Not everyone can see past the dust and deterioration of an abandoned space and imagine a gorgeous, elegant design. Leave it to an architect to recognize all the potential, envisioning the changes that could bring the long unused structure to life. Of course, it doesn?t hurt when the abandoned building you’re starting with is a modernist classic by Philip Johnson.

The Schlumberger Research Center Administration Building, located in Ridgefield, Connecticut, was completed in 1952. Known locally as ?The Philip Johnson Building,? the single story structure housed research scientists and the executive team for an oil and drilling equipment company. It?s set atop an underground garage, and designed in a style architecture fans will recognize as quintessentially Johnson.
It?s a shame we don?t have before-pictures. If we did, we could take in the full transformation of the building, which sat empty for a decade and required extensive restoration. It took BassamFellows eight years to complete the historic renovation, keeping all of the steel, glass and brick bones that make the building so special and accenting them with contemporary elements for a fresh update on midcentury modern style.

If there?s one defining feature of the space, it?s the abundance of natural light streaming into the glass and bricked-in spaces. The result is a feeling of connection to the natural world while remaining protected from the weather, traffic, and activity outside. There?s somet...