Possible future role for architects and developers in reuse

Abstract

Since the economic crisis in 2008 there is a common impression that things are about to change. No more large scale newly built neighbourhoods, growth is no longer a keyword. More transformation, reuse and redevelopment within the existing city boundaries is. New building assignments like increasing number of 1- and 2 person households and office vacancy strengthen this tendency. There is also a sustainability aspect in reuse. This is not only about saving building materials, but also saving existing structures and landmarks the area, which has characteristics for people to identify with. As a result of this, developers tend to take more interest in redevelopment. What does this mean for our built environment? Are they going to take certain values into account? The main research question is: Considering the changing building industry, what is the sum of co-operation between real estate developers and reuse architects in the initial phase in the building process in a reuse project? This will be tested on a post war housing flat, with two different design approaches known within the faculty of architecture: value assessment (department of Renovation, Modification, Intervention and Transformation) and feasibility analysis (department of Real Estate and Housing). The main reason for choosing this typology is because over 30% of our building stock is built after the war and lack modern comfort. This makes them likely to be redeveloped. Although the methods used are not completely fit for this building typology, this research shows that there is a sum. The most interesting conclusions are: - Financial analysis gives a designer insight in where exactly the costs are made and where the creative freedom might be. This resulted in equal costs for a simple functional intervention and a more extensive architectural intervention. Same costs, big difference in appearance; - The value analysis can show developers and building owners that a depreciated building, seemingly outdated and ‘ugly’, still has qualities and demolition is not the only option. - Combination of both created a profitable redesign of a post war housing flat with architectural quality and respect for values and heritage of the building and neighbourhood.