Architectural Regeneration

Principal Investigator(s): Professor Aylin Orbasli

Contact: aorbasli@brookes.ac.uk

About us

Architectural regeneration encompasses the collective activities of reusing, adapting and evolving existing buildings within an urban or rural context in ways that recognise the impacts these decisions and interventions have on the regeneration of a place, and that are underpinned by the principles of environmental, social and cultural sustainability.

Re-using existing buildings is an important component of sustainable practices in the built environment. The research has considered the theoretical context of architectural regeneration and its links to theories of anthropology of architecture, conservation and design. Within an established theoretical context, the research considers approaches to improving the environmental performance of existing buildings and identifying social wellbeing and urban resilience benefits linked to the historic environment and established neighbourhood networks.

The research has been published as an edited book focusing on the theory, principles and practice of urban, rural and architectural regeneration.

More about the book

Architectural Regeneration book cover

Research impact

  • Orbaşlı, A. and Vellinga, M., Eds. (2020) Architectural Regeneration, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford

  • Orbaşlı, A. (2017) ‘Conservation Theory in the Twenty-first Century: slow evolution or a paradigm shift?’, Journal of Architectural Conservation, 23(3), 157-170.

The research on architectural regeneration directly feeds into undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in the School of Architecture.  

Membership

Staff

Name Role Email
Matt Gaskin Associate Dean Strategy and Development mngaskin@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Joanna Karmowska Reader in Strategy and Innovation jkarmowska@brookes.ac.uk
Professor Aylin Orbasli Professor of Architectural and Urban Heritage aorbasli@brookes.ac.uk
Professor Marcel Vellinga Professor of Anthropology of Architecture mvellinga@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Julia Wedel Senior Lecturer in Architecture, Subject Coordinator International Architectural Regeneration and Development j.wedel@brookes.ac.uk

Image Credits:

Study for the conversion of a disused paper factory in Rijeka, Croatia, into a museum by one of our students Jeremy Haest.