Project R-7532

FWO travel credit for a long stay abroad at the University of Lodz Polen (Research)

Since a few decades, adaptive reuse of buildings has become a highly specialized domain within architectural and conservation practice and is becoming a field of scholarly study in its own right. However, juxtaposing, or complementary to this highly specialized practice, people reuse and adapt all sort of buildings in a spontaneous and informal way - what we call 'vernacular adaptation'. During my research stay I investigated such 'vernacular adaptation' of the build heritage, its specific characteristics, opportunities and threats as well as its influence on the more formal adaptive reuse practice. The research was a joint project with Dr. Julia Sowinska-Heim from the University of Lodz. The case study site 'Off Poitrkowska' was located in Lodz.

01 October 2016 - 01 November 2016