Stories of buildings saved from demolition,
For urban development, the choice between demolition and adaptive reuse has far-reaching implications.
From discussions about the cultural and historical significance of the structure,
to the environmental impact of demolition and rebuilding, compared to the cost of preserving and adapting,
The issue of the demolition ignited the architectural community to come together and demand a more responsible appraisal.
Strategies hoping to rediscover the value of existing structures.
This article collects some of the stories of buildings facing demolition and the processes that led to their rescue.
Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology in Berlin
The Institute of Health and Microbiology, completed in 1974, designed by Hermann Fehling and Daniel Gogel,
It was originally part of the Free University of Berlin.
Faced with the threat of demolition,
a salvage campaign was launched in an effort to save the building along with the monstrous structure next to it, the Mäusebunker.
The campaign was so successful that the company that owns it, Charité, announced a factory to maintain and preserve the building.
And in January 2021, it was listed as a historic monument, ensuring its protection, according to SOSBrutalism.
Mäusebunker in Berlin
The Charité’s former animal laboratories, known as the Mäusebunker Building,
have been granted monument protection, protecting it from long-term demolition plans.
Previously used as an animal testing laboratory, this monstrous structure has not been used since 2009.
Led by Christophe Rauhut, the Office of State Monuments has initiated a model procedure to identify potential future uses.
It was concluded that the laboratories could be restored for valuable purposes in Berlin, given its brand potential.
M&S store on Oxford Street
Marks & Spencer’s attempt to demolish and rebuild its flagship store on Oxford Street in London’s West End was rejected.
After a campaign criticized the carbon footprint of the redevelopment scheme.
Foreign Secretary Michael Gove rejected the plan, according to The Guardian,
forcing the company to review its options in favor of reusing and converting the structure.
Shell’s headquarters in Aberdeen
While no decision has been announced, architects,
academics and climate activists are calling on Shell not to demolish its modern headquarters building in Aberdeen, Scotland.
The five-story building served as the company’s headquarters where it operated for more than 50 years.
Stories of buildings saved from demolition
After plans were announced to demolish the structure rather than reuse it, an open letter urged the company to reconsider.
Citing concerns about carbon emissions associated with the destruction and replacement of the concrete structure.
Despite the growing awareness of the intrinsic value in maintaining and preserving modern buildings,
demolition plans still threaten many buildings.
Including Kenzo Tange’s famous Kagawa Gymnasium in Japan and the Louis Kahn Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad (IIMA).
While initial plans for demolition in 2021 were scrapped in the wake of global protests,
The institution’s management announced the reversal of the decision, citing severe structural damage.
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