Theory module II discusses the contemporary practice and theory of adaptive reuse. The discussion is organized around different topics that are at the core of adaptive reuse practice: how does the practice of adaptive reuse relates to conservation and restoration? How to adapt a building to a program and vice versa? How to deal with immaterial values in the process of adaptive reuse? Which concepts from related disciplines such as architecture, conservation, planning or the arts can be applied as valuable strategy for building reuse? What can we learn from the vernacular, or user-led process adapting the build environment?

The course follows the structure of the course book Adaptive Reuse of the Built Heritage: concepts and cases of an emerging discipline (Routledge, 2019).

Chapter 1: Historical Background

The notion that adaptive reuse today has become a professional practice in its own right, which draws on the expertise from various fields such as architecture, conservation, interior design, landscape design, planning and engineering. However, in the past the practice of altering existing buildings for new uses occurred spontaneously and was handled in a pragmatic way. In this chapter we describe how adaptive reuse has evolved from a user-led process to a highly specialized discipline, based on a review of seminal text from 19th and early 20th century conservation theory in the light of adaptation and reuse, and a literature review on adaptive reuse theory that emerged from the 1970s onwards.

Chapter 2: Intervention Strategies

In the process of adaptive reuse, the existing building stock is considered as a rich container of successive layers of materials, history and narratives. Hence, adapting or reusing an existing building is always accompanied with a process of revaluation of its values and meanings. Various architectural strategies may be applied to deal with the material and immaterial aspects of the existing, and to make a new and contemporary contribution to it. The chapter starts from the concept of the palimpsest as a way to look at existing buildings and landscapes. Next, we elaborate three conceptual strategies to deal with adaptive reuse:

(1) Aemulatio: the notion of copying and improvement as a valuable strategy for adaptive reuse

(2) Façadism: juxtaposing inside and outside

(3) Reusing the ruin: building upon the fragmentary fabric

Chapter 3: Adaptive Reuse for Urban Regeneration

Cultural heritage is today key driver for urban regeneration in many historic towns and regions all over the world. This through the functional use and reuse of historical buildings and sites, but also as a means to create or strengthen a sense of local identity and enhance public wellbeing and social inclusion. However, exploiting the local heritage’s potentials as a planning policy is a rather recent practice. In this chapter we sketch the evolving position of heritage within planning principles throughout the 20th century. Next, we elaborate on three ways how adaptive reuse is employed as a driver for urban regeneration:

(1) development of new housing typologies through adaptive reuse of existing buildings

(2) transformation of heritage sites into urban parks

(3) user-led or ‘vernacular’ adaptive reuse

Chapter 4: Genius Loci

In heritage conservation, the notion of authenticity is generally used as an evaluation criterion. However, being directed towards mainly historical values, authenticity as a concept fails to address the quality of the contemporary intervention. Genius loci, or spirit of place, seems a more rich concept to evaluate not only the conservative approach to the existing but also the new intervention. The course elaborates on the meaning and use of genius loci within different disciplines (landscape, poetry and literature, architecture and conservation) and how this may inspire adaptive reuse practice.

Readings that support the course are, among others: