Abstract:
We have long been captivated by ruins. We stop to look; thinking of what once was, wondering what happened, and even pondering our own future. They often leave us in a state of dreamy contemplation. Most of us, at one point or another have succumbed to ruinlust. Ruined buildings are ephemeral. As barren vessels, they exist in a time somewhere between utility and demise. In most cases, either man or nature will eventually destroy them. However, some will be saved, and restored or renovated, so that they will be useful once again. How does one rehabilitate an abandoned historic building, integrating contemporary interventions; whilst retaining the value of its ruined condition? Tim Edensor said that "industrial ruins are the inevitable result of capitalist development and the relentless search for profit". These sites are too often seen as wasted spaces that contain nothing of value. However, they may become enmeshed within society as spaces for leisure, exploration, refuge and creativity. "Why is it that we demolish old buildings just to construct new ones that are 'meant to last' when putting an existing building to a new use would be more beneficial? The destruction of which not only takes more time and money, but takes away from the record of the way a city evolved. If we can design with history, we will become a part of it instead of constantly trying to create a new one." The building industry is one of the largest contributors to the degradation of our planet. The significance of recycling buildings and construction materials is at a peak in the world today. By extending a building's life, you save its embodied energy. The adaptive reuse of buildings is plainly recycled architecture. The reuse of significant buildings can also provide cultural benefits to the local community. The story of that particular building's life can be told, evoking memory regarding the building. As Carlo Scarpa said, "architecture is capable of communicating its own history."