"Conservation and Heritage is not about putting everything back into a sparking new shell but acknowledging the layers of history that have come to define a space."

Ng Sek San, d+a,issue 070. 2012.

Adaptive Reuse of Historical Buildings

Recommended Citation:
Ramli, S.F. (2011). Adaptive Reuse of Historical Buildings. Retreived May 18, 2012 from Heritage Malaysia website: http://heritagemalaysia.blogspot.com/2012/05/adaptive-reuse-of-historical-buildings.html 

Introduction

Many historical buildings in the world has been used again and translated into new functions. From the industrial type buildings, churches, government buildings and agriculture buildings has been reused to meet the current needs and to preserve the architectural style from being destroyed.[1] (Cantacuzino, 1989).

According to intellectual references, books and journals relating to adaptive reuse of historical buildings, there is no specific guideline or principle the process to implement adaptive reuse for historical buildings.[2] (Sven, 2003, p.4).

In The Burra Charter, the definition of Adaptation means modifying a place to suit the existing use or proposed use.[3] (Australia ICOMOS, 1999, p.2).

While in National Heritage Act 2005, stated Adaptive Restoration means which involves all or portion of the exterior restoration with the interior adapted to a modern functional use.[4] (The Commissioner of Law Revision Malaysia, 2006, p.14).


Overviews of Adaptive Reuse towards Historical Buildings in Conservation

Adaptive reuse has been widely adapted as a conservation and redevelopment tool to revive old, dilapidated buildings, and to subsequently increase their architectural, functional and economic potentials[5] (Ahmad, 2003), as well as to Stratton (2000, p.8), described old buildings need to reuse and translate into new functions because to balance of surrounding changes and preservation of buildings to follow the current of trend development[6].

According to Sir John Summerson (1973, p.3) described that at the beginning of reuse the old building it happen because when the community really respected his decorations and carvings found in the historical buildings.[7] From the literature argument and explaination, I can say that the historical building which is having great details of ornamentation and decoration is a non-renewable source. Thus, when at one stage the building was abandoned and no longer used, for examples are warehouses, railway stations and empty factories are unoccupied, then the effort to provide new functions should be done to prevent the building destroyed or damaged by vandalism and changes by weather.

Adaptive Reuse of Historical Buildings at International Level

According to the view Sheila Conejos[8] (2010), explained the recycling of buildings, known as adaptive reuse, came into mainstream architectural parlance during the 1960s and 1970s in the US due to growing concern for the environment. (Cantell, 2005).

Furthermore, the most successful built heritage adaptive reuse projects are those that best respect and retain the building’s heritage significance and add a contemporary layer that provides value for the future. Sometimes, adaptive reuse is the only way that the building’s fabric will be properly cared for, revealed or interpreted, while making better use of the building itself. Where a building can no longer function with its original use, a new use through adaptation may be the only way to preserve its heritage significance.[9] (Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2004).

At the international level there are a lot of guidances on good practice relating of building conservation. For examples in United Kingdom, the conservation of historical buildings by the Government is explained in Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment and as well as in Australia, the Burra Charter considering the International Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites.

United Kingdom:
Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment

In March 2010, the Government has replaced Planning Policy Guidance: Planning for the Historic Environment (PPG15) and policy guidelines for the Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment.[10] (Huntingford, n.d.). These guidelines were used in conjuction with PPS5 Planning for Historic Environment; Historic Environment Planning Practice Guide, to introduce a new concept in planning the implementation of historic preservation and heritage conservation.[11] (Community and Local Government, 2010).

In the Policies of the Planning Policy Statement 5;
Section HE1.1 of the Heritage Assets and Climate Change explained local planning authorities should identify opportunities to mitigate, and adapt to, the effects of climate change when devising policies and making decisions relating to heritage assets by seeking the ruese and where appropriate, the modification of heritage assets so as to reduce carbon emmisions and secure sustainable development.[12] (Community and Local Government, 2010).

Australia:
The Burra Charter (ICOMOS)

The aims of the Burra Charter to provides guidance for the conservation and management of places of cultural significance (cultural heritage), and a based on knowledge and experience of Australia ICOMOS membes.[13] (Australia ICOMOS Inc, 1999).

Whereas in Conservation Processes was stated;

Article 21 of adaptation in clause 21.1 explained adaptation is acceptable only where the adaptation has minimal impact on the cultural significance of the place and also in clause 21.2 stated, it should involve minimal change to significance fabric, achieved only after considering alternatives.[14]

Adaptive Reuse of Historical Buildings in Malaysia

Basically, the conservation in Malaysia is guided by the three types of laws and regulations relating to the conservation of historic buildings:

1. Johore Enacment 1988
2. Malacca Enacment 1988
3. National Heritage Act 2005

Before the National Act Heritage 2005 was gazetted on 31st of December 2005 and came into effect on 1st of March 2006, only the Antiquities Act 1976 (Act 168) was adopted for the conservation and preservation of National Heritage relating to treasure trove, monuments and cultural heritage in Malaysia.[15] (Ministry of Information Communications and Culture, 2012).

Meanwhile, the Treasure Trove Act (Act 542) related to the discovery of treasure trove but its implementation fell under the jurisdiction of the State Government.

As described in earlier paragraphs above, there is no specific explaination relating the process or the principles of adaptive reuse of historic buildings in Malaysia against of three this legislations.


[1] Cantacuzino, S. (1989). Re/Architecture; Old Buildings / New Uses. New York: Abbeville. pp.8-11.
[2] Sven, L.W.B. (2003). Adaptive Reuse for Historical Buildings in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: University of Hong Kong. p.4.
[3] Australia ICOMOS. (1999). The Burra Charter; the Australia. Australia: Burwood. p.2.
[4] The Commissioner of Law Revision Malaysia. (2006). Act 645 National Heritage Act 2005. Kuala Lumpur: PNMB. p.14.
[5] Ahmad, G. (2003). Adaptive Reuse for Sustainable Heritage Tourism in Malaysia. Journal of Tourism (Zagreb), 51(2), pp.205-214.
[6] Stratton, M. (Ed.). (2000). Industrial Buildings; Conservation and Regeneration. London: E & FN Spon. p.8.
[7] Harper, R.H. (1983). Victorian Architectural Competition. London: Mansell. p.3.
[8] Conejos, S., & Langston, C.A. (2010). Designing for Future Building Adaptive Reuse Using AdaptSTAR. International Conference on Sustainable Urbanization: ICSU 2010. Hong Kong.
[9] Department of the Environment and Heritage. (2004). Adaptive Reuse; Preserving our Past, Building our Future. Canberra: Pirion. p.3.
[10] Huntingford, G. (n.d.). Introducing PPS5; Planning for the Historic Environment. Retrieved June 24, 2011, from Building Conservation website: http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/pps5/pps5.htm
[11] Communities and Local Government. (2010). Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment. London: T.S.O. p.1, p.13, p.14.
[12] Communities and Local Government. (2010). Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment. London: T.S.O. p.3.
[13] Australia ICOMOS. (1999). The Burra Charter. Australia. p.1.
[14] Australia ICOMOS. (1999). The Burra Charter. Australia. p.7.
[15] National Department of Heritage. (2012). Department of National Heritage. Retrieved January, 9, 2012 from Ministry of Information Communications and Culture website: http://www.kpkk.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=290&Itemid=28&lang=en

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