ABSTRACT
A more extreme form of building re-use, which keeps considerably less of the existing structure and fabric than ‘low-key’ refurbishment, involves retaining only the external façade and constructing an entirely new structure behind it. ‘Façade retention’, as it has become known, may involve retaining only one elevation if the building is part of a ‘row’ of buildings forming a street frontage (Photographs 13.1 and 13.2); two elevations if it is a corner building; three elevations if it forms the end of a block (Photographs 13.3 and 13.4); or, more rarely, all four elevations if it is an isolated building. All of the external wall is retained in Photograph 13.9; however the structure is circular on plan rather than square. Whichever form of façade retention scheme is used, the entire interior and roof are normally demolished, leaving only the external wall(s) standing to form the preserved external elevation(s) to a completely new structure erected behind.
