Reusing the ruin

The project REUSING THE RUIN begins from the hypothesis that recognition of the process of ruination as a given condition of the built environment and embracing the qualities and characteristics derived from this process will generate new insights and concepts concerning the continuous use, reuse, and adaptation of buildings and structures.

The values and principles derived from the reuse of the ruin—both as object and metaphor—contribute to the goals of sustainable design. The reuse of the ruin serves as an alternative to the traditional way of approaching buildings: as static objects that are at their best at the moment of their completion; after losing their functionality, or failing to perform owing to the degradation of their fabric, they could be either demolished or restored to their original condition.

The first part of this project (2020-2024) is conducted as postdoctoral fellowship by dr. Bie Plevoets. The objective of this project is to contribute to the theory of architecture and adaptive reuse by investigating the (1) characteristics of the ruin as an object and process, (2) role of the ruin in architectural theory, and (3) architectural strategies that can be derived from embracing the process of ruination. The methodology includes literature study, in-depth analysis of precedents and research by design.

The second part of the projects (2024-2027) aims to further explore findings from previous research and develop this into a book publication and lecture series, in collaboration with dr. Marie Moors and Peter Firman. The project's central research questions focus on the preservation of historical layers and stories in buildings, the creative use of ‘removal’ as a means of heritage conservation, and the reuse of demolished fragments to preserve heritage values. It also focuses on the design process and the methods architects use to interpret and repurpose existing spaces.

Researchers: Prof. dr. Bie Plevoets, dr. Marie Moors, Peter Firman
Funding and period: FWO senior postdoctoral fellowship Bie Plevoets (October 2020 - September 2024), Francqui Start-Up Grant Bie Plevoets (September 2024 – Augustus 2027)