There will come a time in the life of a residential architect that he will have the opportunity to work on an older building in order to fit the stylistic tastes of a client. In many cases, it takes a contemplation of the usability and viability of a renovation in order to fully appreciate the amount of change that can be done to an existing building.

A key thing that an owner needs to be aware of is the idea of adaptive reuse – reusing the building by changing the function.

Common Thoughts on Building Re-Use

For an owner, reusing a building means a look at how the building's aesthetics can be improved while keeping the same attractive features that make such a building a pleasure to live in.

Some of these include:

• Charm: Older buildings tend to have a feeling of nostalgia and history that lingers amidst their hallowed halls.
• Location: Older buildings may occupy a specific spot on a particular street.  That location, alone, might be a good enough reason for an owner to see repurposing.
• Urban Revitalization: Urban renewal has been a means of reestablishing the usability of older buildings for quite some time. Urban revitalization has seen buildings that are older take on a whole new lease on life, changing from residential to commercial properties via smart interior design choices. 

What New Owners Should be Aware When Thinking of Re-Use

In any area where a new owner is looking to reuse an old building, he or she needs to be aware of the existing building codes. Older buildings may not be up to code since the possibility exists that they were constructed before the current building codes were instituted.

In addition to this, urban planning may have different ideas of the kinds of usage that is allowed in any particular area. Zoning requirements may limit what a building may be used.

For buildings with historical interest, reusing them may be more of a benefit since those buildings have an innate attraction as a historical site. For those buildings with a history, it may be worthwhile for the owner to research the previous usage of the building.

In addition, older buildings may have safety concerns due to their age. It is essential that new owners perform an inspection to ensure that the building presents no safety hazards that may endanger the reuse project.

Questions to Ask About Reusing a Building

Owners that are looking to reuse an older building should ask pertinent questions in order to gauge the state of the building and its suitability before refurbishment.

Some of these questions include:

• What can be done? Have a plan about what you expect to see from the renewal and refurbishment of the building itself.
• What can’t be done? What is beyond reason or regulation? What is outside the scope of budget or the ability of repairs to return to a usable state?
• What is the cost? Budget is an important factor to consider. It is important to have a budget set before works commence.
• What cannot be compromised? These can range from things like design elements to structural elements that are key to the continued survival of the building itself.
• Is reusing the building a wise investment? This is something that requires the proper consideration of the costs and possible returns from the building.
• What is the long-term plan? Long term planning allows for longevity of the project as well as profitability that may increase over time. 

Old Doesn't Mean Broken

An older house might be just as good looking as a modern house (and in some cases far better looking) if it was treated properly during its lifetime. Architects who appreciate this inner beauty are better suited to deal with the reusing of these older homes.

Contact Bill Whittaker, Registered Architect (BWA), today for more information about upgrading or revitalizing older homes.