Adaptive Re-Use of Historic Covered Markets: A Review of Selected Cases in European Capital Cities

Abstract

Adaptive re-use is essential for the sustainability of heritage buildings. It ensures cultural and socio-economic benefits through morphing conservation to the regeneration of the urban environs. The rehabilitation of historic covered markets erected in cast/wrought iron in European capitals reinforces this philosophy. Through the critical assessment of case studies on the restoration and adaptive re-use of covered markets in Malta, Spain, and Bulgaria, this paper identifies themes relevant to their conservation. Based on the Nara Document of Authenticity, the artistic, historic, social, and scientific dimensions of each heritage building were identified. The paper contributes (i) an analysis of the adaptive re-use of historic covered markets in urban conservation areas and (ii) highlights the socio-economic success of such heritage markets through minimal private investment. All the case studies involve the adaptation of former covered markets for uses associated with culinary arts and products, and in each case, a degree of tampering was observed which could be said to affect the buildings’ cultural significance in terms of authenticity. However, the new interventions were predominantly reversible and thus the overall preservation of national heritage was, in all cases, ensured and protected for posterity.