These five architects took on the challenge of adding a modern element to a historic monument. Let’s take a look at these remarkable creations from around the world.

Marqués de Riscal Hotel, Elciego, Spain

Architect: Frank Gehry

This five-star Marriott hotel in the La Rioja province of Álava was designed by architect Frank Gehry in 2003, transforming a structure dating back to 1858. Originally dedicated to the wine industry, the Spanish group turned it into an extraordinary hotel complex. Built on the foundation of a cellar, this avant-garde hotel, made of sandstone and titanium, was inaugurated in 2006, becoming an icon of modern architecture.

Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada

Architects: Daniel Libeskind and Bregman + Hamann Architects

The expansion of the Royal Ontario Museum, founded in 1912, was completed by Daniel Libeskind’s studio and inaugurated in 2007. Designed as a crystal with protruding prisms, the 9000-square-meter extension transformed part of the neo-Roman-style museum of culture and natural history into a deconstructed and modern form.

Dancing House, Prague, Czech Republic

Architects: Vlado Milunić and Frank Gehry

A joint work of Czech architect Vlado Milunić and American architect Frank Gehry, the concrete and glass office buildings form deconstructed curved pillars. Twisting against each other, the “dancing” cylinders, designed in 1996, now house a museum, offices, and a restaurant, topped by a terrace with a panoramic and breathtaking view of the old town.

De Fundatie Museum, Zwolle, Netherlands

Architect: Bierman Henket Architects

In the Netherlands, a modern dome with futuristic vibes is added to the roof of the Fundatie Museum. The imposing volume extension on the medieval building creates a unique and contrasting entity. Originally designed by architect Eduard Louis de Coninck between 1838 and 1841, the courthouse was transformed into a museum in 1994 and received the convex roof in 2013.

Louviers School of Music, France

Architect: Opus 5 Architects

The new Louviers School of Music, built in 2012 on ruins that were once a ‘Penitents’ convent, is a former monastery. Converted into a modern structure of stone and glass, it now houses an orchestra hall and an auditorium. The “glass ceiling” posed a major challenge for the architects in restructuring the school, balancing heritage preservation with a touch of modernity at the core of the restoration project.”