This book discusses the ways that architects go about redeveloping old buildings. In particular, it examines how architects respond to the 'voices', 'spirit' or 'character' within the buildings. Some buildings have such charm and overpowering sense of history that architects minimize modern interventions by preserving what they can and using traditional materials; others deliberately juxtapose contemporary designs against the original fabric of the old building; others almost ignore the properties of the original building and treat it as a canvass on which to apply new forms. This book does not take a position on whether or not any particular approach is right or wrong ? instead it looks at how different architects have responded to the historic buildings they have worked on.
