Adaptive reuse (AR) of heritage buildings is a complex process involving many stakeholders with different ambitions. Recently, a theoretical model has been proposed to facilitate this process. However, the validation of this model and investigation of the nexus between process steps, methods/tools used by architects, and the effectiveness of projects are still lacking. This paper aims to validate the model by examining four AR projects in the Netherlands, considered effective as winners of a prestigious architectural prize. The research methods included literature reviews, case visits, and interviews with architects and other stakeholders. The model was refined, and methods/tools used by architects in the process steps were identified, highlighting their link with the effectiveness of results. ... Read more

Sinds 2006 werk ik aan de ontwikkeling en implementatie van een onderzoeksmethode voor de analyse van de architectonische en ruimtelijke kwaliteiten van gebouwen, zodat die een rol kunnen spelen bij planvorming in de toekomst. Door zowel de oorspronkelijke situatie als de veranderingen door de tijd heen in de analyse te betrekken, kan er vervolgens een afgewogen ontwerp worden gemaakt. De elementen waarop beoordeeld wordt, kunnen wisselen. In de ABCDº-onderzoeksmethode (Analyse van Bouwwerken van Context tot Detail in de tijd) worden naast contextuele factoren de architectonische én bouwkundige elementen benoemd (Zijlstra 2009). Andere methoden leggen meer de nadruk op cultuurhistorische waarden (Pereira Roders 2007 en Kuipers en De Jonge 2017). In het onderwijs op de TU Delft (Heritage & Architecture) passen studenten diverse methoden toe bij hun afstudeerprojecten (Clarke, Zijlstra en De Jonge 2019). De ABCDº-methode is ontstaan uit mijn PhD-onderzoek ‘Bouwen in Nederland 1940–1970’ (Zijlstra 2006). Het Stationspostkantoor in Amsterdam was een van de casestudy’s en bleek een goed voorbeeld te zijn om via deze methodiek de kwaliteiten van een gebouw inzichtelijk te maken voordat een eventuele herbestemming plaatsvindt. Helaas werd het Stationspostkantoor uiteindelijk bijna geheel gesloopt. Op de locatie ervan verschenen de bibliotheek (OBA), het conservatorium (ODE) en het hoofdkantoor van Booking.com. Wellicht krijgen deze gebouwen in de loop van de tijd met dezelfde vraag te maken: kan dit ontwerp ook een andere functie dienen en wat kan dan blijven en wat zal er moeten veranderen? Tijdens het symposium ‘Ontwerpen in analogie met het bestaande’, georganiseerd door Architectenweb en Winhov in Pakhuis de Zwijger op 9 oktober 2023, waren de sprekers het erover eens: eerst een gebouw doorgronden voordat er een ontwerp wordt gemaakt voor herbestemming (Architectenweb 2023). ... Read more

Adaptive reuse (AR) of heritage buildings is common practice in The Netherlands and is becoming more and more common at the International level. While AR projects are generally considered positive actions towards preserving the qualities of heritage buildings, not all projects have similar (positive) impact. To propose a methodology for dealing with the AR of heritage buildings aiming for positive impact, the AR process has been studied. After a comprehensive systematic literature review, a theoretical model representing the steps of the AR process has been sketched (fig.1). This model depicts the ideal steps of architects in dealing with heritage buildings. To check whether these steps are actually followed, two effective AR projects, winners of the NRP golden phoenix prize, were studied namely ‘LocHal’ in Tilburg (fig.2) and ‘Energiehuis’ in Dordrecht (fig.3). During the research, the cases were visited, the published literature on the cases was reviewed, and architects and other stakeholders involved were interviewed. The interviews were based on the steps of the theoretical model but the model was not shown to the architects till the end of the interview. Finally feedback was asked from the architects if the model represented their actual steps and where they diverged. The analysis of the collected data confirmed that architects followed the steps reported in figure 1. However, the process was reported to be not linear, as suggested in the model, but to include several loops between some of the steps, mainly between steps 1, 2 , 3, 4, 5, and 6 (fig.4). Next to refining of the AR model, investigation of the case studies led to the identification of tools and methods used by architects, which have possibly positively influenced the effectiveness (positive impact) of the final result. Both case studies distinguished themselves, according to the NRP jury reports, because of their high ‘social value creation’. Involving end-users, other producers, and original users in different steps of the AR process has been identified as the main method used by the architects contributing to this positive impact. ... Read more

