Reuse Projects Research Articles

Circular building adaptability in adaptive reuse: multiple case studies in the Netherlands

Purpose The application of circular building adaptability (CBA) in adaptive reuse becomes an effective action for resource efficiency, long-lasting usability of the built environment and the sped-up transition to a circular economy (CE). This paper aims to explore to which extent CBA-related strategies are applied in adaptive reuse projects, considering enablers and obstacles. Design/methodology/approach A stepwise theory-practice-oriented approach was followed. Multiple-case studies of five circular adaptive reuse projects in The Netherlands were investigated, using archival research and in-depth interviews. A cross-case analysis of the findings was deductively conducted, to find and replicate common patterns. Findings The study revealed that configuration flexibility, product dismantlability and material reversibility were applied across the case studies, whereas functional convertibility and building maintainability were less applied. Low cost of material reuse, collaboration among team members and organisational motivation were frequently observed enabling factors. Lack of information, technical complexities, lack of circularity expertise and infeasibility of innovative circular solutions were frequently observed obstacles to applying CBA. Practical implications This paper provides practitioners with a set of CBA strategies that have been applied in the real world, facilitating the application of CBA in future adaptive reuse projects. Moreover, this set of strategies provides policymakers with tools for developing supportive regulations or amending existing regulations for facilitating CE through adaptive reuse. Originality/value This study provides empirical evidence on the application of CBA in different real-life contexts. It provides scholars and practitioners with a starting point for further developing guiding or decision-making tools for CBA in adaptive reuse.

Digital documentation of the Franciscan Observance architecture in Umbria. Preliminary surveys and analysis for conservation purposes

This contribution focuses on one of the identified case studies of the Franciscan Observance architecture in Umbria, the convent of San Bartolomeo near Foligno (PG). It addresses the issue of heritage documentation methodology through integrated 3D laser scanner digital survey techniques and SfM/IM photogrammetry close range and UAV. The investigations aim at developing a preliminary diagnostic framework of the San Bartolomeo complex after the damage suffered in the 2016 earthquake in Central Italy. The research is part of the broader context of the three-year European project F-ATLAS – Franciscan Landscapes: The Observance between Italy, Portugal, and Spain, funded by the JPICH 2019 call. The Project aims at the census of the Franciscan Observance’s convents and their enhancement in a European dimension. The Project also tends to verify the state of conservation and the possibilities of a compatible development of reuse projects, trying to connect the building phenomenon within its territorial and cultural context.

DRAWINGS FOR THE REUSE OF NINETEENTH CENTURY GREENHOUSES IN THE GARDEN OF VILLA CICOGNA MOZZONI

Abstract. The nineteenth-century greenhouses in the garden of Villa Cicogna Mozzoni are abandoned and dilapidated. Three greenhouses investigated for the research named A, B and C are positioned one above the other on the hill of the garden. They are historical examples of iron and glass structures with masonry walls leaning against the ground. They have undergone numerous modifications over time, as evidenced by archival documents. To create a preservation project for their reuse, bibliographical research was first collected. Secondly, direct and indirect surveys were carried out. The technical drawings were produced on a 1:50 scale using point clouds, orthophotos, sketches and direct measurements. Given the nature of the glass material of which these buildings are predominantly made, it was necessary to process the data obtained with the laser scanner and clean created noise points. Seemingly simple structures, greenhouses are complex buildings that require careful studies of humidity, temperature, irrigation, light and materials. For the presentation of different systems in the greenhouses, colour-coded thematical drawings were created. Detailed drawings on a 1:20 scale examine the iron fixtures and manual mechanical system of the windows. Other characteristics were presented in the drawings, such as internal and external movements and communications between greenhouses. The survey and documentation were done to serve for the reuse project which aims to bring back the shine to these greenhouses so that they can be revitalised for botanical and educational activities.

