick masonry works were repaired and restored along with carpentry on windows and doors. Due to the deterioration of the original roof, the project team decided to replace it, keeping the original heights, slopes and use of timber structure.  Th... More

NewsNews • 27 Nov 2020

History of an ancient Ottoman basalt building incorporated into a luxury hotel concept

The Sofia – Sea of Galilee hotel by Levin Packer Architects seamlessly incorporates the elegance and history of an ancient Ottoman basalt stone building into a grand 120 room luxury hotel and spa destination overlooking the Sea of Galilee in Tiberias. Amit Geron From the outset, the design brief called for the preservation of the original structure, so a minimalist design system was invoked. In terms of structural form, this meant maintaining fidelity to original proportions, and in terms of decorative form, this meant preserving materiality: restoring original floor tiles, basalt stones, and pillars, and retaining the overall material pattern of the space. Amit Geron Built in the late 19th century for a wealthy family and... More