Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Adaptive Reuse and Facadism: A.Introduction
Adaptive Reuse and Facadism: A.Introduction
INTRODUCTION
Object:
To explore through analyzing the design approach of international case
study in the heritage context, attempt to exercise the conclusions drawn
in the similar heritage context with design solutions hypothetically.
ADAPTIVE REUSE:
Adaptive Reuse is a process by which older and/or historic buildings are
developed for their cultural value while receiving economically, socially,
culturally viable new uses of a sustainable nature. The corporate design of
a business is determined by the combination of the component parts
architecture, graphic design and product design.
The most successful built heritage adaptive reuse projects are those that
best respect and retain the building’s heritage significance and add a
contemporary layer that provides value for the future. Sometimes,
adaptive reuse is the only way that the building’s fabric will be properly
cared for, revealed or interpreted, while making better use of the building
itself. Where a building can no longer function with its original use, a new
use through adaptation may be the only way to preserve its heritage
significance.
True to best practice adaptive reuse principles, the project created a strong
distinction between original and new works. While intact relics of the site’s
industrial past, including the unique Blacksmith Shop and Weighbridge were
maintained as key interpretive features, references to the past are also present
in the transformation of the Stone building and former foundry into the art
gallery, exhibition spaces and visitors services area. New features adopted the
primary colors used in industrial signage on the site, such as the yellow walkway
that now defines the building’s main entrance.
The QVMAG at Inveresk won the Royal Institute of Architects Award in Tasmania
in the Heritage Category in 2002. In addition, the collaboration between the
All of these directly or indirectly affect architecture. Whether the effect is positive
or negative depends on what you believe architecture should be. 5
Iconic architecture:
3 From left: Entrance way to QVMAG and
Entrance way to Ian Potter Gallery, images
provided courtesy of the Queen Victoria
Museum and Art Gallery, photography by
John Gollings.
4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalization
5 Architecture and the Global City Roger K. Lewis, 2002 FAIA, Professor
University of Maryland School of Architecture
rogershome@aol.com
Renzo Piano, among today’s most creative and respected modern architects
practicing internationally, explains clearly what architects must do in this era of
new global history.
“I believe that the architect must lead a double life. On the one hand is
a taste for exploration, for being on the edge, an unwillingness to
accept things for what they appear to be: a disobedient, transgressive,
even rather insolent approach. On the other hand is a genuine, and not
merely formal, gratitude to history and nature: the two contexts in
which architecture has its roots. Perhaps this double life is the essence
of the only humanistic approach possible today.”
Regrettably, most new architecture suggests that few architects are up to the
task. In the future, global cities may look more and more alike. Let’s just hope
that the lovable, venerable parts of those cities will still remain sufficiently intact
for us to visit and enjoy.7
“Great architecture is ALWAYS futuristic. One doesn't envision and build for the
present, but for the future. How many great architects can you think of who
didn't do this?
But as we know, "the future" is always a projection of some fleeting idea/aspect
6 Sklair, Leslie, ‘Iconic Architecture And Capitalist Globalization’, vol 10, No.1,April 2006
7 Architecture and the Global City Roger K. Lewis, 2002 FAIA, Professor
University of Maryland School of Architecture
rogershome@aol.com
5 Adaptive Reuse Approach | Prepared by Fuaad Firoze
of the present. Note the heavy influence that utopian/dystopian science fiction
imagery has upon architecture and design”. 8
Innovation
Structure
Plan
Development
Creating a central atrium space in a high-rise building is not a simple task. First
of all, the typical building layout includes a centralized core area for circulation,
mechanical, and other basic building needs. To achieve this, the core functions
were pushed to the outer corners of the building to make way for the atrium
space.
Section Development
CONCLUSIONS:
The design of the building was able to explore the questions of adaptive
reuse, sustainable design approach, dealing with the pressure of coming
up with iconic value in the heritage setting and impact of globalization
therefore Frankfurt was founded as a trading outpost by Charlemagne in
794 AD and is a major hub of international transportation, commerce and
banking, as well as drawing many tourists from around the world.
