Converting mill buildings into housing : ways of working with brick walls

Abstract

The mill buildings of New England add a unique dimension to the heritage and identity of the region. Today some of these buildings continue to function as the site of industry, others have been converted to commercial or residential uses, and quite a few have been left to decompose. This thesis proposes some alternatives for converting 19th century mill buildings to residential use. It examines mills of brick bearing-wall construction with respect to their organization and materials, and looks critically at several contemporary mill conversions. It then concentrates specifically on showing how the exterior brick wall can be transformed in order to make decent places to live out of buildings designed for a very different purpose - industrial production.