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Browsing Graduate Theses by Subject "Adaptive Reuse"
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Item Restricted Adaptive Reuse in Interior Spaces Through Vernacular Architecture, the Revitalization of Ex-convents in the State of Oaxaca Mexico(2022) Edgar Mauricio Castillo Guerrero; Goodwin, Amara; Köknar, Sait Ali; Faculty of Architecture and Design; Berlin International University of Applied SciencesAI-GENERATED ABSTRACT: Abstract: This thesis focuses on the revitalization of a historical monument, specifically the ex-convent of Cuilapan de Guerrero in Oaxaca, Mexico, through the integration of vernacular architecture and adaptive reuse. The research question driving this study is: How can Vernacular Architecture and Adaptive Reuse be applied in an interior space to revitalize a historical monument? The thesis explores the challenges faced by historical buildings in Oaxaca, particularly due to limited funds for maintenance and restoration. By analyzing the concept of adaptive reuse and studying examples of successful architectural interventions, the study aims to propose a functional architectonic program that benefits both the ex-convent and the local community. The methodology involves qualitative research, including literature review, site visits, and analysis of case studies. The findings will inform the design process, considering the local culture, materials, and construction techniques to create a space that activates tourism and the local economy while preserving the historical identity of the site. Keywords: Vernacular architecture, adaptive reuse, historical buildings, interior design, revitalization, Oaxaca, MexicoPublication Restricted ADAPTIVE REUSE STRATEGIES FOR CONTENTIOUS BUILDINGS(2025) Al-Nahas, Nura; Stone, Sally; Ebert, Carola; Interior Architecture/Interior Design (MA) (Two-Year); Berlin International University of Applied SciencesExamining how historically loaded architecture can be reinterpreted without denying its past, this master’s thesis focuses on the example of wartime bunkers. Commonly perceived as reminders of the violence and trauma, these concrete structures oftentimes remain abandoned. Nonetheless, their mysterious presence and their unique spatial qualities evoke something captivating in the eye of the contemporary. Rooted in the dilemma of how to engage with architecture that originates from a sinister past, this research investigates how a reinterpretation of a bunker’s genius loci can inform the transformation and identity of contemporary spaces. Structured as a journey through four thematic “chambers“, this thesis first provides an understanding of contentious buildings, using bunkers as a particular of loaded heritage. Considering bunkers as a challenging site of intervention, leads in the second chamber to an analysis of their spatial, material, and typological nature, and explores their transition from wartime structures to cultural sites, supported by case studies of reimagined Berlin bunkers. A third chamber works out design strategies for building with the history, that transform the spatial identity, emotional atmosphere, and cultural potential of contested spaces, particularly bunkers. It includes an interview with a contemporary musician, Pablo Mirò, reflecting on creativity in isolation. In the final chamber, the master’s project “Shelter for Culture” is presented, which turns a Berlin Hochbunker into an expressive space for artists, without erasing its history. Rather than neutralizing the past, this master’s thesis proposes that meaningful transformation results when architectural interventions are grounded in the spirit of a place. Leaning on concepts such as the palimpsest and architectural memory, it proposes that new spatial identities can coexist with previous narratives, even with sinister ones. Layered, instead of replaced. Thus, bunkers become more than just relics of war; they become sites of a dialogue between past and present.Item Restricted Conversion of Shopping Malls to Residential Spaces : Retail to Residential; Potential and Challenges in the Conversion of a Shopping Mall Into Residential Space(2023) Ronja Celina Will; Escobar, Pierre; Goodwin, Amara; Faculty of Architecture and Design; Berlin International University of Applied SciencesAUTHOR-SUPPLIED ABSTRACT: Abstract The growing interest in adaptive reuse as a sustainable approach to repurposing existing buildings has highlighted the pivotal role of interior design in shaping transformed spaces. Heritage buildings hold immense cultural significance, and adaptive reuse offers an environmentally conscious alternative to demolition. Interior design plays a crucial role in preserving the building's historical narrative, essence, and collective memory. This research focuses on the adaptive reuse of former factories in Berlin, exploring how interior design interventions enhance memory continuity and reconcile functional requirements with cultural heritage preservation. The study employs a comprehensive methodology, including a literature review on interior design, historic structures, memory, and phenomenology of place. It delves into the concept of adaptive reuse and examines the significance of collective memory in repurposed historic structures. The research presents an interior design framework guided by the concept of Genius Loci, emphasizing the relationship between the human body and interior space. Case studies of three adaptive reuse projects in Berlin illustrate how interior design effectively contributes to memory continuity and heritage preservation. By understanding the interplay of interior design, memory, and cultural heritage in adaptive reuse, this research aims to contribute to future efforts in preserving and honoring the unique essence of heritage buildings. Keywords: adaptive reuse, interior design, heritage buildings, collective memory, Genius Loci, repurposed factories, Berlin, memory continuity, cultural heritage preservation, sustainable designItem Restricted Designing Atmospheres : the Connection Between Interior Spaces, Body and Emotions(2023) Juliana Correia Savelli Graca; Ebert, Carola; Serdar-Köknar, Burcu; Faculty of Architecture and Design; Berlin International University of Applied SciencesAUTHOR-SUPPLIED ABSTRACT: Abstract This study aims to understand how the interaction between the interior spaces, the body, and the emotions occur within the theory and professional practice, taking as a