Title of the research: Repurposing Existing Buildings: Stories of Adaptation and Compatibility of Uses
under the supervision of Dr. Bechara Helal
Abstract: This research explores the adaptive reuse of unlisted buildings. It examines the compatibility between the architectural and cultural values inherited from the buildings’ past uses and their new purposes. How does a change in use reveal these values, and is it possible to define compatible uses? By combining comparative analysis with project-based experimentation, this research aims to better understand the challenges associated with the transformation of existing buildings and to examine the compatibility between a building’s existing use and its new purpose. The objective is to propose an intervention approach using a decision-making framework that will ensure the best possible alignment between the existing structure and its future uses, and to provide designers with tools for intervention from a resilience perspective—striking a balance between the durability of the built structure and the building’s capacity to support new uses.