Stone, SH., 2015.

Adaptable interiors

A reduction in the sheer amount of energy consumed is one of the most urgent challenges for all architects and designers today, and so a very sensible option is to extend the lifespan of the ex-isting building stock. The reuse of an extant structures and situations to accommodate new users is a very environmentally friendly approach to the creation of contemporary space, not only be-cause the structure is already in place and quite often many of the services might already be on the site, but also because existing buildings can be seen as an important cultural, social and ar-chitectural resource for shaping the future. Through the use of case studies, this paper will ex-amine the search for environmental friendliness within the historic environment.


The reduction in the sheer amount of energy consumed is one of the biggest and most urgent challenges for all architects and designers today, and so a very sensible option is to extend the lifespan of the existing building stock. Existing buildings can be seen as an important cultural, social and architectural resource for shaping our future.

The reuse of an existing building to accommodate new use is a very environmentally friendly approach to the creation of new space, not only because the structure is already in place and quite often many of the services might already be on the site.
Through the use of case studies, this paper will examine the search for environmental friend-liness within the historic environment

As well as constructing a building or interior in a sustainable way, the architect and designer can also create a building or an interior that will be occupied in a sustainable manner. For ex-ample, rain and grey water can be recycled and high levels of insulation will cut the necessity for massive amounts of heating and cooling.