"Theories, Techniques, Strategies" For Spatial Planners & Designers

The decision-making process of reuse strategies requires a complex set of thinking over location of heritages, architectural assets and market trends [2]‌. The participants of the process should have a clear understanding on how to determine the most appropriate future use for buildings [3]. Conflicts often arise between professionals, public, government representatives, architects, architectural historians, developers and owners due to discrepancies in their perspectives [4].

Adaptive reuse of heritage buildings is a challenge for designers [5]‌. New use proposals should consider if the building is appropriate for this use or preserve the cultural significance of the heritage [1]. Deciding how to use a building is difficult since there are many actors in play. Finding the most appropriate function within a context is crucial in order to preserve and sustain its cultural significance, which would ensure its continuity. During adaptive reuse decision making, finding the most appropriate function for the building and considering the social, economic and physical benefits in different dimensions are important for a successful heritage adaptation.

The tendency is to focus on the technical issues of maintenance and to integrate the preservation activity with the planning of the general land use. However, little attention is paid to the role of management strategies and tactics during their adaptation. The conservation activity should be considered holistically and care should be given to their management for a sustainable heritage adaptation [6]‌. While assigning new functions, the existing fabric needs to be analyzed in depth. Surveys should be conducted during the decision-making process. The heritage values of the buildings should be considered, the needs of the district should be discovered and possible users of the buildings need to be identified [7].

The study presents a holistic approach in identifying factors affecting the adaptive reuse process and proposes a model that would help decision-makers in developing strategies. The purpose of this research is to question the proposed method when developing adaptive reuse strategies of heritage buildings. In this context, a model proposal has been developed for heritage buildings that are abandoned, inappropriately functioned or disused.

As a method, the model for adaptive reuse strategies of heritage buildings was applied to a case study in Cyprus. New strategies and alternatives were developed for the Agios Panteleimon Monastery in Çamlıbel/Myrtou and a matrix was devised to discuss different proposed strategies. The model has been tested through the application of the case study and a matrix developed in order to propose a quantitative approach. The developed matrix compared three different adaptive reuse strategies. The selected case study was analysed in accordance with the proposed steps and factors. Adaptive reuse strategies were developed and new use alternatives and possibilities were discussed.

2 Literature Review on the Adaptive Reuse of Heritage Buildings

Adaptation of a building is defined as the process of transforming an existing building to accommodate new uses [9]‌. The term adaptation means the process of adjustment and alteration of a structure or building to fit new conditions. It can be defined as any work to a building to change its capacity, function or performance, which is beyond the maintenance [10]. It may include alterations, extensions, improvements and other works that modifies the building [11].

The Department of Environment and Heritage (2004) defines adaptive re-use as “a process that changes a disused or ineffective item into a new item that can be used for a different purpose” [12]. It is often described as a process by which structurally sound older buildings are developed for economically viable new uses [13]. Adaptive re-use is a process of change that requires creativeness from the architects involved in finding a way to fit a new function for the building and also all those involved in the process [14].

Adaptive reuse is not a recent phenomenon since reuse occurred in the past simply because demolition and the construction of new buildings would simply require more time, energy and money than reuse [14]. It has been started to discuss architecturally during the 1960s and 1970s due to the growing concern for the environment [15]. Much of the original inspiration came from examples of adaptive re-use documented by Sherban Cantacuzino in his two books, New uses for old buildings and Re-architecture: old buildings/new uses [16].

There are various reasons of adapting buildings such as conservation and sustainability. Firstly, reuse of an old building is more ecological than erecting a new building. Redevelopment activities spend more energy and expose more waste than adapting the existing building. Secondly, the historic and architectural significance of existing building can be satisfactory reasons why it should be sustained [11]. The main argument on the reasons of adaptive reuse is a very simple one: it is better to use what is there than making effort to build a new one [21].

At the end of the second millennium, in many European cities there is a clear sign that construction of new buildings is in decline; on the other hand, the reuse of existing buildings is becoming increasingly important. Today, society is more aware of ecological issues and the demolition of old buildings is perceived as an ecological waste and also as the eradication of local identity, of cultural heritage and of socio-economic values [22]. As a strategy to promote sustainability within the built environment, many buildings with cultural and historical values have been adapted and reused instead of demolition [2]‌.

Adaptive reuse can transform heritage buildings into accessible and useable places by providing new places to be lived in a sustainable manner. The most successful adaptive reuse projects respects heritage significance of the building and also add a contemporary layer for its future [12].