Therefore following are the arguments which can be debated taken from
icomos charters:
1.3 The value of architectural heritage is not only in its appearance, but
also in the integrity of all its components as a unique product of the
specific building technology of its time. In particular the removal of the
inner structures maintaining only the facades does not fit the conservation
criteria.
13. Depending on the nature of the cultural heritage, its cultural context,
and its evolution through time, authenticity judgments may be linked to
the worth of a great variety of sources of information. Aspects of the
sources may include form and design, materials and substance, use and
function, traditions and techniques, location and setting, and spirit and
feeling, and other internal and external factors. The use of these sources
permits elaboration of the specific artistic, historic, social, and scientific
dimensions of the cultural heritage being examined.10
Heritage buildings
Context
Site Selection:
The site had been selected after evaluating it with the selection criteria. The site
is located on main I. I. Chundrigar Road which is considered the financial
headquarters of Pakistan. Situated in the heart of Karachi. The site faces main I.I
Chunduiriger road and at the back of it is Karachi city station.
II CHUNDRIGAR ROAD
NBP
Similarly most of the headquarters of Pakistan's financial institutions are also located on the
I.I. Chundrigar Road, including the State Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank Plaza, MCB Tower,
National Bank of Pakistan, Bank Al-Falah, Standard Chartered Bank, Citibank, etc.
Therefore the site is ideal for the function and the building will be contributing in the
financial hub of the city.
Orientation:
The site is oriented ideally as its main facade faces north and can be utilized for accepting
maximum daylight. The Wind velocity in the area is quite high and can be utilized for
Site Analysis:
The Analysis of the site is established to have an idea of the potential present in
it. The site is analyzed with respect to following aspects
Sun path/Orientation:
The sun revolves form the back of the site. It accessibility is from the I.I Chudrigar road
which the Northern side of the site. The sun path had to be understood in detail before
developing the form and suggesting measures for solar protection and daylight usage.
NORT
Wind direction:
The wind in Karachi flows from nearly the west. The wind can be utilized for
ventilation when there are favorable conditions. The building should be designed
for the wind circulation which helps in conserving the energy.
Context:
The site had its access from the financial hub of the city (I.I Chundrigar Road.)
which is on the northern side. The I.I Chundriger road is Combination of New and
Classical Architecture. British-era architecture on this street ranges from the
State Bank building to the City Railway Station buildings and administrative
offices. This road also preserves some of the finest private architecture from
Karachi's early period.
The Road serves a financial hub and dominated by office buildings in particular in
which majority are Banks. A sky line of the road is shown below:
At the Back of the site is Karachi city station which is second biggest station of
the city after Cantt. Station. Some views of the context are
NEIGHBOURING BANKS
Context:
The context is important in which the building has to be evolved. The site is
surrounded by bank head office buildings and some good collection of British
colonial era/listed heritage buildings. Therefore it can be related to the
international case study of commerz bank head office tower and incorporation of
facade retention, adaptive reuse and sustainable conversation.
AREA ANAYLSIS:
II CHUNDRIGAR ROAD
A CCESS TO
BANKS SITE
Other significant considerations which have not been mentioned are the energy
and thermal performance of the retained facades as moisture, air movement and
thermal behavior of traditional buildings is different from modern buildings. One
of the main reasons that sustainability has not been considered in facadism,
could be because of the fear that sustainability might overlap conservation aims
which could lead facadism to be seen even more as a hypocritical way of
4.Diff of plaster & wall
conserving
1.Windobuildings. chalking
2.Signage size
ws
3.Arch opening
traces
Character of Form
The majorities of buildings in the Specified Heritage Area are of interior post and
beam construction with exterior brick or masonry bearing walls. The suitability of
renovations or new development is enhanced by stipulating the use of brick,
stone or terra cotta as the predominant facade material. The texture of the
prevailing building surfaces on adjacent heritage buildings should be repeated,
i.e., smooth brick or rough stone. Facade trim elements such as cornices, lintels,
arches, sills and chimneys should be brick, stone, concrete, wood, metal or terra
cotta. Any remodeling of or additions to existing buildings should continue the
use of the predominant building materials.