Adapting for shared use – evaluating the lifecycle carbon impact

Vast amounts of resources extracted through the times are in today’s built environment, with only an estimated 20-30% of building material recycled or reused and the sector accounting for over 35% of the EU’s total waste generation. Buildings are also responsible for 25-40% of all global carbon dioxide emissions. Circular Economy (CE) refers to the better management of resources and waste by closing material and energy loops, as well as minimizing the material that enters the system to begin with. In the built environment context, adaptive reuse reduces the need for new construction through adapting existing buildings to new uses. Another way is to use existing space more efficiently, e.g., through co-location, sharing and flexible workspaces which all lead to higher utilisation rates. This study will assess the lifecycle carbon impact of an adaptive reuse project which aims for space efficiency through reconfiguring the spaces and upgrading and increasing the dimensions and accessibility of services. Three different lifecycle analyses (LCAs) are made using typical and conservative data manually, as well as one LCA tool, to compare how the choice of method impacts the LCA results. The main sources of impact within the system boundaries will also be explored, in order to understand the relationship between different lifecycle phases in an adaptive reuse project. The results can form a baseline for similar renovation projects which include space efficiency measures, as this project did in terms of sharing spaces. Future research will include comparing the results of this project with a minor renovation scenario for the same building, where space efficiency was not included. Less building work would lead to a lower impact per m2, however not necessarily per person as less people would be able to utilise the space.

Reuse of Treated Wastewater: Drivers, Regulations, Technologies, Case Studies, and Greater Chicago Area Experiences

Water reuse is a practical solution to augment water supplies in areas where water resources are increasingly scarce. Water reuse technology is versatile and can be used to alleviate the different causes of water scarcity, such as groundwater depletion or increased availability of brackish water. Treatment technologies can be tailored specifically to the end use of recycled water, focusing on these drivers that are region-specific, for a more cost-effective treatment system. This is called a “Fit-for-Purpose” strategy that is commonly implemented in any water reuse project. However, implementing water reuse can be challenging due to infrastructural requirements, economic issues, and social acceptance. To help navigate these challenges, this article provides a comprehensive review of water reuse cases and presents guidelines that can act as a reference framework for future water reuse projects. This article also makes the case for implementing water reuse in the Greater Chicago area as a means of alleviating pressure on withdrawals from Lake Michigan.

Industrial Heritage Rethinking: Flexibility Design for Eco-Friendly Environments

The conscious and efficient reuse of historic buildings has turned out to be a fundamental point of European programs for the management and conservation of the Architectural Heritage. In this context, the Industrial Heritage shows architectural and spatial peculiarities that facilitate its change of use and performance updating. In fact, the large internal spaces limit the issue of material compatibility to retrofit interventions on the casing. Often the interventions of reuse of the industrial heritage are solved with new architectures designed to be completely inserted inside the original envelope, remaining independent from it. This work presents the reuse project of an industrial building in the city of Sagunto, Spain, where the logic of the “box within the box” is re-proposed with the aim of spatial and constructive flexibility. The research shows a design methodology that allows the new functional modules inside the old building to be designed according to flexibility requirements and how flexibility design is a means for environmental sustainability in the occasion of disused industrial heritage reuse.

Actor Roles and Networks in Implementing Urban Water Innovation: A Study of Onsite Water Reuse in the San Francisco Bay Area.

As climate change and rapid urbanization stress our aging water infrastructure, cities are under increasing pressure to develop more flexible, resilient, and modular water management systems. In response, onsite water reuse practices have been adopted by several cities globally. In addition to technological innovation, these novel water treatment systems also require new stakeholder collaborations, relationships, and processes to support them. There are, however, few models for stakeholder arrangements that support and encourage the adoption and success of such infrastructure. In this paper, we use interviews with stakeholders involved in onsite water reuse projects in the San Francisco Bay Area to create a social network map that describes the interactions between stakeholders at large and during specific phases of project implementation. Using qualitative content analysis of expert interviews and social network analysis, we identify four actor roles that are key to the functioning of this novel water infrastructure paradigm─specialists, continuity providers, program champions, and conveners─and discuss the importance of each role through the course of project implementation. These findings can be helpful for policy interventions and outreach efforts by other cities and communities looking to implement onsite water systems.

