Adaptive Reuse of Industries: 6 projects paving the way!

In architecture, adaptive reuse (also called building reuse) refers to the repurposing of an existing structure for new use. This method not only preserves the cultural aspects of a building but also benefits the environment and the economy. Reusing any building this way consumes lesser resources and results in an overall reduced life cycle environmental impact.

Although adaptive reuse applies to all building types, it is usually seen as breathing new life into valuable historic structures by converting them into something useful for the community.

From being a protagonist in the industrial revolution to adaptive reuse, industries have transformed over a period of time. 

Here are 6 industrial examples of adaptive reuse where vernacular has effortlessly met contemporary!

1. Hanzas Perons (Riga, Latvia)

The design by Reinis Liepins and Sudraba Arhitektura preserves the old building with its textures and details confronted with minimalistic external load-bearing steel and glass structure that encases and extends the original building. This helped to create column-free concert halls.  

Source: Hanzas Perons

2. Imagine Studios (Mumbai, India)

GPL design studio and Studio Lotus were mutually designed so that existing buildings and their elements were recycled to show their relevance in the bygone eras plus add different functions as per the current spatial needs. For example- the silos were converted into galleries.  

Source: Archdaily

3. Google Co-work (Madrid, Spain)

The factory constructed in 1892 has colorful splashes of Spanish style so by retaining the structure, the interiors are made modern to co-exist with user experience and technology at Google. This design by Jump Studios delivers a juxtaposition between the old and the new.  

Source: Dezeen 

4. Alembic Museum (Vadodara, India)

The architectural purpose of Karan Grover and Associates was to approach this as a sculpture to maintain the true spirit of the building in terms of physical quality. The only new architectural elements are new partition walls. Arches revived are the main character of the existing building.  

Source: Archdaily

5. New Lab (Brooklyn, USA)

The Marvel Architects used the building’s “cathedral-like” steel trusswork to retain it and divide the internal spaces by partitions. The color palette of the architectural elements was restricted to black and white to draw attention to bright hue furniture.  

Source: Downtown Brooklyn Partnership 

6. The Axis (London, United Kingdom)

The existing building being a weatherproof enclosure, the Alma-nac designed a holistic space to create a series of carefully controlled local environments and to position them as if each studio were a house in a street. This arrangement allows the user to work independently.  

Source: Dezeen 

Want to learn more about how you can revive Architectural Heritage and give it a new meaning? Join our one-day masterclass on Architectural Heritage Conservation and management!