Project R-13533

Reviving historic interiors through adaptive reuse: a comparative study between Dhaka, Flanders and Muscat (Research)

This PhD approaches the complex matter of redesigning historic interiors for a new or continued use while retaining their historical features or characteristics. Despite the momentum gained by the field of adaptive reuse in the western world over the last few decades, there are fewer examples of adaptive reuse worldwide, and even fewer so with respect to interior adaptations. This research aims to contribute to establishing the discipline as a more common practice on a global scale. When considering the reuse of historic interiors, it becomes inherently essential to understand the scope of the term "interior" – as its material components, as a space, as an ensemble, as a chronological experience vs. an experience as a whole, etc. The notion of interior exists as a totality and must therefore be perceived as such when looking through the conservation or adaptive reuse lens. In order to grasp such a totality, one would require not only an appreciation of the material and immaterial aspects of an interior but also the interpretation of such a term in a broader context across various cultures and traditions of living. This research investigates the heritage value and adaptation of interiors in three different contexts – namely Dhaka, Flanders and Muscat. In doing so, the possibility of adaptive reuse of historic interiors across three distinct sociocultural, economic and climatic backgrounds is studied through a blend of research methodologies like literature reviews, precedent studies, real-time interviews, etc. thus presenting it as a viable solution for diverse cultures at risk of losing their architectural heritage identity.

01 November 2022 - 01 September 2026