Rehabilitation Projects

At Piano Piano, we work on projects of different scales and natures, ranging from interior design to new builds, as well as rehabilitation projects — interventions that give new life to a building that requires a deeper transformation.

The difference between a renovation and a rehabilitation is a question that often raises doubts among those who visit our studio. The fundamental distinction lies in the level of intervention involved — or, more simply, in which layers of the building we act upon. If we aim to improve a space that is not damaged, reorganising it (whether comprehensively or partially) and modifying its finishes, we are speaking of a renovation. If, on the other hand, we intervene in the building in a comprehensive way, particularly acting on the existing structure — which may be damaged or deteriorated — this would be considered a rehabilitation. If you would like to explore our interior and renovation projects in more depth, you can follow the corresponding link.

An intervention may take the form of structural rehabilitation, involving consolidation of the existing structure and structural reinforcements; energy rehabilitation, introducing improvements to the building envelope to reduce resource consumption and enhance comfort, along with a radical update of installations; or comprehensive rehabilitation, which, in addition to the above, introduces significant spatial and material changes, completely transforming a space or building.

For us, a rehabilitation project is special because it allows us to bring to light something perhaps forgotten or hidden. In the projects we rehabilitate, we aim to be respectful of the traces of the past. Rather than imposing a new narrative, we seek dialogue with what already exists, recognising its value and giving it renewed meaning.

Our working philosophy applied to rehabilitation projects

The first step is to carry out a detailed survey of the existing conditions, documenting the current state through drawings and photographs in order to rigorously assess its condition and determine what can be preserved and what must be removed or transformed to meet new needs.

At a spatial and volumetric level, our approach does not aim to reproduce spaces mimetically, but to transform them to adapt to new circumstances and requirements through a contemporary lens.

At a material level, we strive to recover as many elements as possible from the existing construction, sometimes giving them a new life and combining them with new materials that clearly express the project as a newly intervened space — integrated with what exists, yet allowing the different layers of intervention to be read.

We define the project and supervise construction with the utmost rigour and precision. Each decision is made with clear and grounded criteria, always seeking balance between the technical and the symbolic.

In rehabilitation projects — as in new builds — collaboration with various specialists is essential. Depending on the scope of the intervention, professionals such as heritage experts, structural engineers, installation specialists, energy efficiency consultants or archaeologists may be involved. Their expertise enriches the process and allows us to approach each rehabilitation comprehensively.

At Piano Piano, we understand every project as an additive process, in which new layers are superimposed as complexity increases and more agents become involved. Yet it always begins from a solid foundation and follows a step-by-step methodology. The participation of the necessary specialists, under a global and attentive perspective, allows for better integration at architectural, environmental, landscape, cultural and historical levels.

A rehabilitation with names and surnames

Rehabilitation is sometimes associated with something inherently mimetic in both form and material. However, nothing could be further from the truth. At Piano Piano, we often say that our projects have names and surnames — they take shape according to the needs of those who will inhabit the space and the context in which it stands. Just as we emphasise the difference between renovation and rehabilitation, thinking about mimetic approaches leads us to distinguish between rehabilitation and restoration — concepts that are logically related yet often confused by those outside our profession.

Simply put, restoration seeks minimal intervention with historical respect, recovering original elements using techniques and materials as close as possible to those used in the original construction. In rehabilitation, however, the priority is functionality, and contemporary solutions and materials may or may not be used, potentially resulting in visible changes in the final outcome.

Therefore, in rehabilitation we act according to formal and material principles that vary depending on the end user, their needs and the surrounding context. In restoration, which stems from a historical and heritage-based approach, the ultimate goal is historical fidelity — prioritising preservation of identity over adaptation to new uses. Nonetheless, a rehabilitation project may also include restoration of certain elements.

In rehabilitation, everything is possible: it may be mimetic and discreet, highlighting the existing elements, or radical and clearly contemporary, intentionally contrasting with what was already there. The chosen path depends on the project’s needs, its future inhabitants, regulatory frameworks and the nature of the existing building — all under the umbrella of a coherent narrative.

Types of rehabilitation projects

There are different types of rehabilitation depending on the scope of the works. In all cases, we respond to specific needs and assemble the appropriate team to ensure knowledge and coherence.

1. Rehabilitation projects with targeted structural intervention for consolidation
2. Rehabilitation projects aimed at total transformation with global structural, spatial, energy and formal intervention
3. Rehabilitation projects in heritage buildings

Responsibility in undertaking a rehabilitation project

Our present time calls for responsibility. We believe that choosing rehabilitation — whether or not a building has historical value — and giving it a second life is of vital importance: social responsibility, environmental responsibility, economic responsibility and cultural responsibility.

Socially, because intervening in what already exists allows us to improve quality of life without displacing people, adapting spaces to new ways of living, working and coexisting. Environmentally, because rehabilitation reduces resource consumption, minimises waste and makes use of the embodied energy already present in materials and systems. Economically, because extending the life of buildings optimises investment, revitalises neighbourhoods and activates local economies without relying solely on expansion and new construction. Culturally, because every building — protected or not — forms part of a collective memory and built landscape that tells the story of who we are and how we have lived.

From our studio’s perspective, rehabilitation is not only a technical intervention, but an act of care towards people, the city and the environment.

If you have a space to rehabilitate, at Piano Piano we would be delighted to help you enhance its value and transform it to extend its life.

Get in touch with us!