Renovation Stories

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Agriculture

Applied Science Center

Art

Art Center

Art and Culture Bunker

Artist Studios

Arts Center

Assisted Living

Brewery/ Culture

Café

Chapel

Church

Clinic

Collective

Columbarium

Commercial

Commercial / Hospitality

Community Center

Concert Hall

Creative Hub

Cultural Center

Culture

Culture/ Art

Culture/ Educational

Education Center

Educational

Extension

Health Care Center

Healthcare

Holiday

Hospital

Hotel

House

Housing

Housing and Atelier

Landscape

Loft apartment with atrium in the backyard

Memorial

Memorial Center

Mixed Use

Mixed use

Mixed-Use

Museum

Office

Private Housing & Home Office

Psychiatric Center

Public Library

Public Space

Refugee

Renewable Energy Plant

Renovation

Residency

Residential

Restaurant

Retail / Culture

Roof Top Park

Senior

Serial

Social

Student

Town Hall

Urban Landmark

Viewing Terrace

mixed use

offices

residential

03 apartment building
Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Renovation

1535° Creative Hub
Differdange, Luxembourg

Before
Industrial

After
Creative Hub

5A Amalijas street
Riga, Latvia

Before
Housing

After
Housing

80% House
Hackney, London, United Kingdom

Before
Housing

After
Housing

A-partment
Ljubljana, Slovenia

Before
Agriculture, Barn

After
Housing, Renovation

AaltoSiilo
Oulu, Finland

Before
Industrial

After
Culture

Adaptive reuse
Cetate, Romania

Before
Farriery

After
Chapel

Adopt a House in Rosia Montana
Rosia Montana, Romania

Before
Rural ruin

After
Housing

Ai Crociferi
Venice, Italy

Before
Monastery

After
Housing, Student

Am Urban
Berlin, Germany

Before
Hospital

After
Housing

António Granjo
Porto, Portugal

Before
Industrial

After
Housing, Mixed-Use

Apartment Building Complex in Historic Wooden Riga District
Riga, Latvia

Before
Housing

After
Housing

Art Tower
Bucuresti, Romania

Before
Water tower

After
Art Center

Atelierhaus Mengerzeile
Berlin, Germany

Before
Factory, Piano

After
Artist Studios

Atriumhäuser Studentenstadt
Munich, Germany

Before
Housing, Student

After
Housing, Renovation, Serial, Student

Augustīnes Garden residential complex
Riga, Latvia

Before
Housing

After
Housing

Autopalast
Salzburg, Austria

Before
parking garage

After
residential, offices

BASE Milano Cultural Center
Milano, Italy

Before
Ex-Ansaldo Complex

After
Cultural Center

Bilker Bunker
Düsseldorf, Germany

Before
Protective bunker

After
Art and Culture Bunker

Billedvej
Copenhagen, Denmark

Before
Commercial

After
Housing, Extension, Mixed-Use

Black Barn
Lindau, Germany

Before
Agriculture, Barn

After
Housing

Brewery Manufaktūra

Before
Industrial

After
Brewery/ Culture

Byggnad 8
Bungenäs, Sweden

Before
Bunker

After
Housing, Holiday

CaixaForum Madrid
Madrid, Spain

Before
Industrial, Power Plant

After
Cultural Center

Cardine64
Rome, Italy

Before
Residential

After
Residential

Carré Janson
Tournai, Belgium

Before
Library

After
Cultural Center

Castle Ruin Reichenau
Reichenau im Mühlkreis, Austria

Before
Residence, Military Defense

After
Memorial, Public Space

Chokladfabriken
Stockholm, Sweden

Before
Factory, Chocolate

After
Housing

Cité du Lignon
Geneva, Switzerland

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Renovation

Combo Venice
Venice, Italy

Before
Monastery

After
Housing, Student

COOP
Brussels, Belgium

Before
Agriculture, Mill

After
Cultural Center

Cultural space
Archita, Romania

Before
Rural ruin

After
Cultural Center

Culturefactory
Ózd, Hungary

Before
Industrial, Power Plant

After
Education Center, Cultural Center

DADA Distrikt
Brno, Czech Republic

Before
Infrastructure, Storage

After
Housing, Mixed-Use

Daile Theater Square
Riga, Latvia

Before
Landscape

After
Landscape

De Nieuwe Molens Housing Complex
Ghent, Belgium

Before
Industrial, Factory

