The Significance of Adaptive Reuse In Shaping The Future

Exploring beyond restoration through architecture

The concept of adaptive reuse has gained prominence as a thoughtful and sustainable approach to reimagining our built environment. Rather than demolishing old structures to make way for new ones, adaptive reuse in architecture seeks to breathe new life into existing buildings, paying homage to their historical and cultural significance while simultaneously addressing contemporary needs. Considering the high embodied energy of buildings, adaptive reuse presents an exemplary way to turn dilapidated or abandoned spaces into functional spaces, without demolishing the entire structure.

Sustainable design green architecture adaptive reuse indian vernacular

Historic Portuguese villa in India gets revitalized prioritizing landscape integration by Kiasma Studio

Read article +

Adaptive reuse helps foster a sense of continuity in the everchanging urban fabric. However, this is not a new concept, but one that has been evolving over the centuries. The Romans were known for repurposing their amphitheaters. As the Empire declined, some amphitheaters were transformed into fortified structures to protect from invading forces. The amphitheater in Arles, France, is one such example, converted into a shelter and a fortress. Encircling over 200 houses, the structure transformed into a town.

In more recent times, adaptive reuse projects are proving to be significantly beneficial in enabling a more sustainable approach. Conventional demolition and new construction consume vast amounts of energy and resources, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and depleting natural reserves. Such demolitions and new constructions have been hugely prevalent since the onset of the Industrial Revolution. As the importance of sustainability and preserving started getting a lot of (due) recognition, adaptive reuse and minimizing wastage in construction has made a resurgence.

Benjakitti Forest Park- Turenscape | Image by Turenscape&Arsomsilp

Turenscape transforms a brown field in Bangkok into Urban Nature

Read article +

While adaptive reuse is a more sustainable choice considering energy efficiency, reduced resource consumption, and less wastage, it also allows historic or culturally significant buildings to stay intact. Enabling a better use for an existing building can also help strengthen or revive neighborhoods economically.

What enables adaptive reuse to be more than just the building or space, it is about how much the community benefits from the project and/or how well the space or building has been repurposed to benefit the new users. This aspect compels us to think of the various ways architecture can evolve spaces, impacting economy, safety, and well-being. The projects listed below present a few exemplary ways to utilize dilapidated/ abandoned spaces.

The High Line, New York City, USA

The iconic project that shed more light on the concept of ‘adaptive reuse’ globally, The High Line in New York City has fast become one of the easily identifiable projects with its clever blend of historic elements and contemporary design. Founded by two friends, Joshua David and Robert Hammond in 1999, the non-profit organization Friends of High Line began advocating the idea of preserving and repurposing it as a public open space with influential New York figures and celebrities, actively involved in fundraising and endorsing the concept. The plan to make it happen was announced in 2003.

Stretching through the neighborhoods of Chelsea and the Meatpacking District, The High Line was formerly an abandoned elevated railway track, that bid farewell to its locomotive days in 1980, according to High Line historians. James Corner Field Operations (Project Lead), Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and planting designer Piet Oudolf collaborated on the project that opened to the public in 2009. The design retains the original railway tracks, bringing in a variety of native plants, art installations, seating spaces, and even an observation area that opened in 2019.

Tabakalera, San Sebastian, Spain

Tabakalera was a tobacco factory for around 90 years, in San Sebastian, Spain, before it was transformed into a cultural center, making it a dynamic hub for arts, culture, and creativity, that is now an integral part of the city’s cultural fabric. A significant aspect of the transformation is the preservation of its historic character, which was mainly accomplished by a facade that was maintained as is. The major changes happened within the building, with a glass prism that’s distinctive from the rest of the building and an open terrace offering great views of the city.

La Friche de la Belle de Mai, Marseille, France

La Friche de la Belle de Mai is a similar example of an industrial space that turned into a vibrant cultural complex. Formerly an abandoned tobacco factory, La Friche now houses exhibition spaces, artist studios, theaters, concert halls, a rooftop terrace, a day care center, and a variety of workshops. The transformation has been able to contribute to the revitalization of the neighborhood while contributing to Marseille’s cultural identity and creative vitality. Industrial spaces that are left abandoned have the vast scope of being inherently transformed into spaces that host a wide variety of functional spaces, and the advantageous ability to contribute to society.

Pepper House, Fort Kochi, India

Pepper House is one of the venues of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. The former Dutch colonial-era Bungalow which is a prominent part of Fort Kochi’s heritage and architecture tapestry, underwent major transformations and now includes a courtyard cafe, gallery, and spaces for the cultural event that attracts tourists from across the globe. The original structure included two dockside warehouses reflecting the Dutch-style, a hint to the influence of the Dutch possession of the area for over a century until 1795.

The Powerhouse, Brisbane, Australia

Built in the late 1920s, Brisbane Powerhouse was renovated as a community and entertainment hub in 2000. The former power station is now a space for contemporary arts and public community events, with a terrace offering panoramic views of the Brisbane River. Architect Peter Roy and his team redesigned the powerhouse retaining much of the original elements and utilizing materials from the deteriorated parts in building the newer elements.

The social and economic aspects of adaptive reuse and the impact it wields on the communities are displayed in these projects and many more across the world, most of which despite the attention garnered have failed to induce the call for more similar projects. Adaptive reuse is perhaps one of the best ways to achieve that diverse urban tapestry, wherein heritage and historic elements are still a pivotal part. The benefits on the sustainability front are yet another reason to be advocating for repurposing rather than demolishing. It remains a sustainable and economically sensible way to architectural preservation and revitalization of communities.

AUTHOR

Supreetha Sudheer

An architect by trade, with a fervor for the written word. Her enthusiasm extends to projects that wield a positive influence on the social landscape.