Shifting Waters: The Challenges of Transitioning from Freshwater to Treated Wastewater Irrigation in the Northern Jordan Valley

Jordan’s water scarcity prompted a national plan whereby treated wastewater is utilized to amend agricultural irrigation water so as to reallocate freshwater to urban/domestic uses. The policy, however, has engendered farmers’ resistance in the Northern Jordan Valley (NJV), causing a stalemate in putting new infrastructure into operation. This research investigated the socio-economic causes of farmer resistance and contestation, and examined the government’s institutional approach to overcome the challenges. We found that the perceived risks of wastewater reuse such as salinization and restrictions from international markets figure prominently in the farmers resistance. As yet, farmers have managed to avoid the shift to treated wastewater use by using the political agency of elite farmers who control the Water Users Associations. These same farmers have adopted informal water access practices to overcome freshwater shortages. At the same time, small producers who don’t have possibilities to access extra water and with less political clout seem more willing to irrigate with treated wastewater. We conclude that understanding the heterogeneous context in which the envisioned wastewater users operate is key to predicting and solving conflicts that arise in treated wastewater reuse projects.

Информационное моделирование зданий высоковольтных подстанций

The article discusses the advantages of the joint use of information modeling technology and modular construction technology. The object of research is the design of high-voltage substations buildings. The subject of the research is the application of information modeling technologies and block-modular construction in the design of high-voltage substations buildings. The design features of block-modular buildings for high-voltage substations are considered and the features of their design with the use of reuse projects are considered. It is noted that in the process of information modeling it is possible to use catalogs and libraries of digital information models of standard structures, as well as elements of electrical equipment. It is proposed to evaluate the quality of the digital information model in accordance with the requirements of state expertise. A scheme for checking the quality of the model in the software Renga using the IFC format is presented. It is concluded that the joint use of information modeling technologies and modular construction technologies increases the efficiency of these technologies.

Optimal design of water reuse networks in cities through decision support tool development and testing

Water scarcity and droughts are an increasing issue in many parts of the world. In the context of urban water systems, the transition to circularity may imply wastewater treatment and reuse. Planning and assessment of water reuse projects require decision-makers evaluating the cost and benefits of alternative scenarios. Manual or semi-automatic approaches are still common practice for planning both drinking and reclaimed water distribution networks. This work illustrates a decision support tool that, based on open data sources and graph theory coupled to greedy optimization algorithms, is able to automatically compute the optimal reclaimed water network for a given scenario. The tool provides not only the maximum amount of served reclaimed water per unit of invested cost, but also the length and diameters of the pipes required, the location and size of storage tanks, the population served, and the construction costs, i.e., everything under the same architecture. The usefulness of the tool is illustrated in two different but complementary cities in terms of size, density, and topography. The construction cost of the optimal water reclaimed network for a city of approximately 100,000 inhabitants is estimated to be in the range of €0.17–0.22/m3 (for a payback period of 30 years).

A Sustainable Adaptive Reuse Management Model for Disused Railway Cultural Heritage to Boost Local and Regional Competitiveness

Building reuse is a strategy for built heritage enhancement. The establishment of new activities in an existing building can have positive effects on the urban and territorial context and modify the dynamics of socio-economic development. If the reuse is considered as a cultural development strategy and not limited to a single building but to both buildings and infrastructures, these effects are amplified. This is the case of railway heritage, affected by an increasingly vast process of abandonment. The Italian policies for encouraging road transport and the communication models of the digital era have contributed to the gradual desertion of railway lines. This requires effective reuse models, to avoid that the Ferrovie dello Stato (State Railways) continue to carry the heavy burden of managing assets no longer able to generate income. The analysis of numerous station reuse cases, at an international level, lead to the selection of the case of the Postal Museum and Mail Ride in London as an example of good practice. The proposed methodology identifies a set of evaluation criteria and indicators to assess the effectiveness of adaptive reuse projects both in terms of their ability to protect built heritage identity and to modify the orientation of the territorial context’s development towards socio-economic sustainability guidelines.