3 Research Methodology

4 Political and Economic Issues in Conservation of Heritage Buildings in Cyprus

The island is divided into two territories as North and South separated by a UN Buffer Zone since 1974. The buffer zone cuts through the city of Nicosia and divides the whole island from northwest to southeast. A 180 km line of demarcation separates Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The division is the main reason for the island’s on-going problems in terms of restricting development and imposes issues for future planning. In spite of the division, there are efforts on both sides for the conservation and revitalization of architectural heritages. The division limits development and creates diverse problems for planning [25].

Starting from 1986 to the present day, many projects have been conducted funded by The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the European Union through United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) [26]. Since 2001, the European Union funded Partnership for the Future Programme (UNDP-PFF) aims at contributing to the peace and confidence building process in Cyprus through different levels of interventions. UNDP-PFF started working in Cyprus under a bi-communal programme focusing on the rehabilitation of Nicosia; however, in 2004, the programme was extended to other cities namely Famagusta and Kyrenia. In recent years UNDP-PFF’s focus returned to bi-communal projects to support the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritages (TCCH) for the preservation and promotion of the immovable cultural heritages of Cyprus [27]. Generally, TCCH gives more importance to the conservation of abandoned religious heritage buildings in both sectors since it is seen as a threat to the peace and reunion of the island.

5 Application of the Model on a Case Study

Çamlıbel/Myrtou is an ancient village, on the east outskirts, with the remains of the Byzantine village of Margi. It is located 28 km southeast of Kyrenia city next to Kyrenia – Morphou road (Fig. 2). The village is located on an intersection that connects roads from Nicosia, Kyrenia and Morphou. It has neighbourhood to other villages.

Its principal monument is the Monastery of Agios Panteleimon, which was the residence of the Bishop of Kyrenia from 1571 to 1921 [28]. Agios Panteleimon Monastery in Çamlıbel/Myrtou is a disused and abandoned building (Fig. 3). Adaptive reuse strategies were developed and new use alternatives and possibilities were discussed.

The renovation works on the monastery started in October 2015 and completed in 2016. The conservation project was selected by the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage; (TCCH) United Nations Development Program- Partnership for the Future (UNDP-PFF) supported the project financially [27].

6 Conclusion

Heritage buildings are our identity as they transfer knowledge to new generations regarding lifestyles and cultures of people pertinent to that era. They are the reflections of their time and safeguard the history of communities. A comprehensive conservation and preservation of architectural heritages and giving them new functions according to their location, size, and potential can make heritage buildings sustainable. By the adaptive reuse of cultural heritages, a framework of cultural significance is created.

The life span of a physical structure is longer than its function; therefore, it is necessary to assign a new use for the building once its original function demeans in time. Desolation of heritages causes irrevocable havoc to structures. Nevertheless, any given new function must be appropriate in terms of preserving the cultural significance of their historic fabric. When buildings are reassigned disparate functions, the new use and the interventions should preserve the originality and architectural character of the buildings in order not to give wrong or missing information to future generations.

The research proposed a comprehensive methodology for the development of adaptive reuse strategies of heritage buildings and further provided a complete review on the factors affecting decision-making. A model for developing strategies for heritage buildings including industrial heritage buildings or buildings of the Modernism period was proposed all of which were abandoned, inappropriately functioned or disused.

In determining the most appropriate strategy of a heritage building, the adaptive reuse decision-making process should be placed under detailed scrutiny. All the factors of adaptive reuse should be considered from different perspectives. The significance of the heritage, its meaning to the local community and other physical aspects combined should all be taken into consideration. The success of an adaptive reuse project depends on details. It cannot be evaluated in terms of preservation since a successful adaptive reuse project should also be economically sustainable; thereof, bringing in the importance of a solid management plan.

The international principles of conservation of heritages should be harmonized with local needs, beliefs, practices and traditions. No heritage exists without communities as communities create heritages. Loss of unison between communities and their cultural heritages result in loosing identity and bond to locale. For the continuity of heritage buildings, the spirit of the place and local culture should be preserved as well as the physical characteristics of buildings.

The focal point of conservation is to sustain tangible and intangible values of the place. Adaptive reuse of heritage buildings can act as a catalyst and onset other projects in the proximity. As mentioned, the contributions of reuse to environment and community are important and cannot be overlooked since there is always an interaction between conversion projects and environment. In order to achieve a successful conversion, the history of heritages should be assessed before entitling appropriate functions.

References