Existing buildings constitute the majority of the building stock of the future, and they also comprise a lion's share of our national wealth. Maintenance and innovative reuse of buildings requires better integrated planning and purposeful guidance by principal design offices. More and more projects are started by conducting an investigation of building history.
In renovation and restoration the architect should master old construction methods and materials as well as traditional ventilation technology. The ability to co-operate with the construction site and building developer is also a basic requirement. In demanding sites, in-fill construction and changes in usage it is essential for the design office to master both town planning and renovation planning.
