Reuse of industrial buildings

Abstract

Derelict industrial buildings are the statement of humanity's disregard towards an important part of its heritage. Therefore the initial objective of the dissertation was to define the unpopular term 'Industrial Heritage' and consequently show its intimate relation with the history and essence of humanity. This was followed by an analysis of the new Charter regarding industrial heritage that was devised with the primary aim to raise consciousness and protect the industrial heritage. From all this was clear that industrial heritage should be absolutely conserved. Also, it came obvious that industrial buildings cannot be kept like an artefact within a museum due to the very large number available which makes its quite impossible. Also, not utilising an industrial building goes against the nature of the building itself, which was built to function. Therefore a sympathetic reuse can be an effective way to conserve industrial buildings. However, before any reuse scheme can be formulated, a careful understanding of the nature and variety of industrial buildings is essential. The location of industrial buildings was chosen according to the level of transportation systems available, which accidentally was marking the destiny of the building once its original function ceased. Although the location is no longer being considered a problem to achieve new uses, since the new technological era is getting new hopes to vacant industrial buildings. Typology do also play an important rope in the destiny of the vacant industrial building. A large variety exist, each having the best set of uses that match their size configuration. One should not exclude that creativity can extend beyond the limits bound by the location and typology. It can be drawn out that for all industrial buildings there are a set of common underlying factors, namely, functionality , strength and character, that make them excellent candidates for reuse. The same industrial nature of industrial buildings had put them in a bad light during the years. Also the failures and consequent losses of jobs brought about even more antipathy with whatever is industrial. The stigma associated with industrial buildings, partially perceived and partially based on real facts, was the primary cause for their isolation and dereliction. This attitude has been changing in some countries such as England from about the 1970s, and is being gradually overcome. With regards to the design of reuse projects of industrial buildings, different approaches exist. However, no definite guidelines exists yet. Although the success is not dependent on the approach there are some of them that are more likely to impair the integrity of the building. Hence, this makes the issue worth dealing with. Apart from achieving a new use confined within the building, a vacant industrial building can be used to achieve a positive effect on a much larger scale. From a state of dereliction, depressing stretches within the community, several industrial buildings had prove to be able to achieve a renaissance that brought about the social and economic revival of whole areas. A finally an analysis of a foreign and a local case study was considered. The foreign case study, proved to sum up different issues that were dealt in theory in this dissertation. The local case study was vital as it is within the initial period in Malta where industrial buildings are being reused.