A decision-making model for the adaptive reuse of ‘buildings of control and reform’: the Nossa Senhora Village, Macau

Architectural heritage is recognized globally as an important resource for sustainable urban regeneration. The adaptive reuse of ‘buildings of control and reform’ (BCR) such as leprosariums has increasingly attracted academic discussion, and the conflict between the segregated nature of BCR and the significance of heritage in the context of urban development has become a key point of discussion. However, there is still a lack of research on how such buildings have been selected for new functions in order to achieve these aims. Therefore, this study attempted to establish a functional decision-making model for the adaptive reuse of BCR. The Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and Sensitivity Analysis were used to filter out the new functions with the highest priority, taking Macau- the Nossa Senhora Village as an example. This study constructed a decision-making framework consisting of 6 dimensions and 17 criteria. It also identified the key decision-making criteria under each dimension. This paper aims to provide insights into the theoretical research and practical development of adaptive reuse of architectural heritage by integrating sustainable urban development and heritage conservation.