Architecture Reborn Book

When structures outlast the society that gave rise to their original intent, what's the best way to update their function? Consider a Darwinian approach to architecture, where buildings will continue to exist if they adapt to the current environment. "Architecture Reborn: Converting Old Buildings for New Uses" surveys recent examples of architectural transformation across the world. History is filled with instances of pragmatic architectural acclimation. Greek and Roman temples became Christian churches, English monasteries were recycled as country houses, and Russian palaces were turned into post-Revolution museums of the people. Because it is cheaper and easier to take what-already-exists-but-is-no-longer-necessary and convert it into what-is-needed-right-now, reusing and updating structures is a common practice-which, in turn, revitalizes the surrounding communities. "Architecture Reborn" is divided into four chapters: Living & Working, Leisure & Learning, Museums Transformed, and The Future, followed by biographies of the featured firms. The book highlights some of the most extraordinary and dramatic examples of architectural reuse. Renzo Piano turned the massive Fiat plant in Turin, Italy into The Lingotto, a cultural and commercial complex. A neo-Romanesque public school in New York City became the P.S. 1 Institute for Contemporary Art by Frederick Fisher, and altered the conventional notion of an art gallery by keeping the ambience of the educational facility alive. For architects, students, and all proponents of creative reuse, "Architecture Reborn" is an essential collection of case histories and an important reference in keeping on top of this fast-paced and often controversial area of design.Read More