The Exploratorium museum, housed within the original bulkhead at Pier 15, accommodates four spacious galleries. The glass-and-steel Bay Observatory—the only new structure on the site—unites the Embarcadero with the bay. Photo by: Bruce Damonte. Original architects: G.A. Wood, H.B. Fisher, A.W. Nordwell (1930s) Contemporary architect: EHDD (2013) Preservation architect: Page & Turnbull 2013

Before: McDonough #30 in 2016, pre-renovation. "I think what's great about New Orleans is that the history of its buildings are important to everybody here," says Melissa Rome, one of two principals of Rome Office. "They have a lot of great collections for you to find historic photos of whatever building you're working on."

This chic, reusable cutlery is made from organic, food-safe bamboo and water-based adhesives, and finished with premium natural oils. Enjoy the perfect picnic in safe, natural style.

The Kollel was an adaptive-reuse project, the original structure shown here. Members of the Kollel and the Aberdeen Historical Socitety worked closely with the architect and builder to ensure that the new building would respect the neighborhood's Classical Revival history.

Painting this diamond-plate steel backsplash a charming pink color makes the material feel less cold and industrial.

This adaptive reuse project in San Antonio transformed an early-20th–century warehouse into a lively design studio. Its open floor plan provides long-term flexibility for future users, while 1,200 square feet of roof space was removed to create a new courtyard while maintaining the original facade.

Super packable and water resistant, the Dwell Special Edition Reusable Nylon Bag from BAGGU is a versatile travel companion. Use it as a pool or beach tote to hold bottled water and sunscreen, or as a shopping tote on the go. When not in use, the cheerful quote packs into a slim square.

The Weiners sit in one of the many large window bays, showing how the reused truck bodies look from within.

From Germany’s Pavilion: The Germany Pavilion focuses its impeccable Reduce/Reuse/Recycle installation on recent works in Germany that share a particular approach to Architecture as a Resource in times of austerity. It is a modest but intelligent intervention that invites us to rethink the concept of green architecture and the appreciation and care of relatively recent built heritage. A simple, clear and didactic installation, which is some relief in a biennial sometimes crowded by unprofitable information.

Sustainable Attainable Home (MV Properties & Construction) Owner Bill Benton adapted the design of a LEED-certified home to create this affordable green residence in Wicker Park, one that ended up being cheaper than comparable new construction in the neighborhood. By utilizing material substitution (bamboo flooring instead of cherrywood, tile instead of quartz around the fireplace) and incorporating a massive oval lightwell and solar paneled-garage, this home, in Benton’s words, aims to become a template for others seeking to build green in Chicago.

"Our conceptual approach was that of an ‘adaptive reuse,’ allowing the building to preserve its historic integrity and aesthetics while providing for the needs of modern occupants," says Balbek.

To bring their adaptive-reuse abode to life, a pair of former New Yorkers tapped local studio Emerick Architects, which had completed similar renovations, such as the nearby rehabbed Ford Model-T Factory. "Marrying practicality with craftsmanship, almost everything for the project was handmade locally by Portland artisans including cabinetry, steel work, railings, doors, stairs, light fixtures, and plaster," adds the firm. Stainless steel has been used for the kitchen counters, cabinets, and backsplash.

A stunning example of adaptive reuse, the brick structure features two connected parts: the chapel itself, which is a grade II-listed building, and a large, L-shaped meeting house set behind the former chapel and surrounded by a private garden.

“The circulation areas are more than just ways to get places, but spaces you actually want to be and hang out in,” says Eric Hass, a principal at DSH.

The original. This set of three reusable totes from BAGGU is made in durable ripstop nylon, and can be used for groceries, books, beach gear, or gym clothes. Each tote conveniently folds into a pouch, making it easy to toss in a purse or backpack. The bags are also available in single versions.

As part of its mission to reuse urban infrastructure, the construction crew lifted and moved a century-old, 100-ton bridge from Ashland Avenue to Western Avenue with a Self-Propelled Modular Transporter. Construction crews tried to retain as much of the 16-foot-high concrete structure as possible while adding in handrails, access ramps and an undulating surface, which will provide terrain and topography on the trail. “It wasn’t Disneyland,” says engineer Stan Kaderbek. “It’s a piece of urban infrastructure that we remade for a new use.”

Adaptive Living (exterior) by Diandra Maseli and Elisa Costa of McGill University

Adaptive Living (interior) by Diandra Maseli and Elisa Costa of McGill University

"A steep or unstable site can make it difficult and costly to seismically retrofit a structure, or stabilize the site,” says Thomas Schaer at SHED Architecture and Design, a Seattle-based firm with extensive experience in adaptive reuse, as well as midcentury remodel. “There also may be land-use code provisions that limit or prevent development on the lot."

Green Thumb Sherman’s back garden is a model of adaptive reuse: The path is made from rubble bricks and concrete dug up from the backyard and crushed, and the bench is made from reclaimed cast-iron panels and mahogany scraps left over from replacing the interior stair treads.

Phoenix design-build firm The Construction Zone renovated an old concrete-and-steel barn, turning it into a sleek new guesthouse with an open-plan, three-room layout. Completed for approximately $300,000, the 790-square-foot adaptive reuse project carefully preserves the character of the existing structure while upgrading it to match the modern aesthetic of the main residence.

Lime wall insets enliven the school's hallways.

John built a shelf system for the basement when it was Anne’s office; he adapted it to store the kids’ toys when the area became a playroom.

For his own home in Mar Vista, architectural designer Mohamed Sharif retained the front portion of a 1940s bungalow and added an L-shaped, two-story volume at the rear that includes a wing for his mother-in-law. “Adapting and reusing and being sensitive to the neighborhood context was important,” he says. The structure is sheathed in fiber cement HardiePanels. The decking is by Trex.

The kitchen work surface is crafted from terrazzo from InOpera, a company that reuses marble offcuts.

This prefab house is built around a system of 4' by 4' concrete modules and a reusable formwork to save on costs and materials.

The marbled countertops in the ground-floor bathroom are by Smile Plastics, a company that melts and reuses discarded milk bottles and chopping boards.

If their everyday mantra sounds something like "reduce, reuse, recycle," these eco-conscious gifts won’t weigh on their conscience.

Each 3/4-inch-square tessera is cut by hand on a machine that was adapted by a traditional sewing machine.

Conceptual Sketch for our Adaptive Reuse

"When not being used as my studio, the living room is transformed into a meeting space with modular furniture designed to adapt to any occasion. The sofas can face each other or form an L-shape, depending on the vibe you want to create,

In the bathroom, old and new merge in unexpected ways. The floor is covered in heritage red hexagonal floor tiles, “which are often used in Victorian-era public buildings,” says Bokey-Grant. The amber panel is a piece of heritage patterned glass. “We had intended to reuse a piece of glass from a window that was removed during demolition, but this broke during removal so we sourced a new piece,” says Bokey-Grant. “This is an adaption of the original fan light / highlight window prevalent in heritage homes in Australia.”

For an adaptive reuse project in Toronto, Levitt Goodman Architects used a shipping container as a visitors' center.

Reclaimed wood covers the ceiling in the main room and bedroom. The large white light fixture was reused from the barn’s previous incarnation, and the sectional is from Interior Define.

The architects reused and enlarged the steel frame and ground slab to preserve the shed’s original form while cladding the structure in new materials sympathetic to the rural vernacular.