Renovating a building may be the only practical way of providing the accommodation you need in the location you already enjoy. Extending the life of an existing building, if carefully done, is kinder to the environment than demolishing and rebuilding.
The building may be listed, or have other historical features to respect and preserve. The properties of the original fabric will be different from new materials and must be taken into account in the design. Earlier alternations and repairs may well have been undertaken, and these may often have had damaging effects on the integrity of the structure.
Creation of open-plan living space, or changes of use (from commercial to domestic, or vice-versa) often pose structural challenges. These can provide a stunning and beautiful enhancement to the property, or be an expensive headache, so care is needed!