theoretical basis the phenomenology studies applied to interior design through authors such as Maurice Merleau- -Ponty, Martin Heidegger, Gernot Böhme, Norberg Schulz, Juhani Pallasma and Peter Zumthor. For these authors, the experience of space occurs from the body consciousness that arises in the relationship between the body and the physical world, that is, in the relationship that is es- tablished with the tectonics of the place, the materials used, the typology of buildings, the local population beyond the psychic apprehension generated from the atmospheres. The atmosphe- res, a concept defined firstly by Gernot Böhme, are the union between this corporal consciou- sness in the space and the emotional apprehension and are generally used as synonymous with mood, feeling, ambiance, or tone. The discipline of interior design is marked by its "atmospheric turn," a term that refers to the paradigmatic shift in professional practice and theoretical debates in recent decades. From then on, the premise is to design interior spaces that go far beyond the embellishment of the spatial image, creating perceptual bridges between users, space, materiality, and emotions to amplify and strengthen the human experience. In this sense, this study is dedicated to analyzing two interior design projects that stand out by the relevance of their atmospheres. A methodological structure was created to guide the analysis and develop elements that can improve the unders- tanding of the meaning and importance of atmospheres in interior design. Keywords: phenomenology, atmospheres, interior space, body, emotionsItem Restricted Finding Value in Existing Buildings Beyond the Aesthetic(2022) Paula Angelica Acevedo Jaime; Goodwin, Amara; Köknar, Sait Ali; Faculty of Architecture and Design; Berlin International University of Applied SciencesAI-GENERATED ABSTRACT: Abstract: This research paper explores the concept of value in existing buildings and proposes re-inhabiting the interior space as a means to re-establish their value. The paper argues that beyond aesthetic and historical significance, the use value of a building plays a crucial role in determining its value. The concept of adaptive reuse is introduced as a tool to re-inhabit existing buildings, thereby re-establishing their value. Three case studies of successful adaptive reuse projects are critically analyzed to understand their impact and design decisions. The paper concludes with an interior architecture project that demonstrates how re-inhabiting can enhance the value of an existing building. The methodology involves a qualitative review of literature from various sources, including books, journal articles, and theses. The findings contribute to the understanding of the value of existing buildings and provide insights into the potential of adaptive reuse in architectural practice. Keywords: Value, existing buildings, re-inhabiting, adaptive reuse, interior architectureItem Restricted Interior Adaptation Within the Existing Built Environment : A Comparative Study of Restoration, Preservation and Adaptive Reuse(2022) Teresa Żywotkiewicz; Goodwin, Amara; Köknar, Sait Ali; Faculty of Architecture and Design; Berlin International University of Applied SciencesAUTHOR-SUPPLIED ABSTRACT: Abstract: This thesis explores the fundamental aspects of interior architecture regarding the existing built environment. It focuses on the necessity of restoration, preservation, and adaptive reuse as possible solutions when approaching a new project concerning an existing building. Through the study of books, current journals, and relevant projects, a universal understanding is formed about approaches that can be used to react to the existing built environment. Also discussed are the more challenging situations that can arise, such as how to deal with heritage, contentious places, or the concept of memory of place. Examples and case studies are worldwide to appeal to a greater audience. The thesis outlines and defines possibilities for repairing, restoring, and protecting the existing built environment while keeping them practical in the current time. Before concluding the thesis, a design project, done in conjunction with the thesis, is discussed and explores how the different approaches and interventions discussed can be used to react to a site based on the specific site's history, value, and intangible qualities. Keywords: interior architecture, built environment, restoration, preservation, adaptive reuse, heritage, contentious places, memory of place, design project, interventionsItem Restricted The Role of Interior Design in Memory Continuity in Adaptive Reuse(2023) Roshanak Rastgard Langroudi; Ebert, Carola; Tubles, John; Faculty of Architecture and Design; Berlin International University of Applied SciencesAI-GENERATED ABSTRACT: Abstract The growing interest in adaptive reuse as a sustainable approach to repurposing existing buildings has highlighted the pivotal role of interior design in shaping transformed spaces. Heritage buildings hold immense cultural significance, and adaptive reuse offers an environmentally conscious alternative to demolition. Interior design plays a crucial role in preserving the building's historical narrative, essence, and collective memory. This research focuses on the adaptive reuse of former factories in Berlin, exploring how interior design interventions enhance memory continuity and reconcile functional requirements with cultural heritage preservation. The study employs a comprehensive methodology, including a literature review on interior design, historic structures, memory, and phenomenology of place. It delves into the concept of adaptive reuse and examines the significance of collective memory in repurposed historic structures. The research presents an interior design framework guided by the concept of Genius Loci, emphasizing the relationship between the human body and interior space. Case studies of three adaptive reuse projects in Berlin illustrate how interior design effectively contributes to memory continuity and heritage preservation. By understanding the interplay of interior design, memory, and cultural heritage in adaptive reuse, this research aims to contribute to future efforts in preserving and honoring the unique essence of heritage buildings. Keywords: adaptive reuse, interior design, heritage buildings, collective memory, Genius Loci, repurposed factories, Berlin, memory continuity, cultural heritage preservation, sustainable design