Studio Seilern Architects has transformed a disused UNESCO world heritage site into a bold mixed-use quarter.

The site, Bokśto 6, was a dilapidated walled city block dating from the 15th Century. It comprised six historic buildings enclosing a series of irregular-shaped courtyards.

Studio Seilern began with a conservation strategy, aided by Chromatographic analysis, to determine which original Baroque elements to restore and which later additions to remove.

The transformation of Bokšto Skveras aims to evoke rather than replicate history, showcasing both the building's aging marks and Baroque essence.

Contemporary additions to the site include a sunken restaurant, extending from the gothic cellars, and an essential fire escape which was given a mirror façade to create a sculptural object between the historic building and landscaped gardens.

This project has been shortlisted in the heritage project category of Dezeen Awards 2023.

Studio: Studio Seilern Architects
Project: Bokšto Skveras
Credits: Archinova