Renovation

Moshe Safdie's latest project sees his firm return to a museum it completed a decade ago. The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art expansion will involve increasing available floorspace for the facility by bridging a body of water.

Coop Himmelb(l)au is no stranger to unusual buildings and its latest project is sure to be another head turner. It consists of an ambitious redesign of an existing sports arena with a striking exterior that's meant to evoke a person skating.

Back in 2012, cousins Sven and Lennart de Jong bought a disused water tower for €200,000. They then hired RV Architectuur and after spending roughly the same amount of money on renovations they now live in it with their families.

MVRDV has been commissioned to transform a tired old factory in China into a mixed-use office building. Once complete, the If Factory will allow members of the public both a look inside and access to a new greenery-filled garden area on its roof.

Commissioned to turn an old dilapidated building into a residence, ORA considered a typical restoration. However, the firm says it was "a ruin to the bone," and decided to tear down the interior and insert a new modern home within instead.

One effect of China's construction boom is the emptying of its villages as people rush to the cities to find new opportunities. A recently-completed project aims to address this by giving an old abandoned village a new lease of life as an art center.

Austin Maynard Architects has performed "architectural keyhole surgery" to turn the cramped and dark center of a terraced house into the light-filled heart of the home. Home efficiency was also improved with additions that include a Tesla Powerwall.

Work was recently completed on a US$165 million renovation of New York City's Empire State Building. The iconic skyscraper now offers a revamped Observatory Experience, including a glass-walled observation point on its uppermost floor.

Husos Architects was commissioned by a doctor to renovate his Madrid apartment that he shares with his bulldog. The firm created a new layout that promotes ventilation without air-conditioning and added some neat features like a "sleeping capsule" and greywater recycling.

Dressmaker and designer Kristie Wolfe previously built a Hawaiian treehouse on a shoestring budget, as well as a hobbit house in Washington State. Her latest project is a fire lookout tower dating back to the 1950s, which she has renovated into an Airbnb rental.

Stefan Hitthaler recently renovated a mountain chalet in South Tyrol, Italy. Built in 1973, it was uninhabitable in winter due to poor insulation, but now keeps occupants comfortable year-round. He also made some minor stylistic changes to accentuate its out-of-this-world looks.

Zaha Hadid Architects recently unveiled a new skyscraper for a tourist area in Malta. Named Mercury Tower, it features a distinctive twisting form and, assuming it goes ahead, will be joined onto an existing building on the site that was originally constructed in the early 20th century.