Adaptive vs. Traditional Reuse

In this era of neoliberal globalization, there is a need to explore the discipline known as adaptive reuse in architecture. This practice – which originated in Anglosaxon nations, principally in the United States – supposedly contributes to caring for the environment by reusing buildings and construction materials. Some authors argue that architectural reuse has been carried out by humans since the earliest constructions. The so-called architectural “policy of reuse” - which first arose in Italy during the 1960s and 70s in an effort to carry out so-called “holistic conservation” of the Historic Center of Bologna – presented a novel approach to historical heritage conservation, specifically built heritage. This article explores different approaches to reuse upon restoring such heritage architecture. We begin this work with a historical overview of what reuse has meant to humans, its relationship to the restoration of monuments, and the moments in which other visions of reuse emerged, such as the current adaptive reuse. As a final part of the work, and in the search to conclude whether adaptive reuse is a serious proposal and one that can transcend time, we review the classification made by Dr. Liliane Wong for the different ways of intervening in heritage from this perspective.