Our Favorite Refurbished Buildings

Our New Book Upgrade Explores the Architects Reimagining Buildings from the Past

A dilapidated barn, a raddled townhome, a historical and fading building facade – these can all be starting points for a stunning and inspiring home. Our recent release Upgrade displays transformations: be it sheds into playrooms, a garage to a guesthouse, or an alpine hut into a holiday getaway. Hidden into walls of old structures are possibilities and inspirations that can be realized with any budget; charm and character become the criteria for revamping a residence.

Working with the well-loved palette of an existing building affords architects a more interesting set of opportunities than a blank slate. It is archaeological, almost, as architects and builders excavate the layers of history and preserve the stories impressed into every brick and beam. We’ve highlighted a selection of the projects featured in the book below; browse the book for a deeper look into the convergence of practical structures with poetic twists. The book is also available in German.