Renovation | Inhabitat

Water Pumping Plant Renovated Into Gorgeous Living Space

Berlin is a burgeoning modern city with a compelling history, a diverse culture, abundant art, and distinctive architecture that rivals the likes of Paris, London and New York. But if there is one thing that can set the city apart from its pricey peers, it’s the unbelievably inexpensive property. Not unlike many of the uber-creative expatriates that have taken up residence there, two enterprising artists, Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset, decided it was time to purchase and renovate a place of their own. So what can $700,000 get you in a city like Berlin? An apartment? A loft? Maybe a small house? How about a massive water pumping station!

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Sustainable Renovation of Zoo Showcases Conservation Efforts

by Bridgette Meinhold, 10/15/09

A historic zoo in Vincennes, France, originally built in 1934 is looking to complete a major renovation, boosting itself to sustainable park status. Backed by the French government, the Prime Minister pledged to help engage a public/private partnership to complete the project. With a focus on conservation, education and awareness, the renovated zoo will feature six exciting “biozones” to replicate endangered areas of the world. Run partially on solar power, the zoo will showcase several green buildings and sustainable landscape design.

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Gigantic Coal Gasometers Transformed into Thriving Communities

by Diane Pham, 10/14/09

In 1896 the Viennese authorities decided to invest in large-scale gas and electric utilities, so they constructed what became Europe’s largest gas plant. After nearly a century long run the plant was decommissioned, and left behind were four massive gasometers. These incredible structures were cast off, but a recent revitalization project led by Jean Nouvel, Coop Himmelb(l)au, Manfred Wehdorn, and Wilhelm Holzbauer have transformed these four tanks into spectacular and thriving communities.

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Bay Line: A High Line Park for San Francisco’s Bay Bridge

by Mike Chino, 10/08/09

San Francisco’s Bay Bridge is currently undergoing a massive renovation as an aging section of the East Bay span is replaced with a new one, and the old conduit has fired up architects’ imaginations for new ways to use the soon-to-be abandoned space. Inspired by the success of New York’s recently opened High Line Park, Rael San Fratello Architects haver proposed a hanging neighborhood and sky park complete with 1.92 miles of bicycle paths, climbing walls, gardens, and meadows.

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Shipping Containers Transform Warehouse Into Office Space

After finding an affordable and convenient warehouse space in the industrial section of Santa Ana, Orange County, local printing company MVP decided to turn part of their premises into an office space. The warehouse wasn’t equipped to accommodate private offices, and the company felt that keeping the whole space climate-controlled would be wasteful, so they decided to group 10 20-foot shipping containers inside the warehouse to act as offices. The warehouse’s new industrial-chic workspaces proved to be an affordable option that continues to save the company on energy bills.

Ancient Church Renovated into Modern Bookstore

Whether you’re religious or not, this old Dominican church will certainly bring you the enlightenment you’ve been seeking. After months of renovation this magnificent structure originally constructed in 1294 has opened its doors to the public as a “brand new” bookstore in the heart of Maastricht. A superb example of adaptive re-use, the Selexyz Dominicanen infuses rich and historic architecture with plentiful shelves ripe with information.

DUMBO Archway Beautification Complete!

For those New Yorkers who look forward to the first Thursday of each month for the DUMBO Gallery Walk, now there is even more reason to head that direction: the DUMBO archway renovation is complete! Although the archway has been open since the fall of 2008, the DUMBO Improvement District and NYC Department of Transportation recently invited pedestrians in to view the structure’s upgraded interior. Designed by Rogers Marvel Architects and Jim Conti Lighting Design, the “beautification” project introduces wooden benches, lighting, and street improvements.

Stunning Victorian Renovation Showcases Decades of SF History

One of our favorite projects from last weekend’s AIA Home Tours was a stunning historic victorian that was constructed in San Francisco’s Cole Valley in 1896, weathered the trippy 60’s and 70’s, and was recently renovated by Mork-Ulnes Design. The beautiful renovation tempers the warp and warble of the home’s eclectic past with pops of modern scandinavian design, the extensive use of salvaged materials reclaimed from the building, and skylights that suffuse the interior spaces in daylight.

Ames Cottage: A Small Space Marvel with Historic Roots

One trend we noticed in this year’s AIA Homes Tours in San Francisco was how the frugal use of floor space and an abundance of natural light can add volume to otherwise downsized floor plans. Boor Bridges Architects managed to do just this in the adaptive re-use of a 1940s tap dancing studio, formerly used by famed dancer Betty Mae, into a kind of urban luxury cottage marked by modern minimalism and subtle hints of years past.

