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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2022) | Viewed by 22993

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Isabella M. Lami

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Guest Editor

Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy
Interests: problem structuring methods; multi-criteria decision analyses; project appraisal; decision-making processes; urban and territorial transformations; sustainability assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

The issue of underused or vacant historical buildings in contemporary cities is a massive phenomenon, and the subject of wide-ranging debate. These buildings embody a dormant asset that, furthermore, creates problems and degradation in the urban fabric. To tackle this subject and to trigger real operations of sustainable reuse and valorisation imply the reconsideration of some established beliefs. In particular, the types of adopted values are often called into question; not only financial but also social and cultural.

To foster the sustainable valorisation of abandoned buildings and unused spaces in cities, the concepts of circular economy and adaptive reuse are crucial. To adopt circular economy within the built environment means to consider mainly three aspects:

i) Preserving the natural capital of finite resources by creating conditions for soil regeneration;

ii) Maximising resource yields by planning a loop circulation of products through regeneration, renewal, and recycling;

iii) Designing the management of buildings and facilities’ obsolescence.

Adaptive reuse is based upon the assumption that buildings, areas, districts, and sites are not static entities. They are not designed simply for one single use during their life cycle. Adaptive reuse is an approach that can be considered sustainable. This is because it consists of the practice of introducing new content in an existing site, paying particular attention to the needs of society, and following the principle of maximum conservation and minimum transformation.

This Special Issue aims to encourage works in both theoretical and applied fields dealing with different issues of sustainable reuse of historical buildings in the framework of circular economy and adaptive reuse concepts.

Prof. Dr. Isabella M. Lami
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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Keywords

sustainable reuse
vacant historical buildings
circular economy
adaptive reuse
financial value
cultural value
social value

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 104705 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Socio-Spatial ‘Tabula Rasa’ and Punctual Preservation: The Case Study of Measurable Compensation in Lijiao Village

by Edoardo Bruno

Sustainability 2022, 14(14), 8256; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14148256 - 06 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1788

Abstract

Villages in the cities (VICs) exhibit all the contradictions of contemporary Chinese urbanisation. These historic settlements attracted large floating populations during the booming urban economy, which redefined their morphological assets. Moreover, their urban persistence reflects the social and cultural modifications occurring within metropolises. Municipal governments’ attention was drawn to the extraordinary densification process, triggering negotiation regarding urban upgrades and social engagement alongside the overall transformation of VICs. Despite the broad scientific literature on VIC redevelopment, especially from urban and social studies perspectives, little attention has been paid to the spatial and monetary compensation awarded for forced or planned demolitions. The transition from informal agglomerations to residential compounds implies the action of local authorities cooperating with real estate developers to make existing house ownership the basis of compensation for measurable spaces in new typological configurations defined by radical social shifts. Lijiao village in Guangzhou was selected as a case study to observe how its urban renewal programme affected the evaluation of historic building preservation versus large selective demolition. Cultural heritage and spatial compensation have become the cornerstones for reconfiguring the village’s morphology and the everyday life experiences framed by interested local groups’ mediation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Reuse of Historical Buildings)

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15 pages, 3127 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How to Activate the Value in Existing Stocks through Adaptive Reuse: An Incremental Architecture Strategy

by Roberta Ingaramo, Isabella M. Lami and Matteo Robiglio

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5514; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14095514 - 04 May 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1886

Abstract

This paper illustrates a methodology for the remediation of polluted ex-industrial sites that considers the adaptive remediation and reuse of previously productive buildings and is structured in an incremental strategy. The main features of an adaptive reuse intervention are generally considered: low investment; high heritage awareness; urban identity; strong community engagement; and green concern. These characteristics are only partially compatible with the transformation of brownfields, mainly because of their usual size of the area, as it would require a large initial investment to purchase and convert the entire asset. To tackle this issue, we are proposing an incremental strategy that starts from the design process and is based on three main principles: (i) keeping and reusing as much of the existing buildings and facilities as possible; (ii) drawing the masterplan layout according to the pollutants, their zone distribution and the remediation techniques; and (iii) increasing public interest towards the area, attracting investors and stimulating a mechanism to rise the market value of the real estate property. The incremental strategy is illustrated through a project to reactivate an abandoned industrial area in Venice, Italy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Reuse of Historical Buildings)

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14 pages, 2150 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energiebunker Hamburg—Ecological and Economic Sustainability of a War Relic?

by Hansjörg Drewello and Nina Kulawik

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1751; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14031751 - 03 Feb 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2082

Abstract

The Energiebunker in Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg used to be an abandoned and overgrown flak and air raid bunker—a relic of World War II. After the war, the interior of the bunker was blown up, and only the upper floors and the three- to- four meter thick concrete walls remained. For more than 60 years the building was not in use. The building was transformed during the International Building Exhibition in Hamburg between 2006 and 2013 and is now used to generate renewable electricity and heat for more than 1500 households. This adaptive reuse not only enabled the bunker to be integrated into the redesigned neighborhood, but also to fulfill certain societal needs. The historic building was conserved and given a new sustainable use. Nowadays it is a tourist attraction and a war memorial. This paper explores the economic and environmental sustainability of this transformation. Could this be a second use scenario for other bunker facilities from World War II? Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Reuse of Historical Buildings)