Final report of the research project KaDEr ... Read more

This paper seeks to approach the context –social, economic and political– that conditioned themassive housing construction in the Netherlands after World War II. For this purpose, it has beennecessary to build a general framework about the construction of public housing in the second halfof the twentieth century, through the analysis of approved urban planning and housing legislationand the identification of the organisations responsible for public housing construction in these years.As the central methodology, the research has required an extensive search of literature andreferences to articulate the relationship between the knowledge previously generated. For thispurpose, in addition to research publications, professional papers or legislative documents, it hasbeen necessary to consult to experts, researchers or professionals as part of a research stay at theDelft University of Technology.Compared to other European contexts, the Dutch housing policy has two differentialcharacteristics that should be highlighted. Firstly, the long history and massive production of publicrental housing promoted by housing corporations. Secondly, a lower legislative output that favoursgreater flexibility, but also agility and adaptability. In this respect, the new regulations that cameinto force in 1965 made it possible to divide the time frame analysed into two periods.The first of these, known as Reconstruction Period, is characterised by a more significant rolefor the Government in solving the housing problem through the Central Housing Directorate of theMinistry of Reconstruction and Housing. The priority was to develop measures to alleviate thehousing shortage. The annual housing construction programs were accompanied by additionalfinancial aid to promote residential production, as well as measures to streamline the design andconstruction processes of housing.The second one introduces a third specific feature of Dutch housing production: innovation.According to the results of this work, this can be exemplified in two directions. From thetypological point of view, the Experimental Housing Programme is promoted, which favours theconstruction of experimental residential projects in its functional programme and its constructiveresolution. From the geographical distribution of public housing, there is also a significant change,focussing on cities of intermediate scale, to curb the excessive growth of the large Dutch cities ofthe Randstad. ... Read more

Adaptive reuse (AR) of modern buildings, including industrial buildings from the late 19th and 20th centuries, is a complex process as it involves many actions and actors, which influence the result of projects. Effective AR can provide many advantages for societies. This paper aims to provide an overview of the three most highlighted criteria, mentioned by previous researchers, for assessing effectiveness of AR of modern buildings. This research followed seven steps: 1. Reviewing the criteria of “effectiveness” in AR projects in the literature 2. Collecting the data (jury reports of NRP and Europa-Nostra awards) 3. Distilling the reports related to modern heritage buildings 4. Translation of Dutch reports in English 5. Analysing and coding the texts following the criteria mentioned in the literature 6. Analysing the role of effective AR of modern heritage buildings in providing sublimation and social value 7.Formulating some conclusions/recommendations. This review indicates despite the attribution of the effectiveness of AR of non-modern heritage buildings to the attraction of tourists, the effectiveness of AR in modern buildings is often attributed to positive effects on the surroundings and local community. Moreover, in modern buildings, compared to non-modern buildings, qualities provided by new interventions are highlighted more. This can be related to open space plans, stronger materials, wider spans, and spacious urban settings providing a higher tolerance for acceptable change. By revealing the aspects of effectiveness within these two criteria, this study contributes to the broader understanding of the AR potential of modern buildings. Though this review is useful for encouraging the reuse of modern buildings, the methods/tools to be used to achieve effective results need more investigation in future research. ... Read more

