Title

Author(s)

Mahwish Ghulam Rasool

Syed Hamid Akbar

Affiliation

Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture

Hasselt University

DOI

https://doi.org/10.65686/RHBO9701

Keywords

Adaptive Reuse, Cultural Continuity, Community Revitalisation

PP

817-823

How to Cite

Rasool, Mahwish Ghulam, Syed Hamid Akbar. “Layers of Meaning Adaptive Reuse, Cultural Continuity, and the Spirit of Place in Pakistan’s Heritage Architecture.” In Proceedings of the International Conference on Adaptive Reuse. Volume 1, edited by Andrea Crudeli, Francesca Molle, and Emanuele Carrai, 817–823. Firenze: STH Press, 2026.

Abstract

Adaptive reuse has emerged as a pivotal architectural strategy that preserves the cultural, spatial, and material integrity of historical structures while reimagining them for contemporary relevance. Grounded in the concept of the palimpsest, where the built environment accumulates and expresses layered narratives over time (Machado 1976). This approach advocates for both historical continuity and creative reinterpretation. Central to this discourse is the concept of the spirit of place (genius loci), which emphasises the importance of preserving the intangible cultural essence and values embedded in architectural sites (Norberg-Schulz 1980). In modern times, adaptive reuse has evolved into a dynamic process of recontextualising heritage through design, rather than preserving it statically. This paper critically examines adaptive reuse as both a theoretical paradigm and a pragmatic conservation strategy through two emblematic case studies from Pakistan: The Shahi Hammam in Lahore and the Baltit Fort in Hunza. Both projects, undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC 2011), exemplify how context-sensitive interventions guided by international conservation principles and local cultural knowledge can uphold authenticity and the spirit of place while enabling new uses. The Shahi Hammam illustrates the transformation of the Mughal-era urban bathhouse as a vibrant public cultural space. In contrast, the Baltit Fort showcases living heritage, reimagined as an ethnographic museum that reinforces community identity. These projects align with international frameworks, such as the Venice Charter 1964 and the Nara Document on Authenticity (1994), offering transferable models for the Global South. By bridging theory and practice, this research contributes to rethinking the role of adaptive reuse in fostering resilient, inclusive, and culturally embedded urban futures. The purpose of the study is to reposition these projects not merely as adaptive reuse projects, but as a living palimpsest, a collective memory and community identity.

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.