Integrating Contemporary Systems into Historic StructuresWithout Destroying Significant Fabric.

In the early 1990s, architects and engineers at the forefront of the preservation movement were troubled by the problems still faced by historic buildings, particularly historic house museums. Unfamiliar with the dynamics of old construction and eager to satisfy a range of often conflicting requirements for artifacts and occupants, many well-intended owners and designers unwittingly undermined historic fabric when they inserted new systems into existing buildings. While this approach should be applied to any historic project, the complexity will be different for each building, depending on its construction and function. By starting with what the building delivers and intervening only to eliminate the extremes, those buildings that do require additional adjustments will be subjected to less stress and the mechanical equipment will be smaller that will be an advantage in old buildings, which typically have little service space to spare.