Adaptive reuse (AR) of heritage buildings is a complex process due to the involvement of many actions and actors, which influence the results of the projects. The effectiveness of AR projects can be described by various criteria. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the criteria of effectiveness in AR projects with the final scope to guide and improve the AR process. A review of the jury reports of two highly prestigious awards in the Netherlands (NRP Golden Phoenix award) and Europe (Europa Nostra) has been conducted. In total, the reports of 48 cases have been reviewed. The five criteria mentioned in the regulations of the NRP award have been used to categorize the aspects mentioned in the jury reports of both awards. These criteria are: “social value creation”, “sublimation (both architectural and cultural aspects)”, “environmental sustainability”, “economic value creation”, and “innovation”. This review reveals that “social value creation” and “sublimation” are among the most highlighted criteria that the juries considered for the effectiveness of AR projects. Often aspects mentioned for these criteria overlap partially with those aspects mentioned in the criterion of “economic value creation”. This indicates that enhancement of the qualities of heritage buildings and their surroundings and improvement of the social values and the resulting positive economic effects are strictly interrelated. The overview of the criteria of effectiveness, as defined in this work, will serve as a basis for the investigation of the tools and methods which can be used in the AR process to achieve these criteria ... Read more

The Adaptive Reuse (AR) of heritage buildings is a complex process, which aims to preserve the values of heritage buildings while adapting them for use in the present and transferring them to the future. This paper aims to identify steps in this process and develop a structured model. The model is an ‘ideal’, it needs validation in practice; however, it is expected that following this model can help to preserve and conserve the values of heritage buildings. To come to an overview of the process and to identify its main steps, a literature review at an international level has been conducted. The analysis of the literature revealed that the AR process as a whole in relation to heritage buildings has not been widely studied. Based on the results of this review, a conceptual model representing the AR process of heritage buildings has been defined. This model consists of 10 steps: ‘initiative’, ‘analysis of heritage buildings’, ‘value assessment, ‘mapping level of significance’, ‘definition of adaptive reuse potential’, ‘definition of design strategy’, ‘final decision-making’, ‘execution’, ‘maintenance’, and ‘evaluation after years’. This model can act as a comprehensive theoretical basis for further studies on the AR process of heritage buildings. ... Read more

Buildings today are subject to change. New functions are accommodated in vacant buildings. This is a favorable development from both a sustainability point of view and a cultural-historical perspective. Originally, the volume and form of a building was dictated by its original function: form follows function. We now see that a spatial form is already present. Is it logical to conclude that the new functions adapt to the existing available form and space: function follows form?

In order to gain insight into how the existing form and space relate to the possibilities of reuse, research into a spatial building typology is necessary. Existing typological studies of buildings are usually based on functions. An inventory of research that has already been done with regard to spatial characteristics of buildings and the way of translating it into analyzes is part of this research. Also, on the basis of two comparative spatial analyzes of two groups of buildings (Department Stores V&D’s and Police Stations in The Netherlands), a methodology is explored that maps the spatial characteristics of the locations. Eight locations per group of buildings were explored through analyzes on four scale levels: city, block, object and envelope and on the basis of twelve spatial aspects. After analysis per location the characteristics have been compared per aspect. Parallel twenty-four students worked on the redesign assignments during two graduation studios at Delft University of Technology (Heritage & Architecture). Their final designs were related to the existing spatial types of the locations in order to arrive at a redesign typology per building group in order to answer the question: can statements be made about the redesign possibilities of these buildings based on a Spatial Building Typology of buildings? Finally, some recommendations are made for further research ... Read more

Deze publicatie is een weerslag van de uitkomsten van het KaDEr-project (Karakteristiek Duurzaam Erfgoed) dat de TU Delft in opdracht van en in samenwerking met de Provincie Gelderland heeft uitgevoerd. De lezer wordt meegenomen in de zoektocht om invulling te geven aan de relatie wetenschap, praktijk en beleid rondom duurzaam erfgoed op verschillende schaalniveaus. Aan de hand van acht bijdragen wordt gereflecteerd op het proces en de uitkomsten. De auteurs gaan in op een thema dat gedurende de afgelopen vier jaar aan de orde is geweest. Ook nemen zij stelling in met betrekking tot het debat dat naar aanleiding van dit thema gevoerd is en in veel gevallen nog verder gevoerd kan worden. Daarnaast hebben we een aantal meer zijdelings betrokkenen gevraagd om stelling te nemen met een uitspraak naar aanleiding van hun ervaringen tijdens het project.