Warehouse Renovation Showcases Sustainable Materials

When Atlanta based ad agency The Jones Group decided it was time to revamp their image and headquarters, they turned to designer Caryn Grossman of CG Creative Interiors to complete the task. With two early 1900’s warehouses now in her hands and limitless possibilities, the crafty designer decided it was best not to skimp on the green. Her carefully drafted program called for the application of only sustainable materials and low-impact fabrication and construction, and what resulted was a striking environment ready to stir creativity within the new office.

The White House Takes Aim at LEED Certification

The White House is doing its part in leading the way to a more sustainable nation. Not only are they growing their own food on site with Michelle Obama’s garden, but now even they’re aiming for LEED certification! The Obamas are trying to show that reducing energy use and leading a greener life really aren’t that hard. This certainly isn’t the first attempt to green the White House, but it’s definitely the most significant attempt to date. The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) are leading the effort to upgrade to more energy efficient equipment, improve procurement, reduce waste and toxins and lower the overall carbon footprint of the complex.

Retrofitted Hotel Revives Past For Eco-Friendly Future

Recover, restore, and reuse. That was the mantra employed by Portugal-based architecture team Ezzo, led by César Machado Moreira, in designing Paço De Pombeiro, a twentieth-century rural hotel in Felgueiras, Portugal. The hotel is located on 24-acres of farmland which are primarily used as vineyards, and had existing sixteenth-century buildings. The architects wanted to revive the old structure, so they designed the hotel to complement and enhance the characteristics of the existing structures — and provide space and amenities for up to 22 guests and an outdoor swimming pool.

DENIM THERAPY Repairs Your Holey Old Jeans!

We all know what it is like to have a favorite pair of treasured jeans that are so comfortable and fit so perfectly that we want to wear them every day. The downside to this pure and beautiful jean-love is that too much wear leads to jeans wearing out – with telltale holes in the crotch and knees – and then before you know it, you have to either start patching, or search around far and wide to find another pair of jeans as great as your favorite. But now, thanks to Denim Therapy, there is a better solution! Denim Therapy offers an amazing (and very affordable) service to seamlessly repair all the threadbare patches, broken zippers, and holes in your favorite pair of jeans, and return them to a like-new state — without patches, seams or any indication that your jeans have been through the ringer and back!

Like most people, I had a favorite pair of jeans in my closet that was getting holey and threadbare, so I decided to check out Denim Therapy’s service for myself to see if they lived up to the hype…

Sky-High House Sits Atop a Water Tower

We love hearing about old structures being converted into comfortable living spaces, but a water tower?! Dubbed the “House in the Clouds”, this architectural marvel was constructed 85 years ago as a water tower to serve the township of Thorpeness in Suffolk, England, but today it serves as a bed and breakfast for anyone searching for a getaway overlooking England’s low lying hills. Read on for the tower’s history, which is just as curious as the tower itself.

Urban Sprawl Repair Kit Offers Simple Plans to Fix Suburbia

The suburban landscape consists largely of endless expanses of paved parking lots pocked with strip malls, gas stations, chain restaurants, and McMansions. Rather than razing these structures with the aim of greening the suburbs, Galina Tahchieva proposes that we retrofit them to create “a more diverse, cohesive urban fabric within a walkable and identifiable public realm.” The winner of the People’s Choice Award in our Reburbia competition with over 2,300 votes, the Urban Sprawl Repair Kit offers a go-to set of solutions for transforming 5 structures spawned from suburban sprawl into mixed-use models of urban efficiency.

ReBurbia Favorite Notable Mentions

With voting on our top 20 ReBurbia finalists set to close in less than 8 hours, we’d like to take a moment to pause and consider some of incredible submissions that didn’t quite make the list. Greening the suburbs is no easy task, and we were thoroughly impressed with the wealth of varied approaches that our entrants submitted. From elegantly repurposed highway overpasses to scorched-earth end of the world parties, to golf courses-turned energy-generating cemeteries, read on for our notable entries from over 400 submissions!

Renovated Seattle Residence Part of Eco-Community Living

Located on a dense shoreline on Portage Bay in Seattle, WA, the Lobster Boat Residence, designed by Seattle-based Chadborne + Doss Architects, is beautiful home that leaves a small footprint. The home was re-modeled from its original state as a 24′ x 26′ residence with a ground floor and basement. As part of a larger shoreline community, the inhabitants of the Lobster Boat Residence shares waterfront access, parking, utilities and a vegetable garden with neighbors.

