Adaptive Reuse of Urban Landscapes

As the frenzy to reverse global warming evolves into a pragmatic approach to sustainability, architects will play an important role in recycling defunct urban architecture. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, projected annual spending for new construction in 2009 was up $910.8 billion from last year's $908.9 billion and almost doubled from $513.9 billion in 1993. Even if the new buildings are LEED-certified, it would not offset emissions and use of natural resources during the construction process.

Instead of tearing down undesirable buildings to construct new ones, a breed of architects are reinventing defunct structures. The creative reuse of urban landscape, such as factories, office buildings, bridges and parking lots reduces demolition, use of new materials, and construction time (which also means it reduces cost). These projects often also carve out new public space that provides social glue to neighborhoods, creating sustainable communities. 

The Bay Line proposal from San Francisco architects, Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello, transforms the unusable Bay Bridge connecting San Francisco to Oakland into private residences and recreational areas. While a portion of the Bay Bridge is being replaced by a massive concrete structure (btw, concrete production is one of the biggest industrial CO2 emitters) Bay Line remains a viable solution, costing only an estimated $350 million. 

Viability of Bay Line:

• The Bay Bridge can support an enormous load since it was previously a freight rail bridge 
  and currently supports almost 2 million vehicles each week
  
• Seismic upgrade of the eastern span was completed after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 
• Unsurpassed views coupled with a culture of health and fitness in the Bay Area would make the Bay Line a desirable destination
• A continued demand for low-cost housing in the Bay Area, even during the housing crisis, is justification for the addition of housing

This summer, New York City opened the High Line elevated urban park to the public. The High Line was originally constructed in the 1930s to lift an industrial rail line high above Manhattan streets and remained unused and overgrown for decades. The initiative to utilize this relic of New York's industrial era as a much needed green space in the Meatpacking district is a perfect example of adaptive reuse. 

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Instead of becoming havens for drugs and crime, abandoned grain silos in Amsterdam are being converted into public space for offices, restaurants and climbing walls. If you have more examples of adaptive reuse, please share them!