Het KaDEr-project omvatte na een intensieve voorbereiding vier kalenderjaren. We denken dat op het onderdelen nog een vervolg behoeft. KaDEr staat dus voor Karakteristiek Duurzaam Erfgoed en in het project is gewerkt aan energetische duurzaamheid, financieel gezond perspectief, functioneel gebruik en het borgen kennis op lange termijn. Het project zelf werd opgebouwd rond vier Living Labs om theorie en praktijk aan elkaar te koppelen:
 Living Lab XL-Stad: Zutphen, Winterswijk en Elburg. Daarbij droegen we vanuit KaDEr bij aan een onderzoek naar Kerkenvisies en de Energietransitie voor diverse gemeenten;
 Living Lab L-Stad: Landgoederen, waar het Baaksebeek-gebied en Gelders Arcadië centraal stonden en het onderzoek resulteerde in de betreffende Ontwerpatlas;
 Living Lab M-Typologie: Kerken. Nationaal en regionaal een opgave die veel aandacht kreeg de afgelopen vier jaar. Specifiek keken wij vanuit KaDEr naar het functioneren van Energiescans en de Financiële Duurzaamheid aan de hand van de Eusebiuskerk in Arnhem en de Stevenskerk in Nijmegen;
 Living Lab S-Gebouw: Reuversweerd. Een (bouw)locatie die we vier jaar lang intensief hebben gevolgd en waar alle partijen veel van hebben geleerd. We hebben daarnaast onderzoek gedaan naar Afwegingsmodellen voor het verduurzamen van monumenten en de Gevolgen van het na-isoleren van monumenten met binnenisolatie.

Er werden binnen de Living Labs en deelonderzoeken diverse overkoepelende thema’s aan de orde gesteld en beproefd en daar is lering uitgetrokken. Dit heeft zich ook vertaald in het gaandeweg aanpassen van de aanpak en in de voorbereiding van nieuw beleid. Het geeft ook aanleiding om op lange termijn zaken anders te gaan doen. Wat er is geleerd en waar bijgestuurd kan worden is in acht hoofdstukken samengevat. We reflecteren op het proces van het KaDEr-project. We geven adviezen voor het bijsturen van beleid. Een visie op de toekomst, vanuit de provincie zelf, komt vervolgens aan de orde. Tijdens de vier jaren van uitvoering van het project is er op diverse schaalgebieden geacteerd.

Op het grote schaalgebied is met het Living Lab L-Gebied (Landgoederen), een koppeling met het Europese Innocastle project gemaakt. Daar hebben ook ontwerpprojecten met studenten plaatsgevonden en er is een Ontwerpatlas samengesteld.

Het leren van elkaar stond van het begin af aan bij het KaDEr-project centraal Samen met het Gelders Restauratie Centrum en de Monumentenwacht Gelderland zijn er onderwerpen via kennisoverdracht en workshops uitgewerkt. Via de koppeling van onderwijs aan bijvoorbeeld de stad werd in het Living Lab XL-Stad tussen studenten, gemeenteambtenaren en gebouweigenaren samengewerkt om van elkaar te leren.

Bijzonder is het kerkelijk erfgoed en de wijze waarop de Kerkenvisie als instrument een rol zal spelen bij de herontwikkeling van kerken. Dit is in de praktijk samen met drie gemeenten uit de Oost-Achterhoek uitgewerkt. In het KaDEr project komen zo theorie en praktijk mooi samen. Concreet kunnen en zullen beslissingen op het schaalgebied van gebouw en materiaalgebruik belangrijke gevolgen hebben voor opdrachtverlening, uitvoering, instandhouding en subsidieverstrekking aan erfgoed.

Door alle schalen heen richtten we steeds de blik op de toekomst. Daarbij kunnen we aan de energietransitie, die steeds urgenter wordt, niet voorbijgaan. Daar ligt zeker voor historische binnensteden een uitdaging. In twee gemeenten is hiervoor een inspirerende driedaagse ‘roadshow’ gehouden en is een energietransitie roadmap uitgewerkt.

Het KaDEr-project heeft geleid tot een veelheid aan leerzame ervaringen die nu in de nabije de toekomst kunnen inspireren en hun weerslag krijgen in provinciaal beleid dat een duurzame instandhouding van monumentaal erfgoed binnen de provincie Gelderland een stap verder brengt. Duurzame instandhouding biedt een visie op de lange termijn en is de basis voor een maatschappelijk verantwoorde werkwijze.

