What is restoration?
In the field of construction, restoration is the process of reconstructing or renovating the structure or elements that make up a building. Restoration can range from cleaning to reinforcing the building’s foundations.
This concept is based on the premise that buildings must be maintained regularly as they deteriorate due to the passage of time and use. Restoration includes removing elements added to the building’s facade, recovering damaged eaves, replacing moldings, recreating original layouts, removing false ceilings, and more.
What kinds of restoration are there?
The condition of the building in need of restoration, its state of conservation, and even the machinery needed to carry out the renovation all determine the type of restoration to be done. Generally speaking, a restoration can include:
- Cleaning: both the façade and the inside of the building. This task is the most common one.
- Repairs: especially for elements in the building that have been affected by the passage of time or use.
- Replacement: when it is necessary to rebuild parts of the building that are so worn that they cannot be repaired.
However, there are technical procedures to restore the structure of a deteriorated building, especially those that are important in terms of history and heritage:
- Historic preservation: measures taken to prevent wear and tear on a building. This is the step prior to the next two types (conservation and restoration), and it aims to keep the property in optimal conditions.
- Historic conservation: this includes techniques to halt existing wear and tear and prevent further deterioration.
- Historic maintenance: this includes the measures to prevent the building from deteriorating again. This is carried out once the restoration tasks have been completed.
What’s the difference between restoring and renovating a building?
These two terms are related in terms of construction since they both involve the use of labor, but there are nuances that differentiate them. Let’s take a closer look at restoration and renovation.
Renovating a building entails total modification, so it is of a greater magnitude than restoration. It aims to tailor the structure to the uses and features of the renovation project. One example of renovation is installing an elevator in a building.
On the other hand, as we’ve pointed out in previous sections, restoring a building involves a partial modification that aims to bring the building or property back to its initial state.
In addition, restorations require knowing historical construction techniques. Similarly, this sort of process can include several remodeling projects over time to restore the structure’s original state.
What characterizes energy restoration?
Energy restoration refers to the set of actions carried out in a building to condition it from thermal and light perspectives and to improve its performance in terms of energy consumption. However, these actions must be carried out while respecting the historical value of the property; there are specific, authorized processes for preserving its appearance, structure, and historic value.
When carrying out energy restoration, environmental factors and conditions where the building is located must be taken into account, as this will determine consumption during its use and maintenance. In addition, the characteristics, durability, and use of the materials used for the restoration also affect the level of energy impact.
By using restoration measures focused on thermal and light conditioning, carbon emissions can be reduced by lowering consumption and by adapting and maintaining the building.
Which restoration projects has Ferrovial participated in?
Ferrovial has participated in numerous restoration projects for infrastructure and historic sites, many of them in Spain. In the city of Madrid, Ferrovial participated in an effort to recover and modernize the historic architecture of several of the city’s main points of interest, including Plaza Mayor. Other noteworthy renovation projects include Madrid’s Beti-Jai Fronton, restoring the Capilla del Rosario in Murcia, and the Picasso Museum in Malaga.
One of our most notable overseas projects was the restoration of the monumental Wroclaw Central Railway Station (Wrocław) in Poland. The project was carried out in five different areas, and it included both historic conservation and adapting the building to new needs (installing solar panels, modernizing the train tracks, and building underground parking, to name a few).
