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.
[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.
[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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