The feasibility of adaptive reuse of vacant industrial buildings in Southwestern Ontario

10.32920/ryerson.14653251.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kayly Robbins

Keyword(s):

Key Words ◽

Lake Erie ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Adaptive Reuse ◽

Study Analysis ◽

Brownfield Redevelopment ◽

Existing Building ◽

Case Study Analysis ◽

Industrial Buildings

This research investigated the feasibility of adaptive reuse of vacant industrial buildings in Southwestern, Ontario. Adaptive reuse is a conversion strategy that has recently been utilized in cities faced with a decline in industry. The cities experiencing a labour shift away from manufacturing now have dilapidated vacant or underutilized industrial buildings cross their urban landscape. Adaptive reuse is the process of reusing an existing building, with or without changes to the structure, for a new purpose. Southwestern, Ontario is a region that has struggled to rebound from the economic shift, and the 2008/2009 recession. The region is located southwest of Toronto, bordering Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair. This study, through case study analysis, explored the characteristics that are important in hindering or facilitating the feasibility of adaptive reuse of existing vacant industrial buildings. The case studies demonstrate that location, market characteristics, legislation, council support, and financial implications are the most important factors in assessing the feasibility of adaptive reuse. This research, and the recommendations provided, may aid municipalities and counties in encouraging and working with developers to revitalise their vacant industrial buildings. Key words: adaptive reuse, brownfield redevelopment, Southwestern Ontario

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The Craft of Conversion: Enhancing New Zealand's Industrial Heritage through Adaptive Reuse

10.26686/wgtn.16998634 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Claire Alana Krejcisz

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Design Process ◽

Large Scale ◽

Adaptive Reuse ◽

Physical Factors ◽

Missed Opportunities ◽

Existing Building ◽

Industrial Heritage ◽

Case Study Analysis ◽

Industrial Buildings

<p>The aim of this research is to explore an adaptive reuse approach as a way to enhance industrial buildings in New Zealand. As in other parts of the world, New Zealand has accumulated industrial buildings which are now in disrepair. Many of these buildings appear to be undervalued by their local communities and are often demolished with little consideration given to other options. There are missed opportunities here to create composite architectures which make use of these somewhat curious buildings. This thesis initially investigates the significance that these buildings may hold for society and suggests reasons why they ought to be reused. The research then questions how an adaptive reuse approach could be used to enhance industrial structures. By combining the research into the importance of older buildings, particularly industrial buildings, with international case study analysis, a set of design approaches are developed. These approaches offer concepts and techniques for the conversion of industrial buildings which pertain to physical factors such as proportion and form. The design process is informed by these approaches, where they are expanded and tested for their relevance in a New Zealand context. The site for this design exploration is the Lower Hutt Railway Workshops which were selected to reveal the challenges involved in a large-scale project and because they embody the typical issues of industrial disregard. The intended function is a film complex which has specific requirements necessary to probe change in the buildings. However, this design example does not suggest that one-approach-fits-all. Rather, these approaches are developed to provoke thought in designers embarking on industrial conversions. Due to a widespread lack of appreciation of industrial buildings, there is typically more creative freedom in the way they are adapted, compared with non-industrial buildings. This suggests that more innovative conversion methods can be used. The approaches developed in this thesis advocate for an amalgamated adaptation which has a well considered relationship to the existing building and site. Overall this research reveals that there are a number of significant factors to consider when converting industrial architectures. When these factors are included in the design process, the experience of aged materials and the heritage-value encompassed in these buildings can be further enhanced.</p>

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Greenequality - Determination of Socio-Spatial Urban Landscape Typology

Prostor ◽

10.31522/p.26.2(56).4 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 26 (2 (56)) ◽

pp. 258-267

Author(s):

Stjepko Golubić ◽

Bojana Bojanić Obad Šćitaroci

Keyword(s):

Urban Landscape ◽

Spatial Inequality ◽

Study Analysis ◽

Case Study Analysis ◽

History Of ◽

Mutual Comparison ◽

Selection Of

This paper explores the history of limitations in use and accessibility of city landscapes. Case study analysis covers six examples of parks and residential square gardens. Mutual comparison offers a new socio-spatial urban landscape typology, which precedes the selection of models of rehabilitation for city landscapes. The results show that designed landscapes are used not only to mitigate, but also to intensify socio-spatial inequality.

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The Craft of Conversion: Enhancing New Zealand's Industrial Heritage through Adaptive Reuse

10.26686/wgtn.16998634.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Claire Alana Krejcisz

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Design Process ◽

Large Scale ◽

Adaptive Reuse ◽

Physical Factors ◽

Missed Opportunities ◽

Existing Building ◽

Industrial Heritage ◽

Case Study Analysis ◽

Industrial Buildings

<p>The aim of this research is to explore an adaptive reuse approach as a way to enhance industrial buildings in New Zealand. As in other parts of the world, New Zealand has accumulated industrial buildings which are now in disrepair. Many of these buildings appear to be undervalued by their local communities and are often demolished with little consideration given to other options. There are missed opportunities here to create composite architectures which make use of these somewhat curious buildings. This thesis initially investigates the significance that these buildings may hold for society and suggests reasons why they ought to be reused. The research then questions how an adaptive reuse approach could be used to enhance industrial structures. By combining the research into the importance of older buildings, particularly industrial buildings, with international case study analysis, a set of design approaches are developed. These approaches offer concepts and techniques for the conversion of industrial buildings which pertain to physical factors such as proportion and form. The design process is informed by these approaches, where they are expanded and tested for their relevance in a New Zealand context. The site for this design exploration is the Lower Hutt Railway Workshops which were selected to reveal the challenges involved in a large-scale project and because they embody the typical issues of industrial disregard. The intended function is a film complex which has specific requirements necessary to probe change in the buildings. However, this design example does not suggest that one-approach-fits-all. Rather, these approaches are developed to provoke thought in designers embarking on industrial conversions. Due to a widespread lack of appreciation of industrial buildings, there is typically more creative freedom in the way they are adapted, compared with non-industrial buildings. This suggests that more innovative conversion methods can be used. The approaches developed in this thesis advocate for an amalgamated adaptation which has a well considered relationship to the existing building and site. Overall this research reveals that there are a number of significant factors to consider when converting industrial architectures. When these factors are included in the design process, the experience of aged materials and the heritage-value encompassed in these buildings can be further enhanced.</p>

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