Design characteristics and methods shown in water towers adaptive reuse

Abstract

Background Adaptive reuse of old buildings such as Musee d' Orsay or Tate Modern Gallery has greatly influenced design perspectives and paradigm, leading to a more sustainable development. Adaptive reuse of industrial heritage buildings does not only mean renovation but also conservation and restoration. Therefore, careful studies must be conducted before design. Water Tower is one type of industrial heritages that used to store and supply water to steam locomotives, villages, and factories but rarely used nowadays due to development in technologies. In Europe, water towers are redesigned as residents, hotels and even cultural centers connecting the past and present. However, in Korea water towers that had been constructed for steam locomotives are being neglected and even some demolished. Water towers are evidence of our past culture and history, therefore preservation in important. However, reusing its architectural features and giving it a new role in today's society also need to be considered. Thus this study investigates architectural and social meanings of water towers and adaptive reuse design methods then conducts case studies on adaptive reused water towers in Europe. The objectives are to understand adaptive reuse design methods of water towers that support the new program within the existing settings. Furthermore, arouse the importance of preserving and yet reusing our cultural heritages. Methods For the study, literature review on history of water towers, architectural design methods of industrial heritage reuse, and current state of water towers were conducted. Through this review, framework of analysis such as spatial configurations, used forms, elements and image relations of adaptive reuse design methods were deducted. Then case studies on water towers that are being reused in Europe were carried out and 13 examples were analyzed to understand their design methods. Results Firstly, overlaid configuration types were mostly seen in adaptive reuse of old historic water towers in order to preserve the original architectural features by preserving and reusing facade and structure such as staircases and water tanks. Secondly, linked configuration types were barely found due to limitation of reusable space. However, case studies show that even more creative ideas can be presented by focusing on the void spaces. Thirdly, interlock configuration types were used for programs that need larger space such as hotels and culture centers. For historic water towers, the new added spaces were designed with the same shape as the existing tower but in smaller scales in order not to overwhelm them. But in reuse of water towers constructed after 1930's, more aggressive design approaches that affect the entire image were found. Lastly, contrasting the image of old and new were most popular, but conjecture, transfer, and contextual were also used. Conclusions Through the study, many creative design methods were found in adaptive reuse of water towers that still preserve its historic aspects yet afford unique experience and practical use to the people of today. Therefore, more attention on our remaining water towers and even other industrial heritages are needed because adaptive reusing are not just linking the past and present but it is truly the ecological way of living.