The building as a palimpsest: heritage, memory and adaptive reuse beyond intervention

PurposeThis paper contributes to this special issue on the ethics and aesthetics of adaptive reuse with a reflection on the specific case of the reuse of those sites and buildings that can be regarded as “difficult”, “uncomfortable”, or “neglected” heritage (MacDonald, 2009; Logan and Keir, 2009; Pendlebury et al., 2018; Lanz, 2021). By doing so it is the author's intention to add to the most recent research-driven and theory-oriented strand of the contemporary architectural debate on adaptive reuse (Lanz and Pendlebury, 2022). They also intend to encourage increased research engagement within such a debate, both across disciplines and with methods and approaches that may be able to bring in greater critical consideration of the more-than-architectural aspects involved in adaptive reuse practices.Design/methodology/approachBuilding equally on a comprehensive literature review on the subject and extensive field work, the paper works through one paradigmatic example – the San Girolamo mental asylum in Volterra, Italy – and combines on-site observation, field notes, qualitative interviews and archival research with theory-driven reflections to discuss the ramifications of adaptive reuse processes in place-based memory and heritage practices.FindingsThe case of the former mental asylum San Girolamo in Volterra, today abandoned and decaying on the landscape, is discussed via the metaphor of the building as palimpsest to explore the significance of this built heritage in both its materiality and meanings. The San Girolamo asylum demonstrates the value, complexity and potential of this heritage site, and other alike, to act as a powerful place which connects the past and present that might serve as a platform to promote productive discourses about contemporary sensible topics, ethics of care and human rights. Drawing on these observations, the paper concludes by expanding on how the case of the San Girolamo former asylum both showcases and advocates the need for developing more creative, explorative, trans-disciplinary and collaborative approaches and methodologies to the study and implementation of adaptive reuse projects for these site “beyond intervention”.Originality/valueThis paper draws on and contributes to the more recent research-driven and theory-oriented corpus of studies focussing on adaptive reuse.

Selection of indicator contaminants of emerging concern when reusing reclaimed water for irrigation — A proposed methodology

Organic and microbial contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), even though not yet regulated, are of great concern in reclaimed water reuse projects. Due to the large number of CECs and their different characteristics, it is useful to include only a limited number of them in monitoring programs. The selection of the most representative CECs is still a current and open question. This study presents a new methodology for this scope, in particular for the evaluation of the performance of a polishing treatment and the assessment of the risk for the environment and the irrigated crops. As to organic CECs, the methodology is based on four criteria (occurrence, persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity) expressed in terms of surrogates (respectively, concentrations in the secondary effluent, removal achieved in conventional activated sludge systems, Log Kow and predicted-no-effect concentration). It consists of: (i) development of a dataset including the CECs found in the secondary effluent, together with the corresponding values of surrogates found in the literature or by in-field investigations; (ii) normalization step with the assignment of a score between 1 (low environmental impact) and 5 (high environmental impact) to the different criteria based on threshold values set according to the literature and experts' judgement; (iii) CEC ranking according to their final score obtained as the sum of the specific scores; and (iv) selection of the representative CECs for the different needs.Regarding microbial CECs, the selection is based on their occurrence and their highest detection frequency in the secondary effluent and in the receiving water, the antibiotic consumption patterns, and recommendations by national and international organisations.The methodology was applied within the ongoing reuse project SERPIC resulting in a list of 30 indicator CECs, including amoxicillin, bisphenol A, ciprofloxacin, diclofenac, erythromycin, ibuprofen, iopromide, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, Escherichia coli, faecal coliform, 16S rRNA, sul1, and sul2.

