Elizabeth Dull & Doris Kincade
High Point University & Virginia Tech
While reduce, recycle, reuse, repurpose and even regift are often associated with being environmentally responsible, the idea of reusing, reinventing, or repurposing old buildings (i.e., adaptive reuse) still seems to be a job of last resort. Older buildings present challenges for reinventing spaces that are aesthetic, functional and legal. On the other hand, adaptive reuse can support sustainability through reinvigorating a community, providing good stewardship of resources, and maintaining a sense of continuity in the urban fabric. ''[A]daptive reuse can help restore the vibrant and lively activity of aging urban city neighborhoods and central business districts. Such development can make these places once again an exciting physical place for people … to live, work, and play” (Faircloth, Kaiser, & Steinmann, 2009, p. 41). Adaptive reuse, a major initiative of the 1970's and early 1980's (Harwood & Hing, 1987; Pettinari, 1980), deserves new consideration as an opportunity to further stretch the definition of sustainability. More recent research has focused on the structural analysis and other architectural aspects of reuse (Langston, Wong, Hui, & Shen, 2008) meanwhile challenges and opportunities still exist for interior designers to be leaders in this aspect of sustainability.
The purpose of this research is to examine abandoned factories that were successfully repurposed and given new life. With the continued shift of manufacturing to off-shore sources, numerous empty factories in many regions offer opportunities to ID professionals and students for experiences in sustainability. This study involves mixed-method research in a two-step exploration. Step one is a census process documenting the number and location of abandoned textile, apparel, and furniture factories in a selected geographic region. Step two is a case study examination of buildings identified as rescued and reclaimed for a variety of purposes. Documentation included interviews, site visits, and various print and internet sources. Triangulation of data, saturation of information and industry experience of researchers improved reliability and validity.
Using content analysis on the qualitative data, four major design themes emerged associated with the adaptive reuse of these factories: space planning appropriate for living/working environments, upgrade of interior systems, life/safety codes, and inclusive design criteria. In all cases, the role of the interior designer was multifaceted. Issues that at first glance might be conflicting (i.e. efforts to meet guidelines for sustainability vs. demands of customers) were satisfied through creative design solutions. This information could be an invaluable resource for interior design students and professionals interested in repurposing existing structures.
The study offers expanded ideas on sustainability for ways in which interior design education (student projects) and ID professionals may consider options for the built environment. For example, faculty at schools in regions where old factories or other abandoned buildings exist could challenge their students to seek adaptive reuse solutions for buildings while providing service learning and sustainability information to local businesses. Through extensive photographs, the poster’s focus is to highlight interior solutions of successful adaptive reuse projects and to engage viewers in discussion.
References (APA)
Faircloth, S., Kaiser, B., & Steinmann, F. A. (2009). Residential adaptive reuse and in-fill development. Economic Development Journal, 8(2), 40-47.
Harwood, B. & Hing, A. (1987). Michael Graves’ Carlos Hall reviewed. Journal of Interior Design Education, 13(1), 37-44.
Langston, C., Wong, F. K. W., Hui, E. C. M, & Shen, L-Y. (2008). Strategic assessment of building adaptive reuse opportunities in Hong Kong. Building and Environment, 43, 1709-1718.
Pettinari, J. (1980). Adaptive reuse: A case study. Journal of Interior Design and Research, 6(2), 33-42.
