* Architecture: Renovation of an old barn by Comac

Architecture: Renovation of an old barn by Comac: “..The [17th century] barn is made of traditionals stones walls, three wild openings are facing the North, a clay ground and a skeleton entirely recovered with its original tiles. In the South part, a garden looking onto a street facing the city hall. A frame full of history..”  Contemporary refurbishment and insertion of a restaurant in an old French barn..

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image: Courtesy of Comac; article: Jordana , Sebastian . “Renovation of an old barn / Comac” 08 May 2012. ArchDaily. <http://www.archdaily.com/232336&gt;

* Residential Architecture: Recycled Materials Cottage by Juan Luis Martínez Nahuel

Residential Architecture: Recycled Materials Cottage by Juan Luis Martínez Nahuel: “..The difficulty of access determined the restraint of defining the project in multiple modular parts of the capacity of a small truck. The wish and ability of the client to search and purchase demolition materials set a series of elements to incorporate in the new home..

These elements were reinterpreted in a new order:

– Glazed doors of a house of the 60´s by Horacio Borgheresi that originally belonged to a patio, became the main facade of the new housing.

– Eucalyptus and native rauli parquet floors of a house of the 70´s by Larraín, Swinburn and Covarrubias, which became the main coating.

– Commercial laminated beams and steel pieces used for a temporary exhibition are now part of the main structural elements..”  Sustainability, repurposed materials, privacy, nature, views..

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image: © Juan Luis Martínez Nahuel; article: Rosenberg , Andrew . “Recycled Materials Cottage / Juan Luis Martínez Nahuel” 13 May 2011. ArchDaily.<http://www.archdaily.com/134620&gt;

* Architecture: Civic Centre in Palencia by Exit Architects

Architecture: Civic Centre in Palencia by Exit Architects: “..a civic and cultural centre inside a former prison..Constructed from load-bearing brickwork, the nineteenth century building comprises four wings that have been completely refurbished to accommodate an auditorium, a library, multi-function rooms and classrooms for art and music..A translucent glass pavilion provides an entrance to the building, while new walls and roof structures have been created over and around the existing blocks using zinc and more semiopaque glass..”  Another repurposed prison (see our post Architecture: Museum and Exposition Centre by Atelier Kempe Thill, for another excellent example), historic, cultural and contemporary sensibility, natural light, social..very good photos by Fernando Guerra..

See our post on other impressive repurposing work by Exit Architects: Architecture: Easter Sculpture Museum by EXIT Architects.

image: Fernando Guerra; article: Dezeen

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* Architecture: Museum and Exposition Centre by Atelier Kempe Thill

Architecture: Museum and Exposition Centre by Atelier Kempe Thill: “..large openings in the exterior walls, which remained after demolition, were taken as a starting point to add new façade elements. These new elements strengthen the coherence between the buildings within the urban plan. Lavish, four meter high structurally glazed windows were combined with four meter high doors which are cladded in black mirror glass. Seen from the outside the façade elements not only close the openings in a pure functional way, but also emphasise the monumentality of the existing buildings..Through the unity of the new façade elements, the use of the ensemble as a museum and its public function is underlined. The binding aspect of the façade elements is consolidated by their reflective quality, thus reflecting the different buildings in each other in a multitude of unexpected ways. In this way the buildings gain a strong connection with each other and with their surroundings..”  Repurposing with a clear historic and contemporary sensibility, very interesting juxtaposition of interior elements, surfaces..

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image: © Ulrich Schwarz; article: Ross , Kritiana . “Museum and Exposition Centre / Atelier Kempe Thill” 18 Apr 2012. ArchDaily. <http://www.archdaily.com/227302&gt;