Looking for a Model to Structure the Process for Adaptive Reuse (AR) of Heritage Buildings Based on a Literature Review

Abstract

Purpose: Adaptive reuse (AR) of heritage buildings is a complicated process, which includes many steps. Several steps should be considered and followed in the reuse process to provide an appropriate result, which is preserving the essential qualities and values of heritage buildings, improving them to be used in the present, and transferring them to the future. The purpose of this paper is identification of the steps of the AR process of heritage buildings and developing a model to structure this process. Design/methods/approach: A Literature review was conducted to explore the state of the art in the AR process field. This followed four steps: (1) formulating the research question and the aim of the review; (2) screening of the available publications and selection and evaluation of the relevant studies (3) analysis of the publications, (4) reporting the results and developing the conceptual model based on it. Findings: The analysis of the literature revealed that the AR process of heritage buildings as a whole system has not been widely studied. Some common steps in the AR process have been mentioned by different researchers, which are “initiative”, “analysis of heritage buildings”, “value assessment”, “definition of adaptive reuse potentials”, “definition of design strategies”, “decision-making”, and “execution”. Several studies have also mentioned “maintenance” and “evaluation after years”. In the publications related to the AR process of heritage buildings, there are two approaches to the study of the process: one is mainly from the perspective of architects and the other approach is from the perspective of other stakeholders (producers, investors, regulators, and users); however, in the publications which are from the perspective of architects, these two later steps have been rarely mentioned. Originality/value: This analysis provided an overview of the publications on the AR process of heritage buildings and also resulted in developing a conceptual model (9-steps-model) for adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, which includes the main steps of the process. This model can act as a comprehensive theoretical basis for further studies on the analysis of the AR process of heritage buildings.