Proportioning
That any new construction should respect the historic patterns and
relationship of solids to voids in w all openings. Height to width
proportions of existing buildings should be respected.
In the image
above design
recommendation
regarding facade
3.Brick
6. C.C jail 2’ high
4.
5. Plaster
Arch with
treatment is shown to restore existing façade. Following are some
exposed
to discourage
grooves
openings recommendations regarding the usage inside of the façade.
entry
8.. LEDbut
downnot
created
blocking to
lighting view.
C
H
U
N
D
R SECTION THROUGH
G WEST
A
R
R
O
A TOWARDS BASEMENT
D PARKING
MAIN TREATED
FACADE
FACADE
Figure 1ELEVATION-VIEW
SECTION THROUGH
WEST
as office functions.
Option-2
Drastic approach :
Design concept:
The design concept is formulated after a detail study of the site as it’s all about
adaptability. The research also helps tremendously in formulating it. The basic
planning begins with understanding the nature of Karachi as port city has been
The basic idea of form started evolving with the following sketch and 3d
modelling.
Basement Plan:
The five basement level are
designated for parking and
other required services such as
Garbage room, water tank,
Electric room, Machine room
and drivers room. Each floor
had a capacity of 165 cars and
40 bikes which are sufficient
enough for the building. H.V.A.C is at 2 basement level.
The building envelope is a critical component of any facility since it protects the
building occupants and plays a major role in regulating the indoor environment.
Consisting of the building's foundation, walls, roof, windows, and doors, the
envelope controls the flow of energy between the interior and exterior of the
building. A well designed envelope allows the building to provide comfort for the
occupants and respond efficiently to heating, cooling, ventilating, and natural
lighting needs.
What would be interesting to see is what has made traditional structures to last
for long time and how they perform when they are connected with the
contemporary structures in terms of durability, sound and energy performance in
a given period of time.
Conservation Criteria
New structure behind retained facade must be concealed metal features or any
other materials that has not been used in the retained facade should be voided,
if one facade is only retained and the new facades will be visible from different
viewpoints, then the architectural aesthetics of the new facade have to much the
retained one new development can be built, but it will have to be of the same
scale and volume with that of the original new roof which emphasizes even more
the initial neoclassical architectural character.
Sustainable Criteria
Insertion of more floors with glass facades, allow natural lighting to be gained in
the building skylights in the facility room and the open interior central courtyard
allow air circulation and natural lighting to be gained through all the facility
rooms, Rows of glass blocks running from floor to ceiling through living rooms,
allow light to spread out in the single flats.
FROM THE CONSERVATION POINT OF VIEW , IF FACADISM HAS TO TAKE PLACE IN HISTORIC
BUILDINGS THEN , CONSERVATION CRITERIA (LIKE CONCEALMENT OF NEW STRUCTURE BEHIND
THE RETAINED FACADE , ROOF TO LOOK SIMILAR WITH THE EXISTING BUILDING BEFORE
References
preservation?" http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/story‐of‐theweek/
2001/when‐history‐is‐only‐skin.html.
Reiner, Laurence. How to Recycle Buildings. New York: McGraw -Hill Book Co., 1979.
Press, Cambridge.
http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Projects/1124/Default.aspx.(DEC.09,2011)
http://www.international.icomos.org/charters/nara_e.htm(DEC.09,2011)
http://www.international.icomos.org/charters/structures_e.htm(DEC.09,2011)
http://whc.unesco.org/uploads/activities/documents/activity-590-1.pdf(Dec.09,2011)
http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/publications/protecting/adaptive.html(Dec.08,20
11)