La conversión de oficinas a vivienda en España. Análisis comparativo de estudios de caso

Adaptive reuse has emerged as a key strategy for sustainable urban regeneration, extending the life of buildings as an alternative to demolition. In recent years, the conversion of office buildings into residential use has increased in European cities, driven by rising vacancy rates and the demand for housing in consolidated urban areas. Despite growing interest among developers and the potential environmental and social benefits of such conversions, the topic has received little academic attention in the Spanish context. This paper aims to address this gap by advancing knowledge on this specific setting. Drawing from a broad sample of 81 identified projects, the study focuses on four cases representing three building typologies. Based on interviews with the architects and a structured analytical framework, each case is examined through three dimensions: urban planning regulations, the scope of architectural interventions, and the characteristics of the resulting housing. The results show that, in Spain, the phenomenon is primarily market-driven and that the absence of specific planning policies limits the potential social and environmental benefits. The analysis also highlights key challenges and design strategies involved in these transformations, identifying planning regulations as a decisive factor shaping the extent and characteristics of the interventions.