
The Fenix Lofts & Docks in Rotterdam's Rijnhaven port district is a cool example of adaptive reuse. The base (or podium) is a warehouse that was built in 1922. It has a concrete structure. On top of it, a new 9 storey apartment building (also concrete) is supported using a steel table and frame that goes through the existing warehouse.
Here is a photo from inside the warehouse:

Parking is accommodated above grade within a portion of the existing warehouse. You don't want to go underground here. This is certainly not the most cost effective way of building new housing, but it is a solution that could work in some situations. If any of you have a site or are looking at a site with an existing building worth preserving, this might be an option to consider.
Architecture by Mei Architects. Photos by Marc Goodwin. For more information, check out Dezeen.

The Standard recently opened up its first international outpost in London. It's a 266-room hotel housed in a 1974 Brutalist office building overlooking King's Cross. London-based Orms (architect) was the lead consultant and they did an incredible job both preserving and modernizing the existing building.
All of the existing windows were replaced, but otherwise the Brutalist exterior remains more or less intact.
A tasteful 3 storey addition was placed on top of it, which required threading new steel columns through the existing waffle slabs. There's a 1st floor transfer slab with concrete columns below it in order to pickup these new loads.

As many of you know, we have a development project in Hamilton, Ontario – more specifically in the Corktown neighborhood. We filed our development application earlier this summer.
Because of this I was invited to participate in a Bisnow event on The Future of Hamilton. It takes place the morning of Wednesday, September 12, 2018 in The Alley by Core Urban. I walked this space last summer while it was under construction and so I’m excited to see it finished.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Core Urban, they are doing some really great work in Hamilton and have established themselves as a responsible city builder with a focus on adaptive reuse projects.
Steve Kulakowsky, who is co-owner of Core Urban, will be speaking at the event along with the mayor, some guy who has pretentiously included his middle name, and many other smart people. To see the full list of speakers and to buy a ticket, click here.
Photo of Hamilton by Vivek Trivedi on Unsplash

The Fenix Lofts & Docks in Rotterdam's Rijnhaven port district is a cool example of adaptive reuse. The base (or podium) is a warehouse that was built in 1922. It has a concrete structure. On top of it, a new 9 storey apartment building (also concrete) is supported using a steel table and frame that goes through the existing warehouse.
Here is a photo from inside the warehouse:

Parking is accommodated above grade within a portion of the existing warehouse. You don't want to go underground here. This is certainly not the most cost effective way of building new housing, but it is a solution that could work in some situations. If any of you have a site or are looking at a site with an existing building worth preserving, this might be an option to consider.
Architecture by Mei Architects. Photos by Marc Goodwin. For more information, check out Dezeen.

The Standard recently opened up its first international outpost in London. It's a 266-room hotel housed in a 1974 Brutalist office building overlooking King's Cross. London-based Orms (architect) was the lead consultant and they did an incredible job both preserving and modernizing the existing building.
All of the existing windows were replaced, but otherwise the Brutalist exterior remains more or less intact.
A tasteful 3 storey addition was placed on top of it, which required threading new steel columns through the existing waffle slabs. There's a 1st floor transfer slab with concrete columns below it in order to pickup these new loads.

As many of you know, we have a development project in Hamilton, Ontario – more specifically in the Corktown neighborhood. We filed our development application earlier this summer.
Because of this I was invited to participate in a Bisnow event on The Future of Hamilton. It takes place the morning of Wednesday, September 12, 2018 in The Alley by Core Urban. I walked this space last summer while it was under construction and so I’m excited to see it finished.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Core Urban, they are doing some really great work in Hamilton and have established themselves as a responsible city builder with a focus on adaptive reuse projects.
Steve Kulakowsky, who is co-owner of Core Urban, will be speaking at the event along with the mayor, some guy who has pretentiously included his middle name, and many other smart people. To see the full list of speakers and to buy a ticket, click here.
Photo of Hamilton by Vivek Trivedi on Unsplash
A dedicated (and red) exterior shuttle elevator was also added to the north elevation of the building. This takes people up to the rooftop, which is a signature feature of all Standard Hotels.


Brutalist architecture is experiencing a bit of renaissance right now. We are seeing people lament the demise of our concrete blocks from the 60s and 70s. Perhaps it's because it's a style/movement that is finally old enough for people to appreciate it. That's often how these things work.
The Standard in London is a perfect example of how this history might be both respected and repositioned.
Images via Orms
A dedicated (and red) exterior shuttle elevator was also added to the north elevation of the building. This takes people up to the rooftop, which is a signature feature of all Standard Hotels.


Brutalist architecture is experiencing a bit of renaissance right now. We are seeing people lament the demise of our concrete blocks from the 60s and 70s. Perhaps it's because it's a style/movement that is finally old enough for people to appreciate it. That's often how these things work.
The Standard in London is a perfect example of how this history might be both respected and repositioned.
Images via Orms
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