Picture: Carlos Garmendia Fernández

Written by Fernanda Castro

The architectural practice of reusing and refurbishing should be the first consideration when designing and reshaping our already overbuilt cities. Good architecture prioritizes this approach over demolition, as it can reduce costs, enhance environmental efficiency, and preserve functional structures that can continue serving their purpose for years.

In the wake of the fires at Paris’ Notre Dame and the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, recent years have seen architects proposing innovative approaches to rebuilding these sacred spaces, exploring new possibilities for their futures. In Europe and North America, the high costs of maintenance and declining use of sacred spaces have led to the abandonment of churches, shrines, and monasteries of significant architectural and historical value. This has created opportunities for investors and architects to rescue and recontextualize the historical heritage of these buildings.

Read more via Archdaily.com