After
Housing

DeFlat Kleiburg
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Renovation

Derelict building to cultural space
Blaj, Romania

Before
Ruin

After
Cultural Center

Docks Malraux
Strasbourg, France

Before
Infrastructure, Warehouse

After
Housing, Mixed-Use

Edward Woods
London, United Kingdom

Before
Housing

After
Housing

El Roser Social Center
Tarragona, Spain

Before
Prison

After
Community Center

Elbphilharmonie
Hamburg, Germany

Before
Industrial, Warehouse

After
Concert Hall, Hotel

Energie Bunker
Hamburg, Germany

Before
Military

After
Renewable Energy Plant, Café, Viewing Terrace

Ex Conterie
Murano, Italy

Before
Industrial

After
Housing

Extension to existing house
Brasov, Romania

Before
Housing

After
Housing

Faber capacity building
Timisoara, Romania

Before
Industrial, Production

After
Office, Cultural Center

Fabra & Coats & Social Housing
Barcelona, Spain

Before
Infrastructure, Warehouse

After
Housing, Collective

Farm Extension and Renovation
Rocourt, Switzerland

Before
Agriculture, Housing

After
Agriculture, Housing, Extension, Renovation

Firefighters’ Tower
Cluj Napoca, Romania

Before
Urban Landmark

After
Urban Landmark, Cultural Center

Foppens 16
Brussels, Belgium

Before
Industrial

After
Housing, Mixed-Use

Friche la Belle de Mai
Marseille, France

Before
Industrial, Factory

After
Housing, Cultural Center

Frikvarteret Housing
Copenhagen, Denmark

Before
Industrial, Harbour Smithy

After
Housing

Gasometers of Vienna
Vienna, Austria

Before
Industrial

After
Housing

Gertrudes 121 - refurbishment of tenement houses
Riga, Latvia

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Renovation

Gleichrichterwerk Bastianstraße
Berlin, Germany

Before
Industrial, Rectifier Plant

After
Housing

Grizinkalns mixed-use quarter
Riga, Latvia

Before
Industrial

After
Mixed use

Grüner Bunker
Hamburg, Germany

Before
Military

After
Hotel, Restaurant, Concert Hall, Roof Top Park

Gyldenrisparken
Copenhagen, Denmark

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Renovation, Serial

Hamann Manor
Riga, Latvia

Before
Housing

After
Mixed Use

Handelszentrum 16
Bergheim, Austria

Before
Industrial

After
mixed use

Hanzas Perons. Former cargo station transformed into Culture Venue
Riga, Latvia

Before
Industrial/ Infrastucture

After
Culture

Haus 08
Neustadt, Germany

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Renovation

Haus mit Kapelle
Mutters, Austria

Before
Agriculture

After
Housing

Headquarters of the Bucharest Branch of the Romanian Order of Architects
Bucuresti, Romania

Before
House

After
Office, Cultural Center

Heuberghaus
Vienna, Austria

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Renovation, Serial

HOF 89
Düsseldorf, Germany

Before
Warehouse with a small office sapce

After
Loft apartment with atrium in the backyard

HOFT apartment complex - House of Flying trees
Riga, Latvia

Before
Housing

After
Housing

Hospital Saint-Vincent-de-Paul
Paris, France

Before
Hospital

After
Housing

Hospital Segarcea
Segarcea, Romania

Before
Hospital

After
Hospital

Hotel
Bucuresti, Romania

Before
Hotel

After
Hotel

Hotel Röhrl
Sinzing, Germany

Before
Industrial, Factory

After
Hotel, Church

House 1304
Nicosia, Cyprus

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Renovation, Serial

House in a Steel Corset
Prague, Czech Republic

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Renovation

House J Ghent
Ghent, Belgium

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Extension

House made of recycled precast garages
Bragadiru, Romania

Before
Infrastructure, Parking

After
Housing

Housing transformation, Saint-Nazaire, La Chesnaie
Saint-Nazaire, France

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Extension

Ion Mincu House, Headquarters of the Romanian Order of Architects
Bucuresti, Romania

