Discussion: The Approach to Existing Buildings - Six Positions
Until a few years ago, the prevailing dogma maintained that old and new must be clearily discernible as just that. This was evident in projects which set up a dichotomy - through contrasts and restrained design - between the two, often separating them with a narrow joint. In the meantime, the positions have become more diverse, ranging from preservation of a patina which exists at a certain point in time (as, e.g., at the Neues Museum in Berlin), to attempts to elaborate upon and work within the original design concept, and finally, to experimental approaches. On the following pages, six renowned architects who have explored this topic extensively state their positions on dealing with existing buildings.
