While intense urban construction continues to break ground, thousands of historic buildings worldwide sit abandoned or untended. Do they have the potential to breathe a new life, or would retrofitting them with modern amenities sacrifice their historical relevance? Discover how engineers, architects, designers and others find a happy medium between eco-friendly building goals and preserving old structures.
What Are the Best Practices for Renovating Historic Buildings?
Renovating a historic building is different from a conventional job. It could only contain interior edits or foundational retrofits. Regardless of the extent, these are the priorities professionals must consider before starting:
Follow Preservation Standards and Conduct Thorough Research
Historic buildings have protections. In the U.S., the Secretary of the Interior has guidelines on the treatment of historic properties. There are rules for four unique steps to this process, including:
- Preservation
- Rehabilitation
- Restoration
- Reconstruction
These phases ensure the building maintains its integrity while making it compatible with modern needs, codes and environmental goals. Depending on the project, builders should assess the property to determine what they must salvage, alter or recreate.
Use the Right Materials
Each site is different. If possible, builders and renovators may choose to use the same materials as the original construction. They might also consider more eco-friendly options for renovations. Aligning with regulations and ecological balance may require these to be primary considerations.
The material’s origin is crucial, as it should be local if possible. It should also be reclaimed or recycled to support circular economic construction. An 1850s farmhouse may still have its mantelpieces restored with tiling and bricks, which can come from existing sources. Renovators may also pick objectively sustainable alternatives to greenhouse gas-emitting offenders. Natural wood, bamboo, clay and other biodegradable materials are durable yet renewable to bring historic builds into the future.
Other material specifications must include:
- Energy efficiency
- Low- to no-pollutants
- No volatile organic compounds
- Insulating properties
- Wide accessibility
Be Sustainable
Historic buildings can be renovated with sustainability in mind by incorporating these techniques into the restoration plan:
- Preservation assessment: First, builders should conduct the aforementioned preservation assessment and follow the nation’s standards. This may require detailing what features will remain or removing historically critical elements for continued research. Builders should do as much as possible to make original features work with modern expectations, such as reglazing windows to be more energy-efficient.
- Energy audit: An energy audit is crucial for the success of these projects. Technological advancements have made historic buildings more comfortable, safe and sustainable. Identifying toxic insulation and replacing it with eco-friendly, nonpolluting alternatives is essential.
- Resource conservation: Resource conservation measures should be at the forefront of people’s minds. Antiquated mainstays like oil furnaces need to be replaced with electric heating. Alongside these measures should be water conservation, such as low-flow appliances and flood-resistant landscaping.
Why Is Sustainability Important in Historic Building Restoration?
Historic buildings do not need to maintain environmentally damaging materials or infrastructure to preserve their memory or importance. However, the grander climate and equity conversation pinpoints numerous reasons why historic buildings deserve eco-friendly treatment.
The preservation of cultural heritage is critical for respecting populations and traditions. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals prioritizes structural elements like affordable and clean energy alongside peace and partnershipwhile completing the goals. These coexist if restoration projects respect the building’s integrity. One example is the Silo Hotel in South Africa, where an old grain silo became a place for tourists to experience local culture while advertising its foundations in agriculture.
Buildings also contribute 39% of the world’s global energy use. The sector has one of the largest carbon footprints, so energy efficiency is pivotal in reducing these numbers and making population growth supported by urban development. The Tate Modern in London is a prime example of how a power plant turned art museum embraces novel energy efficiency while highlighting its legacy.
It also makes old structures compatible with modern building codes. These codes make them eco-conscious and resistant to dangers, like fire and electrical hazards. Restructuring elements like these for historic sites allows them to operate to their fullest potential without harming the planet or its people.
What Challenges Will Construction Professionals Overcome?
Authenticity with sustainability is one of the key challenges builders face. A century-old structure would not have had solar panels, so is it possible to rehabilitate a site without blurring these lines?
Yes. All experts must do is ensure the original architecture is distinguishable and prevalent over reinventions. Railways have been turned into parks, and museums have shined brighter than ever because of sustainable renovations. Balance is obtainable with thorough planning.
Costs are another factor. It might require specialized labor adept at working with old infrastructure or dangerous materials. Preservation may demand proper care from third-party experts or niche processes and treatments. Smaller operations may need more money to afford the budgets required for some heritage sites.
Combating this is possible through governmental incentives or grants. Many organizations and regulations have offered assistance in the past, primarily for those seeking to achieve preservation through sustainability.
Finally, community engagement could pose some setbacks. Adamant citizens may want to avoid edits to historic buildings. Matters worsen if stakeholders remove themselves from hands-on interactivity with the project. Everyone else involved must spread knowledge about why sustainable renovations and retrofits benefit everyone and the planet.
Only through accessible education will people change their minds and support these initiatives — potentially with additional funding.
Keeping History Alive
Instead of extracting countless natural resources to construct new buildings, why not revitalize what societies already have? It is possible to honor a site’s heritage while using renewable technology and even smart automation, making it more compatible with this era’s needs.
Construction experts and communities should preserve as much as they can. They can help buildings reach their former glory without compromising the planet’s well-being.
