Heritage Interiors: Embracing Imperfection as Design Method
More interior design projects are starting to see heritage as a dynamic element rather than just something to keep or discard. Architects are blending old and new styles, using contrasts to improve construction, manage costs, and boost efficiency. For instance, João Marujo + Orlando Naj revamped a 1970s apartment in São Paulo, adding a glass folding door and restoring Ipê parquet. In Prague, Prokop Hartl's Corner Apartment combines original oak with new flooring, while Roman Izquierdo Bouldstridge’s El Born Loft in Barcelona showcases stone and brick alongside contemporary wood and iron features. Julia Peres.Co Arquitetura’s CB's Apartment turns construction challenges into creative opportunities. This perspective, highlighted in Jonathan Yeung's ArchDaily article on May 14, 2026, suggests embracing flaws can enhance efficiency and authenticity in design.
Key facts
- Heritage interiors increasingly treat the clash between old and new as a productive design tool.
- André Fernandes Apartment in São Paulo by João Marujo + Orlando Naj reworks a 1970s floor plan with a glass folding door and restored Ipê parquet.
- Corner Apartment in Prague by Prokop Hartl preserves original oak parquet and adds polyurethane flooring.
- El Born Loft in Barcelona by Roman Izquierdo Bouldstridge exposes stone and brick masonry, adding wood and wrought-iron elements.
- CB's Apartment by Julia Peres.Co Arquitetura transforms construction pathologies into design opportunities.
- No-Wall Apartment in Prague by RDTH architekti removes almost all walls and doors.
- A Local Renewal of Fushan Coffee in Haikou by MINOR lab retains original façade and uses interior to tell coffee heritage.
- The Extension Atelier in Kyiv by MAVA design negotiates structural constraints in a residential complex.
Entities
Artists
- Jonathan Yeung
- João Marujo
- Orlando Naj
- Prokop Hartl
- Roman Izquierdo Bouldstridge
- Julia Peres.Co Arquitetura
- RDTH architekti
- MINOR lab
- MAVA design
Institutions
- ArchDaily
Locations
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- Prague
- Czech Republic
- Barcelona
- Spain
- Haikou
- China
- Kyiv
- Ukraine
- Fushan Town
- Hainan