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Abstract

The construction industry's environmental impact demands urgent action, with adaptive reuse emerging as a key strategy to extend the lifespan of existing buildings. However, for reuse to be viable at scale, the conditions that enable buildings to adapt must be better understood. While adaptability is often framed in terms of programmatic flexibility, recent research emphasises the role of spatial configuration, understood as the organisation of access between spaces shaped by the circulation system (i.e. stairs, lifts, corridors, cores and shafts that structure connectivity and accessibility). During conversion, this system is challenged as new uses require changes in accessibility, permeability and connectivity, making reuse potential critically dependent on the capacity of circulation systems to be reconfigured. This research investigates how circulation systems facilitate reuse through an evidence-based study of converted buildings. Eight cases are analysed qualitatively using digital mapping and semi-structured interviews to generate hypotheses and define numerical parameters of adaptability. These parameters are tested on the full 30-case dataset using graph-based analysis and statistical analysis to assess their validity. Advanced computational methods translate the validated findings into a data-driven tool for evaluating circulation systems to support decision-making in adaptive reuse projects, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable built environment.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Rinke Mario
• Fellow: Ndiaye Zena

Research team(s)

• Architecture + Interior01/11/2026 - 31/10/2030

Funding

• FWO

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The building industry's environmental impact underscores the urgent need for sustainable construction practices. Maintaining our building stock is, therefore, imperative. This research examines how circulation systems (i.e., stairs, lifts, corridors, cores, and shafts, which structure movement, connectivity, and accessibility) can facilitate adaptive reuse, ultimately extending the lifespan of buildings. Acknowledging that designing for change requires understanding change first, the study conducts an evidence-based analysis of converted buildings to generate novel insights into circulation's role in adaptability. By combining academic research with implicit knowledge from building practice, the project develops guidelines for designing and reusing buildings with robust circulation networks that critically contribute to a sustainable built environment.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Rinke Mario
• Fellow: Ndiaye Zena

Research team(s)

• Architecture + Interior01/11/2025 - 31/10/2026

Funding

• BOF

Project type(s)

• Research Project