Het KaDEr-project kon alleen tot stand komen door een goede samenwerking tussen en vele krachtsinspanningen van vele partijen en personen. Namens de TU Delft bedankt de redactie van de publicatie KaDEr-stellingen alle betrokken personen bij de provincie Gelderland, de gemeenteambtenaren in Zutphen, Elburg, Winterswijk, Aalten en Oost-Gelre, de partners van de Gelderse Erfgoed Alliantie, de monumenteneigenaren en hun architecten, adviseurs en projectleiders op locatie en met name die op Reuversweerd. Daarnaast was het succes van KaDEr niet mogelijk geweest zonder de inzet van docenten, onderzoekers vanuit drie afdelingen van de faculteit Bouwkunde van de TU Delft en de vele studenten die vier jaar lang aan het project hebben gewerkt en het tot een inspirerend en leerzaam geheel hebben gemaakt.
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The KaDEr research project is looking for possible changes in the policy to preserve built heritage in a sustainable way for the province of Gelderland. From 2017 to 2021, TU Delft conducts this research project. A lot of disciplines of TU Delft are involved from the Faculty of Architecture. The Heritage & Architecture (HA) is in the lead. Four themes are addressed for research: energetic sustainability, financial perspective, functional usability and securing knowledge. Theoretical and analytical research is worked out about the more general aspects of current and future policy and strategies. The perspective for the future is made by practice in four Living Labs on different scale levels. Various tools and methodologies are tested, analysed and improved through eight sub-studies. One of the related research questions for the Living-Labs is: How can student design projects for real cases change the solutions for these projects in practice? So, educational design projects from HA are integrated in the Living Labs. Around ten students (the next generation) work in teams on the subjects. In academic education projects this is not daily practice. The TU Delft HA group developed their own methodology to incorporate practice, technology, design and cultural value aspects in their education program (Clarke & Zijlstra & De Jonge, 2019). At this moment (half way the KaDEr project) some conclusions can be drawn from the results of the students. They can make a difference in practice when dealing with heritage. Buildings that were planned to be demolished will remain like in Zutphen and new insights are provided for preserving historically important aspects in the Reuversweerd estate. The province of Gelderland is enthusiast and in the lay-out for the policy framework in future this way of working will be incorporated in the strategy to safeguard a more sustainable approach on the preservation of built heritage including the ideas of the next generation of architects and researchers. For the TU Delft HA group it gives input to upgrade their education program for the next years as well. ... Read more

In the Mastermind Crash course, buildings are analyzed on various aspects, in particular looking at the impact and (measurable) results that the interventions in the building have had. Much of the built heritage is vacant, requires a re-use or the current use requires an update. This causes buildings to change. At Heritage & Architecture we want to make students aware of the impact these changes have on various aspects that play a role in this. This chapter is about architecture. Architecture is a broad concept. That is why we have focused on a limited number of aspects: space, connections and details. So, three scale levels are included in the analysis. A value assessment can be made on the basis of various methods. This is explained and illustrated in this chapter with a lot of examples. This judgment is placed in the framework of the Mastermind Crash course, after which an evaluation and comparison can be made of the change of the building at the moment and with respect to the building in a previous phase of life with the focus on Architecture. The idea behind the three dimensions of analysis, is that you look at a building not just as an object, but essentially as a living element that relates to the surrounding space, that has its own details proving its uniqueness and that all these three dimensions are influenced by the purpose for the use or the redesign of the building. The building’s AR-DNA is an important factor to take into account to try to understand the building itself. The before and after situation always depends on the character of the original building. The total overview of insights provided by this exercise results in a collection of practical examples that serve as learning material for architects in training. Architecture is an essential part of the assessments addressed by the Mastermind Crash course and, by studying examples and appreciating them, it will contribute to a design vocabulary for the redesign of existing buildings with respect to their heritage values. ... Read more

