ᐅ We are demolishing a 90-year-old house – what can be preserved?
Created on: 19 Dec 2016 22:38
F
Flauti
My wife and I are taking over my grandmother’s property, as the garden is becoming too large for her at an advanced age. There is a charming little house on the plot that has been standing for many decades.
After some consideration, we have decided, with a heavy heart, to demolish it because renovating would neither make financial sense nor suit our space requirements. However, we would like to try to incorporate some elements of the old house into the new one. Some ideas we have so far:
- Clean and “rescue” the bricks from the walls to use as flooring for the entrance area (or for a fireplace, or as decoration for a wall) in the new house
- Reuse ceiling beams as decorative beams
- Reuse the front door (depending on the measurements)
Do you have any other ideas on how to creatively preserve the charm of an old house without it becoming too expensive? I look forward to any suggestions!
Best regards
After some consideration, we have decided, with a heavy heart, to demolish it because renovating would neither make financial sense nor suit our space requirements. However, we would like to try to incorporate some elements of the old house into the new one. Some ideas we have so far:
- Clean and “rescue” the bricks from the walls to use as flooring for the entrance area (or for a fireplace, or as decoration for a wall) in the new house
- Reuse ceiling beams as decorative beams
- Reuse the front door (depending on the measurements)
Do you have any other ideas on how to creatively preserve the charm of an old house without it becoming too expensive? I look forward to any suggestions!
Best regards
Hirscherlo22 Jan 2017 20:26Wow, if there are freestanding bathtubs, either place them outside in the garden and decorate them with plants or set them up as a small mini pond.
Or cut them up and use them as a sofa somewhere!
Or cut them up and use them as a sofa somewhere!
A ninety-year-old house is built with bricks of a size that is no longer commonly used today. Additionally, they are likely solid bricks, which means they are no longer suitable for load-bearing walls according to modern insulation standards; they can still be used decoratively, but their unusual size can cause complications there as well. Therefore, these bricks are more suitable for garden landscaping purposes than for rebuilding the house.
Old wood is popular and in demand when renovating historic buildings. However, if you don’t have specific contacts, finding buyers can still take a long time.
In general, I appreciate when someone wants to carry out demolition in a way that preserves materials rather than just breaking everything down. Also, partly for this reason, it’s necessary because mixed (especially contaminated) construction waste is expensive to dispose of. But this process is labor-intensive, meaning if you do not do it yourself, it becomes costly due to labor.
Following the principle of “ten commandments / three treasures / what would I take to a desert island,” I would narrowly select a few appealing items to consciously preserve and incorporate into the new construction, letting the rest follow the natural course. Unless you have plenty of time and money.
Depending on the condition of the structure—including its static load-bearing quality—I would also consider whether it might be economical to leave the old basement beneath the new building’s slab, possibly relocating its exit. However, the architect must truly enjoy their work to take on such a challenge.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Old wood is popular and in demand when renovating historic buildings. However, if you don’t have specific contacts, finding buyers can still take a long time.
In general, I appreciate when someone wants to carry out demolition in a way that preserves materials rather than just breaking everything down. Also, partly for this reason, it’s necessary because mixed (especially contaminated) construction waste is expensive to dispose of. But this process is labor-intensive, meaning if you do not do it yourself, it becomes costly due to labor.
Following the principle of “ten commandments / three treasures / what would I take to a desert island,” I would narrowly select a few appealing items to consciously preserve and incorporate into the new construction, letting the rest follow the natural course. Unless you have plenty of time and money.
Depending on the condition of the structure—including its static load-bearing quality—I would also consider whether it might be economical to leave the old basement beneath the new building’s slab, possibly relocating its exit. However, the architect must truly enjoy their work to take on such a challenge.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
F
fach1werk24 Mar 2017 07:17You could also approach it from a different angle.
Sometimes it is important to capture the spirit of something, not necessarily the physical experience.
So what exactly made grandma’s little house so special? How was it created? What supports that impression?
Maybe it helps to identify the core of something, to find a kind of “essence” for it. You could also take away an idea; it doesn’t have to be a physical object. Is it possible to translate that “good feeling” into a contemporary design language?
For the sake of professional development, I took several trips to Pompeii. On my first visits, I focused intensely on wall paintings and details. I looked almost until my eyes hurt. Gradually, I felt maybe it wasn’t so important after all. I started to enjoy walking around more and just absorbed the atmosphere in a relaxed way. This second approach produced better results than the first.
I wish you much success and enjoyment in your exploration.
Sometimes it is important to capture the spirit of something, not necessarily the physical experience.
So what exactly made grandma’s little house so special? How was it created? What supports that impression?
Maybe it helps to identify the core of something, to find a kind of “essence” for it. You could also take away an idea; it doesn’t have to be a physical object. Is it possible to translate that “good feeling” into a contemporary design language?
For the sake of professional development, I took several trips to Pompeii. On my first visits, I focused intensely on wall paintings and details. I looked almost until my eyes hurt. Gradually, I felt maybe it wasn’t so important after all. I started to enjoy walking around more and just absorbed the atmosphere in a relaxed way. This second approach produced better results than the first.
I wish you much success and enjoyment in your exploration.
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