INTRODUCTION-

What is adaptive reuse?

- Adaptive reuse is a process that changes something disused or ineffective to
something that can be used for a different purpose.

-Adaptive reuse of buildings is a process that adapts old structures for new uses. When
the original use of the structure is changes or is no longer required, the primary function
of structure is changed, while retaining the essence of old structure.

- This practice is now spreading worldwide to save an old structure from disuse or
destruction.

- Adaptive reuse of buildings is often the only way that historic , aesthetic and also
architectural values can be saved economically and historic buildings can be brought up
to modern standards and can meet modern needs.

- The most successful built heritage adaptive reuse projects are those that respects and
keeps the building’s heritage importance and add a modern layer that provides value for
the future.

- Conservation and adaptation should increase the significance and qualities of a historic
building.
ARCHITECTURAL THESIS | JINAL CHOKSHI | 143544050001 | DIV B | GUIDE: AR. HIREN GANDHI
TOPIC: TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND ITS ADAPTIVE REUSE IN MODERN TIMES, GUJARAT
INTRODUCTION-

What is adaptive reuse?

- Different material types require different levels of sensitivity when it comes to

adaptation.

- Eg. Converting any religious place like temple or church into anything else will require
sensitivity towards the quality of spaces which it will create and its uses after conversion
because the spiritual value of the place remains intact if designed sensitively. So to
convert or adapt to the space of such kind requires much thoughtful decision then a
mere residential building.

ARCHITECTURAL THESIS | JINAL CHOKSHI | 143544050001 | DIV B | GUIDE: AR. HIREN GANDHI
TOPIC: TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND ITS ADAPTIVE REUSE IN MODERN TIMES, GUJARAT
INTRODUCTION-

Benefits of adaptive reuse:

- Environmental

- Economic

- Social and cultural

- Innovation

Environmental-

- Adaptive reuse is one of the partial step towards sustainable development.

- The buildings built originally for a particular purpose would have been made by use of
resources, manufactured materials and transportation is also included.

- Thus these buildings have much lesser use of energies and resources as compared to
new construction because the resources to build a one is saved and the building is
reused within the same amount of resources been invested in the beginning.

Economic-

- Adaptive reuse provides many financial savings and returns.

ARCHITECTURAL THESIS | JINAL CHOKSHI | 143544050001 | DIV B | GUIDE: AR. HIREN GANDHI
TOPIC: TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND ITS ADAPTIVE REUSE IN MODERN TIMES, GUJARAT
INTRODUCTION-

-The cost of adaptively reused building is much less than a completely new construction
as the energy used for new construction is saved.

Social and Cultural-

- Adaptive reuse brings back life to a building which inspires other people to preserve
our cultural heritage.

- If adaptive reuse is done well it can put back and maintain the importance of heritage
along with ensuring the survival .

- Conserving our traditional culture through a method of adaptive reuse will contribute
greatly to tourism.

Innovation-

- It is a challenge for owners, architects and designers to find some innovative idea for
adaptive reuse of our heritage buildings to preserve as well as be an iconic example of
adaptive reuse.

ARCHITECTURAL THESIS | JINAL CHOKSHI | 143544050001 | DIV B | GUIDE: AR. HIREN GANDHI
TOPIC: TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND ITS ADAPTIVE REUSE IN MODERN TIMES, GUJARAT
INTRODUCTION-

Need for adaptive reuse in AHMEDABAD:

- Ahmedabad has completed 608 years of its existence in year 2019 and it has
unsegregated these many years of cultural, social, technological as well as
architectural development.

- But, far from other cities of India the history is still visible till today in Ahmedabad in
form of architecture.

- Different types of architecture which existed during the lifespan of the city has still
continued to live.

- The identity of Ahmedabad lies in the walled city which comprises of pols, jain
temples, mosques etc. and many attempts are going on to conserve and protect this
identity.

- The preservation and conservation is carried out by archeological department and

heritage cell of Ahmedabad municipal corporation.

- The main identity in terms of architecture of Ahmedabad are the pol houses which are
part of closed combined fringed communities.
ARCHITECTURAL THESIS | JINAL CHOKSHI | 143544050001 | DIV B | GUIDE: AR. HIREN GANDHI
TOPIC: TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND ITS ADAPTIVE REUSE IN MODERN TIMES, GUJARAT
INTRODUCTION-

Need for adaptive reuse in AHMEDABAD:

- In the recent years as observed, the crux of pols has been disrupted as many of the
pol houses has been devastated and replaced with apartment buildings or just used
for storage.

- But somehow , now people are trying to understand that speedily developing
Ahmedabad has a lot to learn from the heritage of walled city.

- Some of the houses are declared as heritage houses by heritage cell and those are
restored and preserved by the families residing and have started living with modern
day needs with the pols.

- Somehow due to todays needs, lifestyle and other factors like traffic many people
don’t prefer to stay in pols but at the same time they want to preserve their heritage so
many of the buildings has been lying empty.

- Thus, if these houses can be converted to be used for something else keeping the life
of the building and neighbourhood alive, it would restore the life within the walled city
and inspire more people to understand and appreciate the city’s history and heritage.

ARCHITECTURAL THESIS | JINAL CHOKSHI | 143544050001 | DIV B | GUIDE: AR. HIREN GANDHI
TOPIC: TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND ITS ADAPTIVE REUSE IN MODERN TIMES, GUJARAT
INTRODUCTION-

Examples of different types of Adaptive reuse in walled city of Ahmedabad:

- Ahmedabad is a city which is mainly built by the people and not the rulers where
majority of the buildings within the old city of Ahmedabad were residential,
commercial, religious and textile mills.

- But the important thing is that the history is still visible in present day, different types of
architecture which existed during the lifespan of this city have still continued to survive.

- In case of adaptive reuse of Ahmedabad textile mills it was a failure as the mills were
demolished and new malls and apartments have come up on that land because of
which the tools of Ahmedabad is lost.

- On the other hand there are many residential as well as commercial buildings which
have been reused in the walled city of Ahmedabad.

- Some of the buildings are simply restored while some have been renovated and some
have been completely transformed for another uses protecting the identity and
essence of the building.

ARCHITECTURAL THESIS | JINAL CHOKSHI | 143544050001 | DIV B | GUIDE: AR. HIREN GANDHI
TOPIC: TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND ITS ADAPTIVE REUSE IN MODERN TIMES, GUJARAT
INTRODUCTION-

Examples of different types of Adaptive reuse in walled city of Ahmedabad:

- Here are few examples/cases of adaptive reuse within the walled city of Ahmedabad

• Tankshal ni Haveli
Tankshal ni haveli is located near Doshiwada ni pol. This haveli was a residential
building with ornated facade which was later converted to a girls school for some period
of time. Now it is abandoned and not in use due to lack of care and maintenance. It is
longest wooden facade on the road (25m).

• Art’s reverie
This building is located in Dhal ni pol which belonged to a jain jeweller. It was restored
by Indo-french co-operation. It is converted to a guesthouse for artists, designers and
craftsmen who come to Ahmedabad.

• Office for ‘Chetna’ N.G.O.

This building belonged to Sir Chinubhai Baronate, which was lying empty since a long
time and was in vulnerable condition. Later with help of AMC it was converted into a
seminar space, meetings and training programmes cum guest house for an NGO named
‘Chetna’. One part of building was redesigned and restored for this purpose while the
other part was just restored.
ARCHITECTURAL THESIS | JINAL CHOKSHI | 143544050001 | DIV B | GUIDE: AR. HIREN GANDHI
TOPIC: TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND ITS ADAPTIVE REUSE IN MODERN TIMES, GUJARAT