Before
House

After
Office, Cultural Center

Jägerhaus Reichenau
Reichenau im Mühlkreis, Austria

Before
Residence

After
Memorial, Public Space

K.118 Winterthur
Winterthur, Switzerland

Before
Industrial

After
Mixed-Use

Kantgaragenpalast
Berlin, Germany

Before
Infrastructure, Parking

After
Commercial

Kaufhaus Breuer
Eschweiler, Germany

Before
Department Store

After
Housing, Mixed-Use

Kenilworth Park
Dublin, Ireland

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Renovation, Extension

Kindergarden-House
Mazzarrone, Italy

Before
Kindergarten

After
Housing

Küppersmühle Museum
Duisburg, Germany

Before
Industrial, Mill

After
Museum

La Fabrica
Barcelona, Spain

Before
Industrial, Factory

After
Housing, Office

Latvian National Museum of Art
Riga, Latvia

Before
Art

After
Art

Le Murate
Firenze, Italy

Before
Monastery, Prison

After
Housing, Mixed-Use

LM Village
Andravida–Kyllini, Greece

Before
Summer Resort

After
Housing, Refugee

Lo-Reninge Town Hall
Lo-Reninge, Belgium

Before
Convent

After
Town Hall

LocHal
Tilburg, Netherlands

Before
Infrastructure, Hangar

After
Public Library

Lofty Svornost
Bratislava, Slovakia

Before
Industrial, Factory

After
Housing

Löwenbräuareal
Zurich, Switzerland

Before
Factory, Brewery

After
Housing, Mixed-Use

Lysbüchel Süd
Basel, Switzerland

Before
Infrastructure, Warehouse

After
Housing

M27
Mimizan, France

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Renovation

Mlynica
Bratislava, Slovakia

Before
Industrial, Factory

After
Housing, Mixed-Use

Morland Mixité Capitale
Paris, France

Before
Office

After
Housing, Mixed-Use

Mouzaïa 58-66
Paris, France

Before
Office

After
Housing, Social

Municipal Library Labin
Labin, Croatia

Before
Industrial

After
Cultural Center, Memorial Center

Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Rijeka
Rijeka, Croatia

Before
Industrial

After
Museum

Musician’s House
Tallinn, Estonia

Before
Industrial, Factory

After
Housing

Myllymatka Senior Center
Helsinki, Finland

Before
Hospital

After
Housing, Senior

Needle Factory in Kuldiga
Kuldiga, Latvia

Before
Industrial

After
Educational

Neighbourhood Center of Jemtelandsgade
Copenhagen, Denmark

Before
Industrial

After
Community Center

New Riga Theater
Riga, Latvia

Before
Culture

After
Culture

Old Mill Conversion
Karpachevo, Bulgaria

Before
Agriculture, Mill

After
Cultural Center

Pagalms87
Riga, Latvia

Before
Housing

After
Housing

Palais de Tokyo
Paris, France

Before
Museum

After
Arts Center

Park Hill Phase 2
Sheffield, United Kingdom

Before
Housing

After
Housing

Pembrokestown Coach House
Pembrokestown, Ireland

Before
Coach House

After
Housing, Assisted Living

Piestany Old Power Plant
Piešťany, Slovakia

Before
Industrial, Factory

After
Applied Science Center

Porte D'Italie
Paris, France

Before
Metro Line Command Post

After
Housing, Mixed-Use

Prague Eyes
Prague , Czech Republic

Before
Infrastructure, Parking, Storage

After
Mixed-Use

Psychiatric Center Melle
Melle, Belgium

Before
Clinic

After
Psychiatric Center

Q216
Berlin, Germany

Before
Office

After
Housing

Quai de Valmy
Paris, France

Before
Office

After
Housing, Social

Reabilitação de 3 casas na Rua do Almada
Porto, Portugal

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Collective

Reconstruction of Grinberga nams
Ventspils, Latvia

Before
Residential

After
Commercial / Hospitality

Reconstruction of Red Cross hospital, 1st stage
Riga, Latvia

Before
Healthcare

