Browsing by Subject "Genius Loci"
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Publication 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 designPublication Restricted Restoring Human-Centered Interior Design through the Vernacular Language of Ornamentation(2025) Milosevic, Tihana; Stone, Sally; Köknar, Sait Ali; Interior Architecture/Interior Design (MA) (Two-Year); Berlin International University of Applied SciencesThis thesis argues for the potential of ornamentation to restore human-centered design within contemporary interiors. It begins with the description of industrialization and modernist ideology that have replaced handmade qualities which are historically rooted in unique cultures which lead to a loss of beauty, identity, and emotional connection in the built environment. With the theories of Christopher Alexander, Christian Norberg-Schulz, and Peter Zumthor, the research sheds new light on the relationship between people, places, and design, ultimately emphasizing perception, beauty, and the genius loci as fundamental parts of meaningful spaces. Furthermore, two case studies, Adolf Loos's Villa Müller and Petra Blaisse's Casa da Música, illustrate the contrasting effects ornamentation has on human experience. This builds the foundation for the introduction of aemulatio as design strategy that connects tradition and modernity by transforming imitation into innovation. Instead of rejecting history, the concept of aemulatio allows ornament to evolve organically which enriches spaces in the sense of complexity and cultural continuity. Finally, the design project applies this principle to the interior of an Alpine farmhouse and therefore demonstrates how vernacular ornamentation can coexist with contemporary needs. In summary, the work argues that ornamentation is not an aesthetic excess but a living language that reconnects human beings with their environment through beauty, memory, and wholeness.Item 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