Title

Author(s)

Graziella Trovato

Affiliation

ETSAM, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

DOI

https://doi.org/10.65686/GFOY7854

Keywords

Adaptive Reuse, Immanence, Post-industrial Heritage

PP

957-965

How to Cite

Trovato, Graziella. “The Ecology of Reuse in Heritage Contexts.” In Proceedings of the International Conference on Adaptive Reuse. Volume 1, edited by Andrea Crudeli, Francesca Molle, and Emanuele Carrai, 957–965. Firenze: STH Press, 2026.

Abstract

The emergence of heritage discourse within contemporary architectural debate is relatively recent and has often been motivated more by the search for design opportunities than by concerns for conservation. Its development has paralleled the evolution of heritage protection charters, which have progressively expanded the notion of heritage to encompass broader spatial and cultural dimensions, including both tangible and intangible values connected through collective memory. From the 1960s onwards, public opposition to the demolition of iconic urban landmarks such as Pennsylvania Station in New York and Euston Station in London fostered the reuse of abandoned buildings, particularly industrial structures. This process contributed to integrating heritage into architectural theory through the concept of cultural significance. While restoration belongs to a specialised technical field, reuse requires a broader professional approach that is environmentally responsible, promoting the recycling of existing structures and reducing energy consumption, costs, and waste associated with demolition and new construction. Reuse also entails social responsibility. In contexts marked by urban expansion, vacant new developments, and excessive construction, it challenges an economic model that has revealed limitations and encourages the productive use of existing resources. Beyond its environmental benefits, the conservation and reuse of existing structures strengthen local identity, reinforce a sense of belonging, and support the continuity of collective memory. The scope of reuse is therefore extensive, encompassing any structure that has lost its original function, regardless of its architectural or heritage value. Yet the heritage question remains central: how to assess, preserve, and transmit the intrinsic values of existing structures while accommodating new uses. In this regard, adaptive reuse offers an alternative to demolition or gradual abandonment by promoting the continuity of both the material and immaterial values embedded in the built environment. Ultimately, it encourages an understanding of heritage as a living system in which human and non-human actors coexist and interact.

Edited by
Andrea Crudeli
Francesca Molle
Emanuele Carrai

Publisher
STH Press, Firenze

ISBN Paperback – 9791281661141
ISBN Ebook – 9791281661158
DOI – https://doi.org/10.65686/SISY7263

Year
2026

Proceedings of
International Conference on Adaptive Reuse
hosted by The University of Pisa, Italy
15-19 September 2025, at the Gispoteca di Arte Antica dell’Università di Pisa.