ABSTRACT
The process of achieving good new design in a historic context is subtle and painstaking, and certain basic principles provide a starting point. The link with the place and setting was the starting point for the approach to the buildings and spaces of the museum. Disaster and redundancy are among the calamities that lead to a building’s long-term ruin. The fortunes of people and buildings are inextricably linked, and their destiny is frequently bound to politics and economics. Existing buildings – both residential and commercial – have to be sensitively adapted and made to suit the needs and aspirations of those who inhabit them. With commercial buildings, the economics of making the building work comes into play to a far greater extent than with homes. Many old buildings have served well over decades, if not centuries, and have proved their adaptability and durability.
