Press Release  June 6, 2019  Jeremy Howell

9 Stunning Images of “Ruin and Redemption in Architecture”

Andrew Einhorn

Lowline, Raad Studio, New York, NY, USA; reimagined 2011.

Ruin and Redemption in ArchitectureRuin and Redemption in Architecture by Dan Barasch is a new book from Phaidon that examines how abandoned and ruined buildings are being reimagined, transformed, and repurposed. The book features incredible photography of structures all over the world and reveals the fascinating stories behind their renovations, both completed and planned. Dan Barasch is able to offer expert insight into this topic as he is the co-founder of The Lowline project, which aims to transform New York City's trolley terminal into the first underground park. For anyone interested in history, architecture, or the conservation of resources, this book is a must-read. Below is a slideshow with several examples of the breathtaking structures you can find in Ruin and Redemption in Architecture (all images and quotations courtesy Phaidon).

Gucci Hub, Milan, Italy, Piuarch; transformed 2012.
Piuarch

Gucci Hub, Milan, Italy, Piuarch; transformed 2012.

"A new six-story tower is used for corporate offices, while the repurposed hangar and brick buildings constitute an integrated campus."

Villa Zarri Experiential Beer Garden, Castel Maggiore, DANA; reimagined 2016.
DANA Arquitectos

Villa Zarri Experiential Beer Garden, Castel Maggiore, DANA; reimagined 2016.

"Reimagined as a 'sanctuary' devoted to celebrating beer, the proposal opens the site to its natural environment."

Lowline, Raad Studio, New York, NY, USA; reimagined 2011.
Andrew Einhorn

Lowline, Raad Studio, New York, NY, USA; reimagined 2011.

"In an abandoned market building just blocks away from the Lowline site, the Lowline Lab tested the solar technology and landscape design in all four seasons, demonstrating the technical viability of the concept."

La Fábrica, Sant Just Desvern, Spain; Ricardo Bofill; transformed 1975–.
RICARDO BOFILL TALLER DE ARQUITECTURA

La Fábrica, Sant Just Desvern, Spain; Ricardo Bofill; transformed 1975–.

"The reinvigorated designs turn the ruin into a fortress, in which invasive greenery is duly invited to carpet the buildings."

River LA, Los Angeles, CA, USA, Frank Gehry and teams; reimagined 2016.
Tetra Tech, Inc

River LA, Los Angeles, CA, USA, Frank Gehry and teams; reimagined 2016.

"Initial views of the revised scheme juxtapose natural elements alongside concrete, giving new social uses for local residents."

Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Heatherwick Studio; transformed 2014.
Heatherwick Studio

Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Heatherwick Studio; transformed 2014.

"With a whimsical design that evokes a gin cocktail being poured, the two greenhouses offer an all-season connection to the natural world."

Alila Yangshuo Hotel, Guangxi, China, Vector Architects; transformed 2017.
Vector Architects

Alila Yangshuo Hotel, Guangxi, China, Vector Architects; transformed 2017.

"Set around a central plaza and reflecting pool, the original sugar mill structures now house a reception, café, bar, gallery and multipurpose hall."

Fooddock, Deventer, Netherlands, Wenink Holtkamp Architecten; transformed 2015.
Wenink \ Holtkamp Architecten

Fooddock, Deventer, Netherlands, Wenink Holtkamp Architecten; transformed 2015.

"The redevelopment has become part of a larger narrative involving the reclamation of disused industrial structures in the area."

11th Street Bridge Park, Washington, D.C., USA, OMA and OLIN; reimagined 2016.
OMA and OLIN

11th Street Bridge Park, Washington, D.C., USA, OMA and OLIN; reimagined 2016.

"OMA and OLIN's designs weave the bridge into the surrounding vicinity of the waterfront with an ambitious green design."

About the Author

Jeremy Howell

Jeremy Howell is the Co-Creator and Editor-In-Chief of Art & Object.

Tags
Phaidon
book review
architecture
The Lowline
Dan Barasch
preservation

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