Partial demolition as a lifeline in an adaptive reuse project

This thesis explores how partial demolition could serve as an instrument for an adaptive reuse project to ensure the survival of the rest of the building. Using the reconversion of a car park in Brussels as a case, the design project focuses on transforming the rigid industrial site into a permeable, urban framework that could be appropriated or adapted. Here, demolition is not the end point, but a step to ensure the building’s continued existence. The building’s generic mushroom column grid already offers great freedom in layout and use. The interventions explored during this process therefore shift the focus towards the collective spaces. By tying circulation to the new communal areas, a network of streets and squares is created inside the generic structure that strengthens interactions, orientation, sightlines and informal use. With generous dimensions, these circulation areas form a spatial framework that supports a sense of collectiveness within the building. Around this collective backbone, individual units and programs can evolve, allowing the building to remain adaptable while fostering a sense of community within its new permanent structure. In the end, by demolishing parts of the building, an appropriate density is achieved while creating collective spaces that enhance the quality of the private units, increasing both spatial quality and overall usable surface beyond what was originally possible in the projected mixed use scenario.