After
Healthcare

Reconstruction of the Kuldiga Technology and tourism technical school technology centre
Kuldiga, Latvia

Before
Healthcare

After
Educational

Reconstruction of the Riga Circus Historical Arena
Riga, Latvia

Before
Culture

After
Culture/ Educational

Reconstruction of Theater in Valmiera
Valmiera, Latvia

Before
Culture

After
Culture

Rehabilitacion de la Halle Pajol
Paris, France

Before
Infrastructure, Railway Depot

After
Housing, Social, Cultural Center

Renovation of the Vrlovčnik homestead
Matkov kot, Slovenia

Before
Agriculture, Farm

After
Housing, Residency

Restauration and Info Center, Drapers Bastion
Brasov, Romania

Before
Urban Landmark

After
Urban Landmark, Cultural Center

Revitalisation of Joinville Historical Center
Joinville, France

Before
Ruin

After
Housing

Revitalisierung Hinterhaus
Hirschau, Austria

Before
Agriculture House

After
Private Housing & Home Office

Rheinkirche
Duisburg-Homberg, Germany

Before
Church

After
Columbarium

Rot Ellenberg
Braives, Belgium

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Extension

Rozemaai Housing
Antwerp, Belgium

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Renovation, Serial

Rural modern house
Nucsoara, Romania

Before
Rural ruin

After
House

Sacred Heart School
Izegem, Belgium

Before
School

After
Housing

Savonnerie Heymans
Brussels, Belgium

Before
Industrial

After
Housing, Collective

School Conversion into Housing Units
Essômes-sur-Marne, France

Before
School

After
Housing

Serpentine House
Helsinki, Finland

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Renovation

Social Housing Rehabilitation in El Pópulo
Cádiz, Spain

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Social

Stadthaus
Linz, Austria

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Mixed-Use

Student Village
Aarhus, Denmark

Before
Agriculture, Farm

After
Housing, Student

Studentendorf Schlachtensee
Berlin, Germany

Before
Housing, Student

After
Housing, Renovation, Serial

Tabakas fabrika Culture Academy building
Riga, Latvia

Before
Industrial

After
Culture/ Educational

Tabakfabrik Dresden
Dresden, Germany

Before
Factory

After
Housing

Tate Modern
London, United Kingdom

Before
Industrial, Power Plant

After
Museum

Telli Hochhäuser
Aarau, Switzerland

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Renovation, Extension

Tenne
Brandenburg, Germany

Before
Agriculture, Barn

After
Housing

The Cosmopolitan
Brussels, Belgium

Before
Office

After
Housing, Collective

The Mill House
Attard, Malta

Before
Agriculture, Mill

After
Housing

The Punavuori Stable
Helsinki, Finland

Before
Agriculture, Horse Stable

After
Housing

The Silo
Copenhagen, Denmark

Before
Agriculture, Silo

After
Housing

The Water Tower
Utrecht, Netherlands

Before
Industrial, Water Tower

After
Housing

Thoravej 29
Copenhagen, Denmark

Before
Industrial

After
Cultural Center

Tobaco Park
Łódź, Poland

Before
Industrial, Factory

After
Housing, Mixed-Use

Town hall Kortrijk
Kortrijk, Belgium

Before
Bank

After
Town Hall

Traditional House in Kaimakli
Nicosia, Cyprus

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Renovation, Extension

Transformation of 530 dwellings, block G, H, I
Bordeaux, France

Before
Housing, Social

After
Housing, Social, Extension

Transformation of a garage into 63 apartments
Paris, France

Before
Parking

After
Housing

Transformation of an old ballroom into multi-family housing
Sant Esteve de Paulautordera, Spain

