RH (formerly Restoration Hardware) grabbed A.R.E.’s Store of the Year award for 2014 after unveiling a stunning restoration that celebrates the lofty structure, which was built in 1862 as Boston’s Museum of Natural History. It features a central glass-traction elevator that draws eyes to domed, golden ceiling.
“We didn’t set out to do a complete historic restoration, we set out to expose as much of the historic detailing as was still in the building and to celebrate it with lighting and a little bit of repair. It’s more of a reclamation. You’re reclaiming this old building and trying to bring it back to the grandeur it had once upon a time,” said Jim Gillam, architect, Backen, Gillam & Kroeger (Sausalito, Calif.), in a restorationhardware.com video featuring the project.