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ADAPTIVE ARCHITECTURE. BUILDING UPON THE EXISTING

ADAPTIVE ARCHITECTURE
Transforming, adapting, repurposing – existing building stock offers a multitude of opportunities for future-oriented architectural solutions. The Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) on Schaumainkai in Frankfurt am Main has been undergoing its own remodeling and renovation since October 2021. In the interim, exhibitions and events will be held at DAM OSTEND, within a former office complex on Danziger Platz, next to the Ostbahnhof. The exhibition ADAPTIVE ARCHITECTURE – BUILDING UPON THE EXISTING takes this opportunity to devote itself to a selection of contemporary international designs displaying the possibilities of versatile transformations and new uses of embodied architectural heritage.
By respecting the existing building stock, architecture can make a much-needed contribution to sustainability – after all, 40 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to the building industry. Even though conversion and upgrading already account for two-thirds of construction work in Germany, the architectural and ecological potential of retrofitting and repurposing is far from being exhausted. Demolition and new construction are often still the default answers when dealing with structures where design and space no longer appear to meet modern standards, the current market situation or efficient and economical usage. The values, resources and ‘grey energy’ embodied in buildings since their construction often go unnoticed.
Transformative designs are as old as architecture itself. Although the culture of conversion has waned in recent decades, climate crisis and dwindling raw materials underscore the urgency of its revival – not least because the building industry consumes more resources than any other sector of the economy. Other challenges such as pandemics or population growth are changing the classic images and profiles of urban as well as rural areas. Retail department stores are increasingly disappearing from city centers; multi-story car parks and other infrastructure buildings are becoming obsolete due to new, sustainable mobility concepts – and even religious structures are affected by vacancies. At the same time, social change offers the potential for new functions and design forms that can be respectfully integrated into existing buildings.
Exhibition
ADAPTIVE ARCHITECTURE – BUILDING UPON THE EXISTING presents contemporary, international examples of clever and creative strategies in dealing with existing architecture, covering issues in six key areas. Experts provide insights into the many aspects influencing construction with existing stock, in both urban and rural contexts. A survey of selected Frankfurt structures also opens up new perspectives and raises questions designed to engage users and residents, and presents a comprehensive pool of utilizations, transformations and revitalization concepts.
Events and Activities
The exhibition will be accompanied by an extensive program of events and educational activities. Further information will be available soon at dam-online.de.
September 16, 2022 – January 15, 2023
in the interim quarters of the Deutsches Architekturmuseums DAM OSTEND,
Henschelstr. 18, 60314 Frankfurt am Main
PRESS TOUR: September 14, 2022, 11 a.m.
EXHIBITION OPENING: September 15, 2022 7 p.m.
Press information ADAPTIVE ARCHITECTURE (September 14, 2022)
Copyrights ADAPTIVE ARCHITECTURE
Accompanying programme ADAPTIVE ARCHITECTURE
Press images
Lleialtat Santsenca Civic Centre, Barcelona, ES; Interior with sunshade awning Architecture: H arquitectes, Barcelona, ES Photo: Adrià Goula
SESC 24 de Maio, São Paulo, BR; Aerial view of the roof with swimming pool Architecture: MMBB Architects, São Paulo, BR Photo: Nelson Kon
K.118, Winterthur, CH; Exterior view of the extended part of the building Architecture: baubüro in situ, Zurich, CH Photo: Martin Zeller © baubüro in situ ag
Cité du Grand Parc, Bordeaux, FR; Bauprozess, Construction process, expansion from prefabricated concrete elements Architecture: Lacaton & Vassal Architectes, Montreuil, FR; Frédéric Druot Architecture, Paris, FR; Christophe Hutin Architecture, Bordeaux, FR Photo: Philippe Ruault
PC Caritas, Melle, BE; Interior with greenhouse, 2016 Architecture: architecten jan de vylder inge vinck / inge vinck jan de vylder architecten – A JDVIV / IVJDV A + ETC (afrom 2019); architecten de vylder vinck taillieu – A DVVT ( till 2019); BAVO collective – Gideon Boie Photo: Filip Dujardin
Tainan Spring, Tainan, TW; Concrete columns in and around the pool remind of the former shopping center, 2020 Architecture: MVRDV, Rotterdam, NL Photo: Daria Scagliola
Haus der Statistik, Berlin, DE; Since 2019, the WERKSTATT Haus der Statistik has been an important place to go to find out about the Haus der Statistik model project and to get involved, 2019 Architecture: Teleinternetcafé + Treibhauslandschaftsarchitektur, Berlin + Hamburg, DE; ZKB eG + raumlabor, Berlin, DE Photo: Lena Giovanazzi
Sala Beckett, Barcelona, ES; Arch and roses, 2016 Architecture: Flores & Prats Arquitectes, Barcelona, ES Photo: Adrià Goula
Shangtian Village, Shangtian Village, CN; Aerial view of the village Architecture: Xu Tiantian/DnA_Design and Architecture, Beijing, CN Photo: Wang Ziling
Etting Street Project, Baltimore MD, US; Construction work on row houses Architecture: Jay Orr, Mike Dominelli, Baltimore MD, US Photo: Schaun Champion
Old Church, Vilanova de la Barca, ES; Interior view, south façade Architecture: Alea Olea Architecture & Landscape, Barcelona, ES Photo: Adrià Goula
Spaardersbad, Gouda, NL; View into the former swimming hall, which now serves as a community courtyard Architecture: Mei architects and planners, Rotterdam, NL Photo: Ossip van Duivenbode
Exhibition photos
The press images in the preview are available for download in print quality via the following button:
Press images – free of charge for the unique, purely editorial use in the direct context and over the duration of the exhibition ADAPTIVE ARCHITECTURE until January 15, 2023, mentioning the author/copyrights.