Before
Commercial

After
Housing

Transformation of Housing Block - Paris 17°, Tour Bois le Prêtre
Paris, France

Before
Housing

After
Housing, Extension

Transformation of the Agenskalns market
Riga, Latvia

Before
Retail

After
Retail / Culture

Urban modern house
Bucuresti, Romania

Before
House

After
House

Vainiai Palace rehabilitation „Senatorių pasažas“
Vilnius, Lithuania

Before
Palace

After
Mixed-Use

Valmiera Castle museum
Valmiera, Latvia

Before
Ancient Ruins

After
Culture

VEF quarter, block 7
Riga, Latvia

Before
Industrial

After
Mixed use

Villa Magallon
Paris, France

Before
Agriculture, Horticultural Greenhouse

After
Clinic

Voortuinen
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Before
Office

After
Housing

Wagenhallen
Stuttgart, Germany

Before
Infrastructure, Hangar

After
Cultural Center

Water Plant, Center for Architecture, Urban Culture and landscape
Suceava, Romania

Before
Industrial, Water Plant

After
Cultural Center

Waterford Health Park
Waterford, Ireland

Before
Convent

After
Health Care Center

Werk Restaurant
Hunedoara, Romania

Before
Factory

After
Restaurant

Wohn und Atelierhaus Tankstelle Bülowstrasse
Berlin, Germany

Before
Gas Station

After
Museum

Wohn- und Atelierhaus Bahnstrasse
Bern, Switzerland

Before
Industrial

After
Housing and Atelier

Woodside Multi Storey Flats
Glasgow, United Kingdom

Before
Housing

After
Housing

ZIN - WTC I & II
Brussels, Belgium

Before
Office

After
Mixed Use

Żnin Sugar Factory
Żnin, Poland

Before
Industrial, Factory

After
Hotel, Mixed-Use

Zuzeum Art Center
Riga, Latvia

Before
Industrial

After
Culture/ Art

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Bilker Bunker

KÜSSDENFROSCH Häuserwachküssgesellschaft mbH

The Bilker Bunker is a historic high-rise air-raid shelter built between 1942 and 1944 in the Düsseldorf district of Bilk. After the war, it was modernised for civil defence and later decommissioned. When demolition threatened the structure in 2013, a local citizens’ initiative successfully campaigned for its preservation, leading to its designation as a protected heritage site in 2014.
In 2016, the developer Küssdenfrosch took over the building and introduced a holistic concept uniting art, culture, housing, and community use. The renovation included the refurbishment of the massive concrete structure, the creation of new access routes and safety systems, and the installation of modern technical infrastructure. Five residential rooftop cubes were added, showcasing an innovative and respectful approach to adaptive reuse.
Today, the Bilker Bunker functions as an open and vibrant cultural venue. The ground and first floors offer exhibition spaces for contemporary art; upper levels include offices, bicycle parking, and design and lifestyle showrooms; while the two basement levels house a music bar and multifunctional rooms for activities such as music, yoga, and coaching. Modern heat pumps provide sustainable heating and cooling, supporting the project’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
By repurposing the existing structure rather than demolishing it, the Bilker Bunker stands as an example of resource-conscious transformation and meaningful heritage preservation. Once a closed wartime bunker, it has been reimagined as an accessible creative hub that connects past and present while enriching the cultural life of the city.

City

Düsseldorf

Country

Germany

Use Before

Protective bunker

Use After

Art and Culture Bunker

Area Before

2000 m2

Area After

2500 m2

Construction

1944

Year

2023