Adaptive reuse: a review and analysis of its relationship to the 3 Es of sustainability
Abstract
Purpose
There is a resurgence in the adaptive reuse of buildings. However, there is a lack of literature that pulls all the strands of adaptive reuse together. Furthermore, despite claims that it is motivated by the 3 Es of the sustainability triangle, the authors could find no research that critiques adaptive reuse from this perspective. The purpose of this study is to review the literature to collect pertinent information in a single place and to critically examine whether adaptive reuse incorporates the 3 Es of sustainability.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodological approach of this study is a literature review and a critical analysis of the practice of adaptive review.
Findings
Adaptive reuse is concentrated at the environment and economic development corners of the sustainability triangle. There are positive interactions along this edge. The authors attribute this to the fact that the same actors – the private and public sectors – are located at both corners of the triangle, and they have shared interests. This is different from the wider sustainability literature, where major actors at each corner are different and tensions along each edge are resolved through mediation. In adaptive reuse, there are no actors at the equity corner of the triangle, and there are minimal attempts to address concerns along the equity–environment and equity–economic development edges of the triangle.
Research limitations/implications
This study focuses on the USA.
Practical implications
This study suggests policy interventions that address the equity issue in adaptive reuse.
Originality/value
This is the first study to provide a succinct review of contemporary adaptive reuse and that places the practice within the framework of the 3 Es of sustainability.
Keywords
Citation
Mohamed, R., Boyle, R., Yang, A.Y. and Tangari, J. (2017), "Adaptive reuse: a review and analysis of its relationship to the 3 Es of sustainability", Facilities, Vol. 35 No. 3/4, pp. 138-154. https://doi.org/10.1108/F-12-2014-0108
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited