Cultural Revitalization and Adaptive Reuse Architectural Responses from Industrial Building Typologies to Contemporary Cultural Venues

Abstract

This thesis investigates the adaptive reuse of industrial building typologies as a strategy for cultural revitalization in post-industrial cities. Once central to production, many industrial structures now stand abandoned, yet their scale, resilience, and symbolic value offer unique opportunities for transformation. The research explores how these buildings can be repurposed into contemporary cultural venues that preserve architectural heritage while fostering identity, inclusivity, and urban vitality. A research-by-design methodology combines theoretical analysis, case study comparison, and a site-specific design proposal. Precedents such as Fabrik in Hamburg, Matadero Madrid, and Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam illustrate diverse approaches to balancing preservation and innovation. Insights inform a design project in Görlitz, Germany, where a former textile factory is reimagined as a flexible cultural venue supporting festivals, exhibitions, and workshops. The study concludes that adaptive reuse, when rooted in cultural sensitivity and spatial adaptability, can transform industrial relics into living infrastructures that strengthen collective memory and sustain long-term urban regeneration.