façadism

also
n.
The practice of preserving the fronts of notable old buildings while demolishing the backs, often constructing modern interiors behind the old façades.

Retention of the front or exterior of a building even though the interior is completely gutted and replaced: this may be thought necessary because of the contribution the exterior or the façade makes to a street or to the townscape. Purists might question the wisdom of Façadism, but there is no doubt that places such as the terraces around Regent's Park, London, would be the poorer had the works by Nash and others been completely demolished.

Bibliography

• J. Richards (1994)

The full bibliography for this book is available to download as a pdf file.
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