Malaysian architect on benefits of adaptive reuse in design

The south wing of the Penang Institute is repurposed from a heritage building. Photos: BETA

There is much interest and support for adaptive reuse in architecture, evident from the positive feedback on my last article on the transformation of a heritage building on Penang Hill. This further strengthens my passion in advocating for this approach.

Generally, the construction of buildings revolves around two main strategies. One focuses on building new structures from scratch, which involve below-ground piling, erecting concrete structures, walls, roof and ceiling, and interior finishes. New constructions are based on customised design solutions drawn up by professional architects.