“Never demolish, never move or replace, always add, transform and reuse, with and for the residents. Anne Lacaton’s (Lacaton&Vassal) philosophy is becoming a starting point for a growing number of architects, especially when it comes to average residential or office buildings that, lacking historical or cultural value, are quickly falling prey to demolition.

Institutional and symbolic buildings such as churches are often so closely linked to the history and identity of a place and its inhabitants that demolition is not an option. However, when the function of such a building declines, what new use can be given to it? And when this is ideally done in consultation with and for the residents or local community, how should it be done? It has been a long time since towns, villages and neighbourhoods were homogeneous communities where everyone shared the same history, culture and religion. What some people see as an obvious recontextualisation will be considered sacrilegious by others.