Get tickets to Dwell Open House: Los Angeles
SubscribeSign In
z
Collection by Zach Edelson

Renovations of Century-Old Buildings

When architects say a building has "good bones," they aren't speaking in reference to any human anatomical lifespan. A well-made, well-maintained structure can be re-inhabited after well over a century of use (or disuse). The earliest of these five dates to 1899!

View 5 Photos
“We really wanted to capture the ruinous quality of this old building rather than do something overtly new,” says Greg Blee, founding partner at Blee Halligan Architects. Before construction could begin, however, he and Halligan had to patch the remaining walls using stones found in the nearby river. Wherever a wall had collapsed, the designers inserted framing to create windows and doors. For the roof, they turned to the original tiles. “My father’s terrible at throwing things away,” Blee says. “We took the tiles off 30 years ago, as it was too dangerous to have them up there. They’ve been sitting in the fields ever since, and this was our last chance to use them.”
“We really wanted to capture the ruinous quality of this old building rather than do something overtly new,” says Greg Blee, founding partner at Blee Halligan Architects. Before construction could begin, however, he and Halligan had to patch the remaining walls using stones found in the nearby river. Wherever a wall had collapsed, the designers inserted framing to create windows and doors. For the roof, they turned to the original tiles. “My father’s terrible at throwing things away,” Blee says. “We took the tiles off 30 years ago, as it was too dangerous to have them up there. They’ve been sitting in the fields ever since, and this was our last chance to use them.”
The addition forms a horseshoe around a buried brick pit from the original gasworks building. During construction, workers unearthed a large valve and its associated pipework, the only historic features of the plant to survive. The owners plan to display them in the central courtyard as a reminder of the site’s former life.
The addition forms a horseshoe around a buried brick pit from the original gasworks building. During construction, workers unearthed a large valve and its associated pipework, the only historic features of the plant to survive. The owners plan to display them in the central courtyard as a reminder of the site’s former life.
Margarita McGrath and Scott Oliver of Noroof Architects termed the 1,650-square-foot house in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, “Pushmi-Pullyu,” in reference to the interior-exterior flow they created. Resident Jill Magid, pictured on her front steps with son Linus, is a conceptual artist; she fabricated the neon house numbers.
Margarita McGrath and Scott Oliver of Noroof Architects termed the 1,650-square-foot house in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, “Pushmi-Pullyu,” in reference to the interior-exterior flow they created. Resident Jill Magid, pictured on her front steps with son Linus, is a conceptual artist; she fabricated the neon house numbers.
From the buzzing front yard the Gorman-Angelucci family (and a young friend) is always at it. Dean Angelucci tends the garden and Lisa Gorman minds the kids—Pepa (with basket) and Hazel (in red)—who are hard at play.
From the buzzing front yard the Gorman-Angelucci family (and a young friend) is always at it. Dean Angelucci tends the garden and Lisa Gorman minds the kids—Pepa (with basket) and Hazel (in red)—who are hard at play.