The FIX-up mix-up; undue façadism or adaptive reuse? Examining the former FIX brewery transformation into the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to examine the rehabilitation project of the iconic urban industrial building in Athens, “FIX” brewery, and the practices followed, so as to initiate a discussion on the role of the façades in such a process. In particular, this study suggests that by choosing to restore just two of the façades out of the whole building, while placing emphasis on creating a new face for the new use, frontality is promoted against the pre-existing homogeneity approach, and façadism is introduced. However, both façadism and frontality distance this project from the rationale behind the adaptive reuse and redevelopment of built heritage.Design/methodology/approachA thorough architectural analysis of the FIX brewery building's long history and its consecutive transformations, besides providing adequate evidence for the hypothesis set, provided the opportunity to broaden the scope of this research and explore the role of the façades in adaptive reuse practice. Methodology-wise, this research was further strengthened by a comparative analysis of the Weverij De Ploeg adaptive reuse project in Bergeijk.FindingsIn the light of this critical analysis, the current study first highlights the importance of a building's façades in shaping public perception and establishing a connection to the city, by transmitting information and meanings about the building's structure, function, character and era. Accordingly, it stretches the need for façades' retention when adapting an industrial building of cultural heritage to a new use. Second, it emphasizes the need of fostering a holistic perspective toward a historic industrial building of such merit, respecting the building as a whole and in all its depth.Originality/valueThis in-depth analysis provides a solid ground for rethinking adaptive reuse, concretizing the appropriate approaches to industrial buildings of cultural heritage from parties involved (inter alia government leaders, legislators, property developers, historians, urban planners, architects and other engineers), to ensure both the building's continuity and longevity, and an efficient and sustainable urban regeneration.

Urban buildings sustainable adaptive reuse into tourism accommodation establishments: a SOAR analysis

“…Adaptive reuse is a type of historic preservation or conservation [1]. Such undertakings are highly prestigious and valued by today's public, which highly values historic architecture [4]. However, adaptive reuse does not only concern the physical components but also symbolic concepts, mechanisms, and values seen as social, cultural, and -perhaps-spiritual resulting from the links among the people, the destination, the spatial, the historical, the cultural, and the social contexts associated therewith [36].…”

“…Nevertheless, every modern hotel design comes across challenges, since architects must satisfy not only the hotel owner but also the investor, the guests, and the standards or guidelines [70]. These challenges become even greater when trying to include contemporary design elements in a heritage building [4]. Some of the most common challenges involve establishing escape exits, disability access, load-bearing walls, narrow structural openings [145,146], passive fire safety [147,148], energy efficiency [149], thermal comfort [149], etc.…”

“…It is primarily associated with historic or iconic building or site restoration, structure or façade preservation, as well as interior renovation towards adapting an existing establishment to a new use [2,3]. Although adaptive reuse can sometimes generate controversy due to the nuanced distinctions among renovation, façadism, and other closely related architectural and construction practices [4], it is generally seen as a suitable compromise between (historic) preservation and demolition [5,6]. After all, such projects address the three pillars of sustainable development, namely the environment, economy, and society, well-serving the principles of the circular economy model [7,8].…”

Mega infrastructure projects and their contribution to sustainable development: the case of the Athens Metro

“…Infrastructure development includes the planning, construction, operation, and eventual decommissioning of a service or facility to meet a public need. In this regard, infrastructures serve as an intermediary link that enables sustainable social development (Tsilika and Vardopoulos 2022). The project and society may be harmed if the social dimension is neglected during infrastructure development.…”

Adaptive Reuse for Sustainable Development and Land Use: A Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis Estimating Key Determinants of Public Perceptions

“…These abandoned industries are actually untapped sources that can help make cities more desirable places to live in from the perspectives of the environment, the economy, the sociocultural context, architecture, and tourism [4][5][6][7]. Industrial institutions served as the main driving force behind social economic growth at the start of the nineteenth century, acting as representations of neoliberalism and power [8,9]. A number of these industrial units have now been reduced to bare monuments, disrupting the city's continuity and symbolizing abandonment and degradation [10,11].…”