Renovated Beach House Gets Ventilated Wood Skin

Home renovations and upgrades typically involve painting the house, re-tiling the bathroom floor or converting the garage into a room for Grandma. But when presented with the opportunity to re-vamp an existing house in Casablanca, Chile, architects Jose Ulloa Davet and Delphine Ding didn’t shy away from taking the route of Extreme Home Makeover. As striking as the views that surround it, the two architects were able to transform a lackluster 90’s beach house into a gorgeous, angular construction overlooking the South Pacific.

Sears Tower Going Green With $350 Million Renovation

Just like the Empire State Building, the famed Sears Tower in Chicago will be soon receiving some major eco upgrades to become more energy efficient. Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture is responsible for the upgrade plans as well as a brand new 50-story luxury hotel to be built right next to the tower. The eco upgrade will reduce energy consuption by 68,000,000 kWh per year or the equivalent of 50,000 barrels of crude oil. Costs for the renovation are estimated at $350 million dollars for tower, which will soon be renamed Willis Tower.

Via Torino Renovated Green Loft in Fashionable Milan

There is no doubt that for some, Milan, Italy is synonymous with ultra chic living as a cosmopolitan capital of innovative design and fashion trendsetting. With grand architecture and historic beauty at every corner, there is also a lot to be proud of as Italy’s second largest city. Why would one want to break with design tradition when you have architectural monuments like the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and the Duomo di Milano as part of your urbanscape? Enter this first-of-its-kind eco urban residence in the heart of Milan’s fashion district. Sustainably renovated and uniquely energy efficient with its Finnish soapstone fireplace and green rooftop, this eco casa has set new design standards for Milanese city dwellers who are eager to green their views.

Abandoned Silos Transformed Into a Climbing Gym

The city of Amsterdam wasn’t quite sure what to do with three abandoned sewage treatment silos, so they decided to hold a competition to determine the best adaptive reuse project. One of the projects submitted for the competition was by Amsterdam-based NL Architects, who proposed to transform the silos into an incredible set of climbing towers. In addition to the climbing areas both inside and outside the silos, the project would include multi-purpose areas, offices, restaurants and other commercial spaces.

RESIDENCE: A House with A Tree Tattoo

Most of the time, when we want to limit the amount or intensity of light as it streams into our homes, we install blinds or hang curtains. Not so with this house extension in Victoria, Australia designed by Andrew Maynard Architects. The owners of the home wanted to add a kitchen and living space to their home that would be full of natural light — a desire easily met with glass facades that would allow light to stream in. However, in order to save the interior from baking in sunlight and to comply with local regulations, Andrew Maynard Architects decided to take a cue from nature and attach large, tree-shaped stickers that would filter the light as it entered the interior. With this clever addition, the interior receives ample daylighting through static “tree branches” that provide leafy shade and subdued privacy all year round.

Synagogue Turned East Village Penthouse

Photo courtesy of Michael Falco

Living in New York City requires that your home be your sanctuary. There are numerous paths to this destination, but one lucky couple, Dominique Camacho and Gary Hirschkron, actually live in a sanctuary — more specifically a retro-fitted synagogue. The building, located in East Village, was a synagogue until the 1980s, when it was retrofitted to make five separate residences. Upon purchasing the home, Camacho and Hirschkron renovated the “once-somber sanctuary into a modern triplex with an exhibitionist streak,” as Mimi Zeiger of the New York Times put it. Brooklyn-based Manifold Architecture Studio acted as consulting architects on this project, helping to fill the home with elegant touches, such as the custom-designed staircases, and worked with Camacho to incorporate eco-friendly finishes, such as low-VOC paints.

Beautiful Bank Barn Renovation

Repeatedly told to demolish the barn which sat on their new horse farm, the owners just couldn’t let this traditional barn go. The 1800s New River Bank Barn seemed to have such great potential that they searched for an architect that could transform it into the dream barn renovation they wanted. Blackburn Architects, specializing in adaptive reuse and renovation, took on the project and turned the sagging barn into a beautiful modern adaptation with ample daylighting and rustic features that reflect its previous use.

Denmark Renovates Water Tower Into Green Student Housing

Water towers, TV antennas, parking garages and other structures tend to be ignored within the ubiquitous context of their surroundings, however these oft-overlooked structures can offer amazing opportunities for renovations. Take this water tower turned student housing complex in Jaegersberg, Denmark. This once practical structure was left unused until Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter ApS won a competition to renovate it into a multi-purpose building for student housing and a youth center.

