Architectural Drawings: 5 Adaptive Reuse Projects That Prioritize Energy Efficiency

CO Adaptive Architecture is an up-and-coming New York practice that is retrofitting homes to minimize their carbon footprints.

Eric Baldwin

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Architectural drawings tell powerful stories of experience as they bring many elements together. These illustrations can show us how building systems relate, be evocative, and even inspire new ideas on design. For Brooklyn-based CO Adaptive Architecture, drawings can be a vehicle for new construction methods. Together, Ruth Mandl and Bobby Johnston have created a process-oriented firm that embodies how a values-based approach can take on issues like the global climate crisis. While their drawings and architecture are beautiful and elegant in their own right, they are also a means to inspire change and rethink what it means to practice today.

Founded in 2011, Ruth and Bobby have quickly built a practice that operates differently. They have gained recognition in recent years for their work retrofitting existing building stock to create energy-efficient and climate-resilient environments. In their own words, “throughout the design process, we are attentive to the functionality, durability and embodied energy of materials to create buildings that minimize their carbon footprint and remain for decades to come. We believe it is our responsibility as architects to understand the design of one building as part of a holistic system.”

This systems thinking also extends to how they draw. Indeed, what’s different about CO Adaptive’s architectural drawings is that they are both playful and informative. It takes a longer glance, but after closer examination, you begin to discover small details that drive home the firm’s idea of retrofitting, adaptive reuse and minimizing carbon footprints. The following is a series of projects that showcase these ideas, as well as descriptions that identify how CO Adaptive‘s drawings can inspire a new future for design.

E131 – Timber Adaptive Reuse Theater

Brooklyn, New York, United States

Originally a heavy industrial site housing a metal foundry in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn, this double A-frame building has been transformed into a new developmental space for theater artists. The project exemplifies low-carbon design thinking. It evolves the existing building stock through adaptive reuse to support an innovative new use, simultaneously reducing demolition waste and engaging with the history of the site. It also repurposes removed building materials to create architectural features, while minimizing the use of virgin materials. Their axon drawing illustrates both assembly and the idea of insertion within the previous building for a new use.

S417 – Passive House Pop-Up

New York City, NY, United States

While still under construction, this wood-framed, thirteen foot wide row house will be substantially renovated according to Passive House principals. A pop-up addition creates a flexible bedroom and studio space with windows in two directions and access to a roof deck. A central stair— constructed from a gradient of perforated metal guardrails and wood treads — creates an interconnecting spine that illuminates the public spaces throughout. The section drawing illustrates how the cellar level will be integrated into the passive house envelope creating additional space for laundry, storage, and a wet room with direct access to the street and rear yard.

M741 – BedStuy Passive House

Brooklyn, NY, United States

As one of their signature projects at CO Adpative, this BedStuy house exemplifies much of the firm’s thinking. Originally built in 1889, the three story townhouse was also renovated to become a certified Passive House with the aim of retaining as much of the original character of the building as possible, while significantly reducing its operational energy use. The envelope was substantially insulated on the interior of the building and new triple-pane windows were installed.

Operable exterior shades were tucked behind the existing brownstone, allowing them to disappear from view when open and mitigate solar heat gain when closed. Together these interventions keep the building cool with minimal mechanical intervention. Here again, a section drawing illustrates how the original residential structure can be saved while making major reductions in operational energy.

H431 – Recycled Content Apartment

Brooklyn, NY, United States

Tasked to create a family home on a tight budget, CO Adaptive reconfigured this 675 SF apartment to accommodate two bedrooms and ample space for entertaining. The material palette of exposed brick walls and reclaimed materials used in innovative ways, created a unique and cost-effective space.

As one of the most beautiful details showcasing the design team’s thinking and approach, they also designed custom plumbing fixtures. These were installed in the kitchen and bathroom, exposing the beautiful copper that is normally hidden within walls. Alongside showcasing the existing brick party wall and the use of reclaimed doors, they add to the rich textured palette of the apartment. Their axon drawing is a great example of how firms can inspire change by underlining the beauty and ingenuity of repurposing and retrofitting for the future.

T653 – Stone Barn Passive House

New York, United States

The project involves the renovation of an old stone barn. Nestled in the trees on the site of an 18th-century house, the barn will be turned into a Passive House guest home. CO Adaptive is preserving the stone walls that enclose the base of the structure and extend into the landscape as retaining walls. The wood frame structure above will be rebuilt to create an open kitchen and living room with views into the surrounding tree canopies. As seen in the section drawing, below, the stone walls will be insulated from the interior and the existing openings will be infilled with high-performance windows and new stonework creating a bedroom and ensuite bathroom that are comfortable year round.