ADAPTIVE REUSE AND SPATIAL TRANSFORMATION IN ARCHITECTURE: A CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/JTHEM.1146001Keywords:
Adaptive Reuse, Heritage Conservation, Spatial Adaptation, Spatial Transformation, Vernacular ArchitectureAbstract
Adaptive reuse has emerged as an important strategy for extending the functional life of existing buildings while supporting heritage conservation and sustainable development. In vernacular architecture, however, adaptation frequently requires spatial and functional modifications that may alter original configurations, architectural character, cultural meanings, and relationships between traditional spaces. Despite growing scholarly attention, knowledge of how adaptive reuse and spatial transformation research has evolved remains fragmented across periods, building contexts, and methodological approaches. This study, therefore, critically reviews the chronological development of adaptive reuse and spatial transformation research from 2012 to 2026. A systematic advanced search was conducted in the Scopus database using combinations of “adaptive reuse,” “building reuse,” “repurposing,” and “recycling” with “spatial transformation,” “spatial change,” “spatial adaptation,” “spatial reconfiguration,” and “spatial redevelopment.” Following predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 41 primary journal articles were retained for chronological analysis. The literature was organised into three phases according to publication development and shifts in research emphasis: Phase 1, Emergence and Conceptual Foundation (2012–2017); Phase 2, Research Development and Diversification (2018–2022); and Phase 3, Acceleration and Research Consolidation (2023–2026). The findings demonstrate a substantial acceleration in publication activity, particularly during Phase 3, with annual publications increasing from six articles in 2024 to 12 in 2025 and 18 in 2026. Chronologically, the field progressed from broad and fragmented interpretations of spatial change toward increasingly architecture-focused investigations of functional adaptation, spatial reconfiguration, authenticity, cultural identity, sustainability, and heritage values. Recent studies further demonstrate increasing methodological sophistication through spatial assessment, digital technologies, computational methods, and multidimensional evaluation frameworks. Overall, the review reveals a transition from understanding adaptive reuse primarily as functional conversion toward evaluating the extent, appropriateness, and consequences of spatial transformation. This highlights the need for culturally responsive approaches capable of balancing contemporary requirements with the preservation of significant spatial and socio-cultural characteristics.
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