Deep Adaptive Reuse

Abstract

The world is undergoing dramatic change in its social and physical environments, resulting in cultural confrontation and conflict. Rapid urban growth, displacement, and gentrification increase urban pressure while jeopardising social cohesion, multicultural values, and local economies. In addition, environmental factors associated with climate change challenge how our cities respond and adapt, prompting the need for urban centre regeneration to confront the urban century challenges (Sassen, 2011). However, adaptation to these changes is also a source of conflict, as urban policies lack citizen engagement in the redefinition of public space, resulting in more disagreement and inefficient use of resources.
 One way to respond to this ongoing crisis is adaptive reuse, repurposing an underused system for a new use. This process can enhance positive environmental impacts, encourage social and participatory processes, and promote economic dynamism through culture. However, the success of such an intervention will depend on the underlying approach. 
 The paper aims to explore how Jem Bendell’s ambitious four-pronged Deep Adaptation strategy (Bendell, 2018) combined with the cultural resilience approach can result in adaptive reuse processes that act as development catalysers and peace-building mechanisms.

“I’m Fixing a Hole Where the Rain Gets in, and Stops My Mind from Wandering”: Approaching Sustainable Climate Change Adaptations

“…For the 'deep adaptation' movement, adaptation is argued to imply a recognition of what is perceived as inevitable societal collapse and thereby a refocusing on how to plan for and emotionally tackle the hardships involved in such collapse (Bendell 2020). This also includes a discussion on the possibility of repurposing infrastructure to enable a circular economy outside current systems of production and consumption (Yarza Pérez 2022). Within feminist and Indigenous research and activism, there is a focus on 'Indigenizing' adaptation to not only reduce harms inflicted by adaptation policy and practice on Indigenous and other socio-politically marginalized communities but to center such work File generated with AMS Word template 1.0 on principles of self-determination, respect, and reciprocity (Whyte 2017;Gram-Hanssen et al 2021;Johnson et al 2021).…”