Quantitative study for the effect of water velocity on water quality change

Atmospheric reaeration process plays a key role in degradation of organic matter and self-purification processes affecting dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in rivers and streams. Moreover, water quality (WQ) processes can be highly dependent on flow velocity conditions. Where, highly reaeration rates are positively correlated with high flow velocity. Therefore, the present work reports deep insights on the role of flow velocity with reaeration process in the concentration of DO and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5). This study was applied along the largest agricultural drainage water reuse project, El-Salam Canal in Egypt. The hydrodynamic (HD) characteristics and WQ parameters (DO and BOD5) along the canal were simulated using a one-dimensional HD and WQ model (MIKE 11). The simulated results indicated that the canal was deteriorated towards El-Salam Canal after mixing with El-Serw and Bahr Hadous drains. Statistical regression fitted line and Pearson correlation analysis, were performed on the simulation results of the reaeration rates with flow velocity and WQ values, indicating a significant correlation. Accordingly, water velocity should be taken into account as a key factor for describing the WQ change.

Adaptive Reuse for Sustainable Development and Land Use: A Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis Estimating Key Determinants of Public Perceptions

Adaptive reuse is a rapidly expanding frontier study area across the world. Adaptive reuse can have a significant influence in relation to contemporary trends in (peri-)urban sustainability, especially considering the past decades of the human-caused depletion of natural resources and environmental pollution. Adaptive reuse developments, which manage to incorporate a (scientifically) predefined set of conceptual theories, policy principles, and practical tools, as all the available data suggest, can achieve a good balance between invested capital, ecological conservation, the preservation of the cultural heritage, and sustainable urban regenerative renewal. This study focused on the recent FIX Brewery adaptive reuse project in Athens, Greece, as a means to establish the key public perception determinants of the adaptive reuse practice impacts on (peri-)urban sustainable development. Evidence for the relationships among five factors was provided through multiple linear regression analysis. The new empirical findings are likely to encourage concerned parties and stakeholders, and particularly regulatory entities, to pursue essential actions to set adaptive reuse at the core of urban and spatial masterplans, paving the way toward sustainable and circular cities.

Reconstruction Design of Taicang Traditional Dwellings Based on Cultural Inheritance

Under the social background of urban-rural relationship reconstruction, the hollowing out of traditional villages is developing rapidly, which makes the traditional residential buildings in China uninhabited and unrepaired due to the influence of economic and cultural factors. The rural revitalization strategy provides inspiration for the architectural design of traditional residential buildings, that is, focusing on cultural heritage and making traditional residential buildings modern. Effective protection of the traditional features of traditional houses is the most basic criterion for the protection planning of famous historical and cultural villages. If only the space protection planning is carried out, and the development of villages based on houses cannot be fully considered, it will undoubtedly cause great damage to traditional villages. This paper discusses and studies how to do the activation and reuse project of Taicang traditional dwellings sustainably from the commercial point of view, so that the transformed object can regain its vitality and vitality, and can further carry out a virtuous circle as a commercial project stably and healthily in the later period, providing new social and commercial values to the surrounding environment, community and local residents.

The Relation between Environmental Risk Analysis and the Use of Nanomaterials in the Built Environment Sector: A Circular Economy Perspective

