A space to promote and research new approaches to architectural preservation.

Preserving the Future of Heritage Architecture focuses on the value of façade retention as a representational element of architectural design through the theory of facadism. Facadism is the construction of a modern building behind its old or original front. Launching into the existing and future role of the façade within the City of London, the project identifies the key aspects of the Cityscape which have encouraged façade retention methods. The existing and past Cityscape is explored to identify and promote the responsibility of the architectural systems of space, structure and programme to make commonplace elements, uncommon.

The faculty is proposed to encourage more sustainable methods of preservation to ensure the City can evolve whilst capturing and promoting architecture of historic significance. Future heritage explores the idea that people influence how past and present are perceived in future context, forms and roles. The roles of both people and existing architecture are brought together to research and orchestrate the City of London’s future.

The project takes on the existing perspectives of passers-by, identifies local users and draws an initial strategy to create a faculty for the future of heritage architecture. The focus moves toward the details of space, with the façade as the starting point of the design. The in-between staircases and walkways bring the street into the space. The modules and services were placed into the structure based on views and experiences. Individual elements combine to resolve cohesivity.

The result of the project highlights the controversy of façade retention, yet in the end concludes that facadism is a bridge between the past and future, but only when given the respect it deserves.