New Jersey’s LEED Silver Garden Street Lofts

As green building has become more popular and important, developers are looking for ways to renovate older buildings into modern, efficient and healthy spaces. The Garden Street Lofts, in Hoboken, NJ, are a great example of a new apartment building created from an old warehouse. The project is helping transform an area once known for its industry into a healthy environment for families looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact.

Re-Cover House Wins AIA Award for Renovations

When the new owners of this beautiful wood-clad home decided they needed to update and add a bit more space to the house, who better to renovate it than the architects who designed the original? Re-enter, New York-based Bates Masi + Architects, who worked out a plan to enlarge the kitchen and dining areas, modernize the bathrooms, and refinish the floors, walls and counter tops. Materials and wood from the house were kept and re-used in the renovation, minimizing the need for new materials.

Vader House: Historic Victorian With a Modern Twist

In Melbourne, long before city planning regulations were set into place, houses like this Victorian took advantage and built tall boundary walls. So when the owners of this house wanted to renovate their historic home, they were able to play off the non-standard wall on the north side and build a stunning addition to their home. Maynard Architects, a Sydney based firm, set about to transform the traditional brick home and courtyard into a stunning modern home that builds upon the past while making creative use of all the available space.

Beautiful Modern House Rises from Stone Ruins

Latvian architects NRJA constructed this beautiful renovation of an old stone barn in Saka, Latvia. Rather than tear down the stone ruins of the barn, the family wanted to use the exterior wall of the barn as a protective barrier surrounding their new home, both for privacy as well as protection from the wind blowing in off the Baltic Sea. The family also wanted to be able to spend calm days viewing the water and their surrounding meadow from their rooftop deck. Their fabulous old exterior with a new modern interior creates a warm home and a deck with a view.

Reclaiming Oil Rigs as Oceanic Eco-Resorts

Morris Architects, a Houston-based architecture and design firm, recently took top honors for two of their submissions in the Radical Innovation in Hospitality design competition. The grand prize winner, the Oil Rig Platform Resort and Spa makes use of one of 4,000 oil rigs out in the Gulf of Mexico and transforms it into a luxurious eco-resort and spa. We love how the inspired renovation takes an iconic source of dirty energy and converts it to an eco-haven that generates all of its power from renewable sources.

GREEN RENOVATION: A Modern Extension for a London Home

Green renovations like this one in London are really exciting, because they show how much potential there is for taking something you already having and making it so much better, through the application of smart design. Crawford Partnership, a London based architecture firm, was responsible for this remodel and extension. They replaced a dilapidated lean-to shed with a modern and spacious extension that includes an open kitchen and dining room with an extra bedroom and office above it– all while staying within the confines of the existing home. And to top it off, the extension includes a green roof covered in sedum.

It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! No! it’s a… Hostel?!

Visitors traveling to Stockholm will find soon themselves with the option of sleeping on a plane! That may not sound like the most exciting proposition until you realize that the 747-200 in which they will be sleeping has been retired from flying, salvaged from being dumped somewhere to rot and turned into a low-cost, fully-furnished hostel that is perfect for overnight accommodation.

Beautiful Dairy Barn Renovation in Somerset

This stunning home designed by Skene Catling De Le Peña was once a barn for a dairy farm. Now renovated into a 5-bedroom house with a small pool, the home re-used as much material from the original building as possible. Originally, the owner’s plan included tearing down much of the lean-to sheds to create a house with well-proportioned rooms, better circulation and more new construction. But as the design formed, the owner changed his vision and wished for a secluded retreat that would mold in with the original layout of the barn. Upon completion, the room layout and sizes may not be ideal, however the architects were able to preserve a sense of the old barn.

Cathedral Renovated Into Garden Museum

Situated within a beautiful old church, London’s Museum of Garden History recently underwent a stunning renovation that re-envisioned its interior as a fresh modern space. Designed by Dow Jones Architects, the sustainably-crafted renovation will provide more dedicated space for the museum’s permanent collection and allow for more flexible exhibitions and fabulous events.

A Charming Barn Converted into a Contemporary Home

Growing up in a barn has never been this modern. Simon Conder, a British architect, is responsible for this beautiful conversion of a group of farm buildings in Buckinghamshire. Three old farm buildings were attached and then remodeled in order to provide a unique home for a family in the UK. Clean, modern lines and the nostalgia of the old world come together to create a warm and inviting space in this wonderfully charming home.