en.Wedoany.com Reported - CO Adaptive, an American design-build firm, completed the renovation of an apartment in Brooklyn, New York, by systematically deconstructing and sorting materials to reuse 70% of the original dwelling's materials in the new space. The client, a writer with a degree in historic preservation, requested that as many existing materials as possible be reused during the renovation of their 1924 Art Deco-style apartment.

Although CO Adaptive typically does not take on apartment projects, the client's commitment to material reuse aligns closely with the firm's long-standing focus on passive house, low-carbon, and energy-efficient buildings. The team carefully deconstructed the residence before construction and sorted and reused all existing items, ultimately completing the renovation while preserving 70% of the original materials.

This process was described as a working method combining iterative design with "deconstruction archaeology": on one hand, there was a preconceived vision for the new design; on the other, flexibility was left for on-site discoveries during deconstruction. CO Adaptive co-founder and principal Ruth Mandl stated that all bedrooms and the original functional layout of the apartment were retained, and what the client truly wanted to change was the kitchen and living room areas—by opening up these two spaces, removing existing walls, and connecting the two building shafts at the center of the unit to create a brighter common area.