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17 pages, 7530 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adequate Housing and COVID-19: Assessing the Potential for Value Creation through the Project

by Caterina Quaglio, Elena Todella and Isabella M. Lami

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10563; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131910563 - 23 Sep 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2886

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the relationship between people’s behaviors and residential spaces, bringing to public and academic attention, on the one hand, the exacerbation of pre-existing problems and, on the other, the potential of spaces, such as communal gardens and apartment-block terraces, to become important resources of sociability or privacy. Overall, this raises the question of how to assess the responsiveness of the existing residential stock to needs that transcend the traditional concept of housing adequacy—e.g., the need for adaptable, open, and livable spaces. This research moves from the assumption that underused spaces in residential neighborhoods represent a crucial asset for creating new economic and social values through architectural and urban projects. Consequently, moving from an in-depth observation of a selection of public housing buildings in Turin as a paradigmatic case study, the aim is to explore the potential for the adaptive reuse of residential spaces at different scales—from the apartment to the neighborhoods—highlighting the implications for design. In doing so, the paper puts forward a methodological approach, which widens the way housing adequacy is normally assessed, by focusing on the possibility of transformation of often neglected spatial resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Reuse of Historical Buildings)

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15 pages, 1859 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adaptive Reuse and Sustainability Protocols in Italy: Relationship with Circular Economy

by Gaballo Marika, Mecca Beatrice and Abastante Francesca

Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 8077; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13148077 - 20 Jul 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3406

Abstract

This paper explores the enhancement of adaptive reuse (AR) of buildings through the lens of the sustainability protocols within the context of circular economy (CE) in Italy. Cities and the built environment can play a key role in the transition to a CE, especially considering the documented negative global impact due to resource consumption and waste generation. This is recognised among the principles of circularity defined by the European Commission towards a general strategy for a sustainable built environment, which encourages initiatives of building reuse and land consumption reduction. It has been proven that the AR of vacant buildings can bring environmental, social, and economic benefits towards an urban strategy based on CE principles by generating useful values to support innovative development dynamics. In this perspective, the sustainability protocols can be identified as useful tools to pursue strategies for spreading the culture of sustainable build environment. Considering the huge vacant Italian architectural heritage, this paper aims to analyze how the most widely used sustainability protocols in the Italian context currently address the enhancement of the reuse of buildings, to improve environmental, social, and economic quality in the built environment. We discuss the results highlighting how and which sustainability protocols better intercept these issues, providing grounds for future development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Reuse of Historical Buildings)

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25 pages, 2484 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identifying Challenges and Solutions in Cultural Heritage Adaptive Reuse through the Historic Urban Landscape Approach in Amsterdam

by Nadia Pintossi, Deniz Ikiz Kaya and Ana Pereira Roders

Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5547; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13105547 - 16 May 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5168

Abstract

Cultural heritage drives and enables sustainable urban development. The adaptive reuse of cultural heritage creates values while prolonging the lifespan of heritage. Similarly, circular economy creates value while extending the useful life of materials and elements through their reuse. Existing studies on adaptive reuse challenges seldom focus on cultural heritage properties, and they are often identified through the engagement of a limited variety of stakeholders, as compared to the actors normally involved in adaptive reuse. Filling this gap, this paper provides a preliminary baseline of challenges faced by the city of Amsterdam from the perspective of various involved stakeholders, and suggests solutions to address them. The participants represented the public, private, knowledge, and third sectors. The methods used were the following: for data collection, a multidisciplinary workshop using the steps of the Historic Urban Landscape approach as an assessment framework applied to multiple scales on adaptive reuse, and for data analysis, manifest content analysis. The results expanded the range of challenges and solutions reported by previous literature on the adaptive reuse of cultural heritage in content and scale by identifying 61 themes—e.g., knowledge and civic engagement. Tools and stakeholders were also identified. These findings provide a reference for future practice, policymaking, and decision-making, facilitating the adaptive reuse of cultural heritage to capitalize on its potential for sustainable development and circular economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Reuse of Historical Buildings)

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19 pages, 25088 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Criteria Assessment for Defining Compatible New Use: Old Administrative Hospital, Kyrenia, Cyprus

by Beser Oktay Vehbi, Kağan Günçe and Aminreza Iranmanesh

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 1922; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13041922 - 10 Feb 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3291

Abstract

It is common for the original use of heritage buildings to become obsolete which in some cases can result in them becoming vacant and subject to deterioration. Adaptive reuse is an essential policy for achieving sustainability as it keeps a continuous building life cycle and avoids building destruction. It is one approach to sustainability where it retains the tangible and intangible values, resilience of the original building materials, and reduces waste and time. The decision-making criteria for compatible new use includes several criteria that affect sustainable development: economic, environment, social, legislative, and architecture. Several Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods have been established in order to aid the process of cultural heritage preservation. This research aims to present an assessment model to support the establishment of appropriate new use by employing an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The decision-making software used was Expert Choice 11. The administrative hospital in Kyrenia, Cyprus, was selected as the case study in this research. Using the application of AHP with the participation of different stakeholders (experts and locals), a more compatible use as a community centre is proposed and supported by the research methodology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Reuse of Historical Buildings)

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