On 31 december 2015, the department store of Vroom & Dreesmann (V&D), which was founded in 1887, officially went bankrupt. This ended the rich history of a department store that had branches in many Dutch cities and towns. This raises the question: what happens to the traditional twentieth century commercial areas in major Dutch cities in an era that everyone is shopping online? In the historic city centres of Haarlem, Leiden, Dordrecht and Amersfoort for example, many buildings are vacant because traditional retailing is almost impossible. For over a century, the use of the city centre was dictated by commercial activities yet nowadays shopping streets are empty. Shops and department stores are closed, leaving a desolate image. In 2016 V&D went bankrupt and all their buildings became vacant. The revival of Hudson’s Bay for several V&D buildings was not successful either. These large buildings with clear corporate identities and the smaller retail shops are in urgent need of transformation to secure liveability. This research contributes to the broader question of Vacant Heritage: can you find indicators for building typologies that will become obsolete and are there general concepts for revitalisation? In this book, eight different vacant department stores from the V&D will be analysed. All buildings are located in large or small cities throughout the Netherlands: Leiden, Alkmaar, Amsterdam, Haarlem, Amersfoort, Maastricht, Enschede and Dordrecht. These department stores were all developed within the historic city walls, in what we now call the historic centers. The typological research for this book is linked to the Vacant Heritage studio. Traditional research methods into typologies in architecture almost always assume typologies based on functions. Typology = ‘the study of types or the systematic classification of the types of something according to their common characteristics’ (Wikipedia). However, as the function and use of the original buildings change nowadays, a different approach is needed to investigate building typologies. Instead of the functions, the space becomes central. Research into similarities and differences in the spatial characteristics of a collection of buildings, which were originally realized for one specific function (group), yields a series of spatial properties that can give direction to the possibilities for redesign. Spatial building typology = the study of types and systematic classification of the types of buildings according to their common spatial characteristics and qualities. Over the years, various buildings originally designed for one specific function have been the subject of education and research at Heritage & Architecture (HA). As there are: churches, monasteries, department stores, museums, factory buildings for production, educational buildings, etc. The research builds on the research carried out by HA in the tradition of Building Analysis. ... Read more

Progres report KaDEr research project. ... Read more

The Section for Heritage and Architecture of the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment at the Delft University of Technology specializes in architectural education for adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, with a specific focus on the built heritage of the 20th century. Our approach combines architectural design and technological knowledge with an approach that places values as central informants. Here we present our approach, explore the past and project a future evolution of our educational methodology. Finally, we reflect on the lasting relevance of the tangible and intangible heritage of the recent past as aim and source of our educational practice. ... Read more

This article seeks to analyse the reciprocal influence between the post-war urban planning policies and the development of residential neighbourhoods in Lelystad between 1965 and 1990. This city has been designed ‘from scratch’ as the urban centre of the IJsselmeer Polders, the largest land reclamation project of the Netherlands. Lelystad’s neighbourhood development will be described and contextualised in the Dutch New Towns planning policy (1960–1985), which intended to avoid increasing congestion in the most densely populated area in the Netherlands: the Randstad. Lelystad is seen as a significant case. This New Town exemplifies the evolution in urban planning in The Netherlands in the second half of the twentieth century. Cornelis van Eesteren, who had presided over the CIAM (Congrès Internationaux d’Architecture Moderne) from 1930 to 1947, was responsible for the urban design in 1964, based on the principles of the Modern city and the functionalist design of residential neighbourhoods. However, Van Eesteren was dismissed, and his plan was modified. The successive urban plans, elaborated by the IJsselmeer Polders Development Authority (a public body for the development of the polders), adopted a technical and practical approach, and later moved to functionally integrated neighbourhoods, based on more organic ‘Woonerf’ theories. The research investigates the relationship between the general and the particular by studying the socioeconomic and political context that conditioned the Dutch New Towns and the specific urban and architectural characteristics of a selection of residential ensembles in Lelystad’s neighbourhoods. Furthermore, the research seeks to illustrate the relevance and the influence of both urban planning policies and the effective design of residential configurations. ... Read more

Onderzoek naar de effectiviteit van het provinciale subsidie-instrument voor energiescans voor monumentale kerkgebouwen in de provincie Gelderland. ... Read more