Dr. MSc Martina Baum and Prof. Kees Christiaanse discuss their new book, City as Loft - Adaptive Reuse as a Resource for Sustainable Urban Development
Monday, April 8 at 6 p.m. in room N107
City as Loft
A desire for urbanity, identity and identification has been a major factor during the last thirty years in stimulating the preservation and conversion of derelict structures dating from the industrial era. Buildings like this have their own specific features and a relationship to history and context, while at the same time being open to current and future needs. The buildings attract involvement by local people and stand out with their qualities of stability and openness. The word ‘loft’ is used to describe these urban qualities: adaptable, flexible and at the same time powerful and authentic spaces in which people can live and work.
The thirty portraits of reused industrial areas presented here show a wide variety of locations all round the globe in which reinterpretations of the legacy of the industrial age are releasing tremendous energy and creativity. The book examines the backgrounds, people and concepts involved and illustrates various strategies for reuse. In essays and interviews, specialists from both the theoretical and practical fields explain their findings and experiences.
Prof. Kees Christiaanse
Chair of Architecture and Urban Design
Institute of Urban Design
Network City Landscape
Program Leader Future Cities Laboratory
Singapore ETH Centre for Sustainable Development
www.futurecities.ethz.ch
Dr. MSc Martina Baum
Assistant Professor / Project Leader City as Loft
ETH Zürich
Institut für Städtebau
Professur für Architektur und Städtebau
