Comprehensive Strategy for the Adaptive Regeneration of Industrial Heritage in Kazakhstan

This study investigates the challenges of preserving and adaptively reusing industrial heritage in Kazakhstan in the context of post-industrial urban transformation. In recent decades, a considerable number of former industrial sites have been redeveloped for residential, commercial, and mixed-use functions, often resulting in the loss of historical identity, industrial morphology, and cultural significance. The transition of many industrial properties into private ownership has further complicated conservation efforts, as redevelopment projects are frequently implemented without public participation, interdisciplinary expertise, or comprehensive heritage-led planning strategies. The study argues that adaptive reuse should be approached not merely as the renovation of individual buildings but as a comprehensive process encompassing the assessment of historical and cultural values, stakeholder engagement, scenario development, project implementation, and post-project evaluation. The research aims to develop a comprehensive strategy for the adaptive regeneration of industrial heritage sites through the case studies of the Almaty House-Building Plant (ADK) and the Almaty Heavy Machinery Plant (AZTM). The methodology is based on the adaptive reuse process model and integrates historical-archival research, visual-cognitive and spatial-morphological analysis, the concept of genius loci, participatory approaches, sociological surveys, scenario planning, and Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE). The findings reveal significant differences in the regeneration potential of the selected sites depending on the degree of preservation of their industrial fabric. While AZTM retains substantial physical and spatial characteristics suitable for adaptive reuse, ADK requires alternative approaches focused on preserving collective memory and place identity.