Restoring the Already Restored

Abstract: Restoration has been a tool for enhancing selected parts of history, which tells about the ideals of its time. Today most older buildings have already been through several restorations or renovations. How should one approach and valuate historical layers? The purpose of this thesis has been to study earlier restoration work and its approaches and ideals. From this, interventions and design has been done through an alteration of Börshuset in Gamla Stan in Stockholm. The restoration proposal consists of three interventions done with three different approaches: reconstruction, alteration of the existing and an added function and element. Through this method, the project attempts to answer questions about how we can relate to existing buildings, not just as artefacts of their time, but as living things with a complex and layered history. My proposal is a suggestion to reintroduce lost qualities and value the historical layers that are or have been present in Börshuset. By being aware of the difficulty in appreciating newer layers there is a possibility for a better assessment and decision-making that could save historical layers which might become our future cultural heritage.