New lease on life
With adaptive reuse, old structures become relevant and useful once more
With adaptive reuse, old structures become relevant and useful once more
An old structure—a residence, a warehouse, a school, a theater—is closed. After a few years, or even decades, that same old structure is “resurrected”, given a new life as it is transformed into an art gallery, a coffeeshop, a restaurant, or even an artists’ studio. Its structure (specifically its “shell”) is not demolished. Some are given a fresh coat of paint while some deliberately show their age—cracks or rough edges—to tell everyone of its history.
There is a term for it and it is what urban planners refer to as “adaptive reuse.” These old structures become relevant and useful, while at the same time, adding character and sense of history to the place where it has witnessed how time passed by.
ALREADY DONE LOCALLY
For years, adaptive reuse is already being done in the Philippines. One of the examples is Tutuban mall which was formerly a train station.
Old houses and mansions are transformed into restaurants. For example, the ancestral home of the Roces family across Malacañang was rebranded into Casa Roces restaurant. In Makati, there is the Black Bird restaurant, housed in the former Nielson Tower of an old airport which was built in 1937.
Aside from malls and restaurants, these old structures can have a second life as hotels. In Pasay, The Henry Manila used the original structure of an old house and converted it into a boutique hotel. Ditto with the Rizal Park Hotel, the former Manila Army & Navy Club which served as a social venue during the American occupation, now offers rooms and has a casino.
BEST PRACTICE ABROAD
Abroad, adaptive reuse is a popular practice. One of the most impressive I’ve seen is in Taiwan, specifically in the southern city of Kaohsiung, called Pier 2 Art Center.
At first, I thought it was just the usual art gallery where you see some paintings or exhibits. Eventually, I learned that the Pier
2 area is composed of more than two dozen warehouses spread across a wide area. What made the destination unique is that when you look at each warehouse, it looks “aged” on the outside (preserving the shell with some bricks even protruding) but what was inside will surprise you.
In a brochure explaining the discovery of Pier 2, it states: “It possesses a unique geography and history. During the Japanese colonial era, harbors were constructed and lands developed, while a railway transport system was established. During the city government’s survey of the harbor area, the Pier 2 warehouses were unexpectedly rediscovered.”
With an ideal location and a large space, it was seen as an ideal site for arts and culture. Through the years, it was the site of various exhibitions and performances.
I was impressed with how some of the warehouses were “reused” to become a restaurant, a museum, a mini theater, etc. Some even had their walls converted into an artist’s massive canvass, putting color in this once drab industrial complex.
Part of the area is the former Kaohsiung Rail Station which was built in 1908. After it ceased operation in 2008, a museum was created inside one of the warehouses. A mini railroad was built allowing kids to enjoy a short train ride (aboard a mini train) around a park. The park, known as the Railway Sculpture Park, has a crowd even on a weekday.
Steel sculptures dot the landscape and people were taking selfies with the outdoor art installations. There was also a bazaar in the middle of a street selling crafts from artisans.
The restroom facility was built inside an aged warehouse. They could have demolished the original structure in the first place (and make their lives easier) but the modern structure will just be ordinary. Because of this, the restroom became an attraction, attracting those who are not only rushing to do their “personal business” but those who appreciate architecture and design. Such is also the case for one of the warehouses which was converted into a bookstore.
CHALLENGES AHEAD
With all the best examples of adaptive reuse, there are still challenges being faced. Old structures in the Philippines, except the ones mentioned earlier, do not always get the proper care and continue to be in a state of disrepair. Some are torn down ‘silently,’ away from the prying eyes of the public.
Remember the Manila Jai Alai Building along Taft Avenue? This was demolished in year 2000, permanently erasing a witness to history and a classic example of art deco architecture brought by the Americans. Who know how many structures all over the country have suffered the same fate as this one?
This, despite the persistent efforts of heritage conservationists and the existence of laws like the National Cultural Heritage Act, which mandates the protection and conservation of heritage sites, as well as the Heritage Conservation Bill, which provides incentives for ancestral house owners.
With adaptive reuse, old structures can be given a new lease in life. From being vessels of history, identity, and culture, it transforms into restaurants, hotels, museums, and more. Not only does this help conserve the site, it also maintains the structure’s engineering integrity and design authenticity, allowing the present—and future—generations to see, enter, or live inside a tangible piece of history.
There are still challenges being faced. Old structures in the Philippines do not always get the proper care and continue to be in a state of disrepair. Some are torn down ‘silently,’ away from the prying eyes of the public.