Project R-14808

Interior Adaptations: Redesigning historical interiors for new uses (Research)

The project Interior Adaptations derives from the belief that adapting historic interiors for a new and continued use can lead to innovative interior design concepts that would contribute to (1) heritage preservation, i.e., historical interior features, (2) preserving and reviving traditional craftsmanship through balancing between reconstruction, refurbishment and recycling, and (3) the translation of ahistorical vocabulary of interior elements into the contemporary interior design language. A restoration in toto of a historic interior as ensemble is only feasible for a very limited number of buildings as such restoration schemes have a high cost and limit how the spaces can be used. Therefore, this project aims to develop more flexible intervention strategies that on the one hand,preserve the heritage value of the historic interior but, on the other hand, meet the needs of contemporary use. Interior Adaptations will provide a further theorization of the emerging academic discipline of interior architecture by combining traditional research methods (literature study and precedent studies) with the experimental method research-by-design. Collaborating with leading academics in the field, Sally Stone (Manchester School of Architecture) and Markus Berger (Rhode Island School of Design), the outcome of this project would be a stepping stone for further research in the field of interior architecture and adaptive reuse.

01 September 2024 - 31 August 2028