The paper presents a survey of scholarly literature on the subject of adaptive reuse within the discipline of heritage conservation and...

Heritage studies and historical preservation in Pakistan, which have gained momentum in the past few decades, have been focused primarily on residential, commercial, and religious architecture dating to the British and Mughal eras, leaving aside an important layer of economic and urban history related to the industrialization of major cities. Most industrial buildings are left to decay or are demolished to make space for new development. Based on a literature review of Pakistan’s industrial heritage and site surveys conducted in Pakistan between 2019 and 2021, several industrial facilities were identified that have social, cultural, and economic potential for reuse or retooling to address the problem of inadequate public amenities in urban areas. There is, however, no documentation regarding such sites that is available for use by potential stakeholders. An inventory system is proposed to establish an overview of the industrial heritage in Pakistan (types of sites, current properties, spatial characteristics, significance) and to facilitate the recognition and management of these sites. An “industrial site inventory record” (ISIR) form is proposed to record information about industrial buildings and sites. In addition, an “industrial site statement of significance” (ISSOS) is proposed for use in recording the description, heritage value, and important architectural elements of significant industrial buildings and sites. The proposed inventory system is a step toward the recognition of industrial heritage and its potential for adaptive reuse and contribution to urban regeneration.

Purpose: Adaptive reuse processes aim to preserve heritage values while creating new values through the architectural interventions that have become necessary. This claim provokes a discussion about the meaning of values, how we can preserve them in practice and how we can translate them into architectural qualities that users experience. Riegl's understanding of the different perspectives of heritage values in the past and present opens up the possibility of identifying present values as a reflection of current social, material and political conditions in the architectural discourse.Design/methodology/approach: This qualitative and practical study compares two Belgian projects to trace the use of values in adaptive reuse projects from an architectural design perspective. The Predikherenklooster, a 17th-century monastery in Mechelen that now houses the public library, and the C-Mine cultural centre in Genk, a former 20th-century coal mine, are compared. The starting point is Flemish legislation, which defines significance through values, distinguishing between 13 heritage values.Findings: The study demonstrates the opportunities that axiological questions offer during the design process of an adaptive reuse project. They provide an overarching framework for tangible and intangible aspects that need to be discussed, particularly in terms of the link between what exists, the design strategy and their effect.Originality/value: Adaptive reuse can draw on approaches from both heritage conservation and contemporary architecture and explore values as a tool for “re-designing” built heritage.