{"product_id":"aj-20-08-26-retrofit","title":"AJ 20.08.26: Retrofit","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eThis issue is dedicated to retrofit. The projects featured demonstrate how light-touch approaches to reuse can get existing buildings back into community use, working with their scars and witness marks rather than against them.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eThere are four building studies. \u003cstrong\u003eDavid Kohn Architects\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eBovenbouw Architectuur\u003c\/strong\u003e have transformed an 18th-century \u003cem\u003ebeguinage\u003c\/em\u003e in Belgium into a new home for Hasselt University’s Faculty of Architecture and Arts. \u003cstrong\u003eTHING Studio\u003c\/strong\u003e is three years into a phased retrofit of Redruth’s Grade II-listed former Passmore Edwards Free Library, transforming it into a community arts centre. \u003cstrong\u003eSean Griffiths, pHp architects, Studio Morison and Giles Round\u003c\/strong\u003e have turned a vacant 1930s civic building in Northampton into a home for art and creative production. And \u003cstrong\u003eRCKa\u003c\/strong\u003e has retrofitted a derelict community hall in Barking and Dagenham as a youth hub co-designed with local young people.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eThere are two news features on how a team of architects including \u003cstrong\u003eHenley Halebrown, Peter Barber Architects and East Architecture\u003c\/strong\u003e aims to revamp the centre of Winchester, and on who will rebuild the\u003cstrong\u003e Mackintosh building\u003c\/strong\u003e at the Glasgow School of Art after the school conceded it cannot fund the estimated £265 million restoration alone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eThe issue previews the six \u003cstrong\u003eRIBA Stirling Prize 2026\u003c\/strong\u003e finalists, with Witherford Watson Mann the bookmakers’ favourite for its River Wing at Clare College, Cambridge, and reveals the shortlisted finalists for the \u003cstrong\u003eAJ Architecture Awards 2026\u003c\/strong\u003e across 21 categories.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eIn Opinion, \u003cstrong\u003eSaul Humphrey\u003c\/strong\u003e, incoming president of the Chartered Institute of Building, argues that collaboration between designers and builders has never been more important. In Culture, \u003cstrong\u003eSuzanne Ewing\u003c\/strong\u003e reviews the exhibition \u003cem\u003eUshida Findlay: Unbroken Spaces\u003c\/em\u003e at V\u0026amp;A Dundee, and \u003cstrong\u003eDavid Grandorge\u003c\/strong\u003e’s photograph of the opening of the Tate Tanks in 2012 reflects on the audacity of adaptive reuse.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eRounding out the issue are the \u003cstrong\u003eSecret Architect\u003c\/strong\u003e on why MEP engineers are their favourites, sketches by \u003cstrong\u003eJack Pannell\u003c\/strong\u003e of Common Ground Workshop, and a competitions compilation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Architects' Journal Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57495692870005,"sku":"EMA-AJ202608","price":16.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0534\/0590\/9186\/files\/000_CVR_V_AJW_260820.jpg?v=1787136450","url":"https:\/\/www.architects-journal-shop.co.uk\/products\/aj-20-08-26-retrofit","provider":"Architects' Journal shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}