Designing with maritime heritage: adaptive re-use of small-scale shipyards in northwest Europe

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the different design approaches architects take towards the adaptive reuse of small-scale shipyards. Thereby giving a proposition for future projects by giving insight in how others preceded and showcasing different possibilities. Design/methodology/approach The research is based on a literary review in combination with a case study, following one main question: What architectural approaches do architects employ in redesigning nineteenth- and twentieth century dockyards in Northern Europe and how do these approaches consider the history of building and context? First, this paper researches the history of adaptive reuse. Additionally, the historical and cultural context of shipyards is researched. Finally, a case study is done linking theory with practice. Selected cases are: Kromhout shipyard in Amsterdam, Verftet Ny-Hellesund in Ny-Hellesund and the Maritime Museum in Helsingør. Findings Four approaches to adaptive re-use were distinguished in the cases: differentiation, continuation, cultivation and optimisation. Each has its own implications for the design and the chosen approach is ultimately related to the important heritage values of each individual shipyard. Heritage professionals proved to have a great say, in the early stages of the adaptation process, in which the adaptive reuse approach was chosen. Research limitations/implications This comparative research enables an in-depth analysis and comparison and thorough qualitative understanding. It however limits the insight in the representativeness of these cases. Originality/value This paper compares the adaptive reuse of small-scale shipyards in an international perspective. It offers insight into the patterns, principles and context of the architectural reuse of this underexposed industrial heritage.

Research frameworks, methodologies, and assessment methods concerning the adaptive reuse of architectural heritage: a review

“…Considering the religious histories and heritage value of traditional Sanliurfa houses, the author conducted an assessment of compatible reuse based on four dimensions: artistic value, historical value, social value, and scientific value. Hettema and Egberts (2019) analyse and compare three small shipyards in northwest Europe and propose that the reuse of shipyards provides an opportunity to restore the historical relationship between the town and water. Other types of adaptable reuse methods have been developed by the Danish landscape architect Ellen Braae, who uses a qualitative methodology based on differentiation, continuation, cultivation, and optimisation.…”

Identifying Challenges and Solutions in Cultural Heritage Adaptive Reuse through the Historic Urban Landscape Approach in Amsterdam

“…Hence, studies on the specific aspects of cultural heritage, such as its significance, multiplicity, and variety of values, are to be furthered [27,43]. Thirdly, previous research jointly focusing on challenges and the adaptive reuse of cultural heritage are either conducted in non-European geographical settings, e.g., East Asia [26], Oceania [20,27], and North America [44], or focused on specific typologies of cultural heritage in Europe, such as industrial buildings [45,46]. Finally, to date, the identification of these challenges considered the views of few stakeholders-mostly owners, developers, and architects [20,47]-although a wide variety of other actors is normally involved in the adaptive reuse of cultural heritage, e.g., investors, heritage professionals, and users [24,48], as flagged by Conejos et al [20].…”

Remaking the obsolete: Critical geographies of contemporary adaptive reuse

“…Since the late 1980s, but especially in the 1990s, the adaptation of industrial sites into multi‐use retail, market, and entertainment zones have been central to catalyzing the shift to the service‐oriented creative city. The innovative reuse of harbor sites (Defilippis, 1997; Hoyle et al., 1988), rail and shipyards (Hettema & Egberts, 2019), and industrial‐heritage districts (Kohn, 2010) are some of the more important examples in this regard. Many post‐industrial marketplaces, like New York's South Street Seaport, are key sites of industrial heritage tourism meant to rebrand and revitalize local economies.…”