Retrouvius
Contemporary Salvage: Designing Homes from a Philosophy of Re-Use
Published on 16. September 2025
Book
Hardback
272 pages
978-0-8478-7567-2 (ISBN)
Description
In a world increasingly defined by the fleeting and the disposable, Retrouvius stands as a beacon of sustainability, creativity, and enduring beauty in interior design. Each space transformed by the studio is imbued with a history and a character uniquely its own, and a deep respect and sensitivity for original, historic designs and materials. As interior designers and architects increasingly adopt sustainable practices to reduce their environmental footprint, Retrouvius has been discovering new life in the old and patinaed, new purpose in the centuries overlooked. Its work is a testament to the belief that sustainability can be synonymous with sophistication, and that the past can beautifully and intelligently inform the present. This important volume is an invitation to explore the world of Retrouvius through the design studio s most significant projects. Through stunning photography and insightful texts, this book journeys into the heart of spaces that are as functional as they are artful, as timeless as they are tailored to contemporary living.
Reviews / Votes
"London-based design studio Retrouvius has carved a unique and important niche in the interior design and architecture spheres by blending architectural salvage with innovative design. Every project is a reinvention of the past and a promise made to our shared future." - ASPIRE HOME & DESIGN"London-based Maria Speake, cofounder of Retrouvius Design Studio, is a believer-and leader-in sustainable design. There is an art to reinventing and repurposing, and the recent projects featured in "Retrouvius: Contemporary Salvage: Designing Homes from a Philosophy of Re-Use" ($65) show just how creative, beautiful and innovative adopting a sustainable philosophy can be." -MANSION GLOBAL
"London-based design principals Adam Hills and Maria Speake have made a name for themselves creating beautiful homes that emphasize reuse and salvage. -BH" - ELLE DECOR
"Retrouvius: Contemporary Salvage is more than an interior design book. It is a manifesto for design where nothing is wasted, everything has potential, and imperfection is beauty." - WALLPAPER* MAGAZINE
"Retrouvius, the much-admired London-based design studio and architectural salvage company, was founded with a spirit of idealism that has remained constant throughout its history...Over the years, the husband-and-wife team built a reputation in the fields of architectural conservation and interior design, developing a style rooted in the retained memory of objects, the allure of patina, and the creative potential found in reimagining the uses of the discarded. The work has never been easy, but the couple were driven by their mission: "Salvage is manual, slow, unglamorous, and logistically difficult, but it is also immensely rewarding," Adam explains. "There's undoubtedly a feel-good factor that comes from taking something unloved and cherishing it." As illustrated in their forthcoming book, published by Rizzoli, Maria and Adam have, over more than three decades, realised ambitious and highly original projects, often in collaboration with other creatives such as Bella Freud and Helena Bonham Carter, all drawn to inhabit spaces rich in imagination and layered with history." - CABANA MAGAZINE
"Retrouvius is Maria Speake and Adam Hills's combination salvage business and design studio: they lead by example and we've been drawing inspiration from them for years." - REMODELISTA
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Illustrations
200 COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS
Dimensions
Height: 308 mm
Width: 248 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Weight
2044 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8478-7567-2 (9780847875672)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Maria Speake is a cofounder and creative force behind Retrouvius Design Studio. Her pioneering work at Retrouvius has earned her widespread recognition as a leader in sustainable design. Helena Bonham Carter is an English actor known for her roles in both blockbuster and independent films. She has received numerous awards, including a British Academy Film Award and an International Emmy Award, and nominations for two Academy Awards and nine Golden Globes. Emma Crichton-Miller is a freelance journalist, critic, and author writing on fine art, design, and craft for numerous publications, including the Financial Times, RA Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. Bella Freud has moved among the mediums of clothing and interior design, perfume making, filmmaking, and publishing. In 2024 she began the weekly podcast Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud, in which she invites special guests to explore the connection between fashion and identity. Architectural salvage expert Adam Hills is cofounder of Retrouvius. His work blends architectural expertise with a deep appreciation for the history and character of reclaimed materials. Mary Miers is a writer specializing in architecture and the arts. She founded Scotland s Buildings at Risk Register and is president of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland. Rizzoli has published several of her books, most recently Highland Retreats: The Architecture and Interiors of Scotland s Romantic North.