The ageing process of buildings makes it essential to carry out regular maintenance to guarantee they are kept in an optimum state of conservation over the years. Also, as a result of changes in the needs of their regular users or even different uses, more wide-ranging renovations often have to be made. Finally, there is the possibility that the building in question is protected by some form of heritage listing or, even if it is not officially listed, that it has certain formal or decorative features that should be preserved and restored.

It is therefore essential to strengthen the culture of rehabilitating and restoring our built heritage while at the same time bringing it in line with European standards, which now represents more than 40% of all work in the construction sector. To tackle this challenge, there is a wide range of architects in Catalonia equipped to help individuals, companies and government agencies get the very most out of their existing buildings. These architects and practices specialise in energy rehabilitation, structural renovations, heritage restoration and town and country planning: these are just some of the profiles that can bring added value to your built heritage while at the same time optimising the management and energy efficiency of the building.

Every client, every location and every commission is unique and entails undertaking a series of operations designed to achieve a specific objective. Choosing the right team of professionals and collaborators is one of the most important decisions that you can make. Before starting the search, consider the needs of your project and ask yourself the following questions, whatever your experience and the complexity of your project may be:

• What challenges does my project involve?
• What is my budget?
• How important is the factor of the architect's proximity to me and my project?
• What experience or specialist knowledge do I expect my architect to have?
• Do I want my project to include any specific design philosophy (e.g. traditional, contemporary, sustainable, etc.)?

The COAC recommends that you visit the Job Bank to help you select the best professionals for your project.