What stories do abandoned buildings still hold? Can they be transformed to serve new purposes without losing their essence? How can architects balance history and innovation? This conference delves into the art and challenge of adaptive reuse, where past and present converge. The concept of “reuse” is deeply connected to life and habitation in spatial contexts. Martin Heidegger’s Building, Dwelling, Thinking emphasized that a building’s true purpose and meaning come alive through human presence and experience. Around the world, abandoned structures tell the stories of past civilizations, urging us to preserve them while adapting them for new, contemporary purposes. In recent decades, the adaptive reuse of architecture has become central to cultural and civic debates, driven by economic challenges, environmental crises, and reduced construction activity in the West. The decline of industrial complexes and religious sites, along with the inheritance of historic structures—fortifications, clustered buildings, and archaeological sites—demands innovative integration into modern life, either through reuse or transformation into cultural spaces. Adaptive reuse offers a sustainable solution by conserving land, protecting heritage, and minimizing waste. At the heart of this strategy lies architectural design. Architects and engineers are tasked with reinterpreting and modifying existing structures, breathing new life into them while respecting their historical significance. This approach entails challenges such as merging architectural languages, balancing styles, and fostering a critical dialogue between past and present. This conference invites scholars and practitioners to explore the adaptive reuse design process, focusing on how contemporary design interacts with historical contexts. We seek contributions that examine operations such as building within, expanding, or filling voids—creative acts that preserve historical layers while addressing current needs. The conference adopts a multidisciplinary perspective, integrating design, history, restoration, technology, and other relevant fields to inform critical intervention strategies.
We invite scholars to submit abstracts for the upcoming International Conference on Adaptive Reuse. All submissions will be evaluated through a double-blind peer-review process. Authors of selected abstracts will be invited to attend the in-person event. Accepted full papers will be published in an Open Access Book of Proceedings with an ISBN. Abstracts should be no longer than 300 words, accompanied by a 100-word short bio.
Deadline Abstract Submission – May 31st, 2025
Abstract Acceptance – June 15th, 2025
Registration Deadline – July 15th, 2025
Conference – September 15-19, 2025
Paper Submission Deadline – October 15, 2025
Publication – December 2025
The Gipsoteca di Arte Antica of the University of Pisa is a remarkable museum space dedicated to classical art and academic heritage. It is uniquely housed in the former Romanesque Church of San Paolo all’Orto, a historic structure dating back to the 11th century, located in the heart of Pisa. The combination of the ancient church setting with the timeless beauty of classical forms creates a powerful dialogue between architecture and art, past and present. As part of the University of Pisa, the Gipsoteca also serves as a hub for exhibitions, conferences, and interdisciplinary events, reinforcing its role as a vibrant cultural center within the academic community.
Contact: Dr. Patrizio M. Martinelli, M.Arch, PhD, FHEA Assistant Professor, Interior Architecture + Architecture
https://www.icadaptivereuse.com/