Nowadays, the challenge of climate change and “ecological transition” is substantially an “energy challenge” for every city, which is supposed to become as “energetically self-sufficient” as possible. The construction sector is one of the main contributors to the effects of climate change, starting from the production of materials to the use phase of buildings to their demolition. Recent innovations in sustainable/circular design are related to using “new materials." According to this perspective, nanomaterials are becoming an increasingly widespread practice in various sectors. Nanomaterials are considered very innovative materials able to solve different problems related to buildings' structural and energy efficiency due to their small size. However, the future challenge is to understand whether these materials can be considered “green" from their production stage since risks to human health have been found in both the manufacturing and use and disposal stages. In this regard, an abacus of the most commonly used nanomaterials in the construction industry is defined. Simultaneously, were identified the negative environmental impacts related to the use of these materials, to propose possible solutions to reduce/mitigate them. Therefore, from this analysis, it emerged that a possible solution could be to move to the “industrial biosynthesis process” for producing nanomaterials, according to the circular economy principles. However, this process must always be combined/supported by “Environmental Risk Analysis (ERA)," an evaluation tool capable of identifying and mitigating the adverse negative environmental impacts. The paper concludes with the consideration that new materials for the built environment should be functional and " beautiful," particularly when they are to be used for reuse projects in historic buildings.

Identifying Opportunities for Nonpotable Water Reuse Based on Potential Supplies and Demands in the United States

Water scarcity threatens the well-being of individuals, the natural environment, and economic systems that function within society. Faced with growing and evolving water supply concerns, many utilities and industries have relied on nontraditional water sources to mitigate severe shortages and combat water quality concerns. Treated municipal wastewater can serve as a reliable supply of water at a predictable quality and quantity and is especially well-suited for nonpotable end uses. In this work, we identify areas within the contiguous United States where water reuse projects are possible on the basis of existing supplies of treated wastewater at known qualities and quantities, estimated nonpotable demands, and state-level policies that outline water quality requirements for reuse. We use publicly available data to develop a geographic information system-based supply-demand assessment that identifies spatial trends and areas of interest for locally focused water reuse analysis. We find that the feasibility of water reuse is highly sensitive to existing state-level policies and the level of wastewater treatment currently in place. Nonpotable recycled water can potentially offset significant water withdrawals within communities where specific policy and technical criteria are met.

Indicators for the sustainability assessment of MBR technologies for wastewater reuse in Chile: The good, the bad, and the ugly

While Chile faces a mega-drought, wastewater reuse emerges as an alternative solution. In this study we develop a set of indicators for the comprehensive sustainability assessment for the application of advanced wastewater treatment technologies (e.g., MBRs) in a wastewater reuse project in Chile. The methodology is based on the Integrative Concept of Sustainable Development (ICoS) framework. A critical analysis of the set of indicators is presented in terms of the benefits (The Good), the difficulties (The Bad), and the barriers (the Ugly) for their development and potential application. The characterization of the environmental benefits constitutes the useful aspects (e.g., recovery of nutrients, energy, and water). Difficulties include economic aspects (e.g., continuous monitoring of emerging contaminants) and public acceptance. Political and administrative aspects were found to be the main barrier, including water rights in Chile and the absence of a clear regulatory framework for wastewater reuse. To our knowledge, this study is the first to present a detailed methodology for developing indicators for membrane-based water reuse projects in Chile.The steps to develop the indicators are: •Identification of the study zone or case study, characterization of treatment technology.•Identification and formulation of indicators for the specific case study, based on the ICoS framework.•Verification of the relevance of indicators for the case study according to data availability and expert reviews.

Research on the Pricing of Reclaimed Water: A Case Study of a Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse Project

The reclaimed water produced by sewage treatment plants can be reused for many purposes, which has gradually been paid great attention. However, its pricing mechanism has not been well established especially in China, which has brought certain restrictions on the wide application of reclaimed water. Therefore, this paper attempts to analyze the current situation of domestic reclaimed water pricing, combined with the research and analysis of reclaimed water production costs and related industry profits, and gives the recommended reclaimed water pricing. Taking the reclaimed water reuse project in Ningbo, China as an example, the cost and profit are analyzed by season. The recommended price in non-winter is 0.3833 yuan/ton, and the recommended price in winter is 0.4283 yuan/ton. This study may provide some reference for the improvement of the pricing mechanism of reclaimed water, thus contributing to the wide application of reclaimed water.