This research aims to construct a hands-on methodological apparatus including tangible and intangible characteristics of a building or place within the discipline of adaptive reuse.

Adaptive reuse is an architectural challenge, which requires an empathic understanding of and approaches towards the host building (Plevoets and Van Cleempoel 2014). In contemporary practices, the need for an empathic understanding and a subsequent sensory intervention towards heritage emerges.

This research endeavours a sensory understanding of the historical layered heritage through a graphical translation that aims to include tangible and intangible characteristics. This project does not aspire to do a (historical) valuation of the characteristics but rather aims to meet the current limitations when representing them.

Tangible characteristics can be seen, measured and therefore recorded mathematically. But in architecture, and this is particularly so for heritage sites, one is faced with complex layers of history. There is more than the eye meets and measures. These intangible characteristics tend to be dependent on direct observations of its spectator.

But how can these atmospherically peculiarities so typical for the richness of heritage, be recorded?

This rather complex (andperhaps even subjective) question guides this research because it also governs many processes in adaptive reuse.

In order to construct a valid graphical strategy to record, understand and intervene with heritage sites, this PhD aims to compare the Renaissance concept of chorography with contemporary practices. By doing so this research points out the different notions and intentions that a chorography might hold and re-evaluates the concept by introducing additional ways of representation.

In order to present the historical concept of chorography as an inclusive method (next to other existing strategies), the architectural model is introduced as a supplementary medium to record, understand and remodel the historical layered identity of heritage.