The Role of Adaptive Reuse in Urban Space Experience The Case of a Film and Media Museum as a Space of Memory and Interaction

Abstract

This thesis explores how adaptive reuse can shape urban experience by transforming an abandoned industrial building in Görlitz, Germany, into a Film and Media Museum. It examines how reusing heritage structures as cultural spaces strengthens collective memory, interaction, and urban identity. Drawing on theories of heritage preservation and experiential museology, and referencing cases like Tate Modern in London, the study shows that reused buildings can balance historic character with new cultural functions. The Görlitz site, known as “Görliwood,” provides a unique context. The proposed museum integrates exhibitions, workshops, a media archive, and multipurpose spaces within the industrial shell. The thesis concludes that adaptive reuse is not only preservation but also a creative strategy that generates urban continuity and shared cultural experience.