Adaptive reuse and repurposing of industrial buildings to residential dwellings in Auckland City

Abstract

Auckland is currently facing a housing crisis in which demand for living space has exceeded what is being provided. The ad hoc demolition of older buildings, driven by proactive property developers in hope of meeting the ever-increasing housing demand, often does not take into consideration the economic, environmental and social benefits that existing buildings can offer. Auckland City has at its disposal existing building stock that is often underutilised, with building owners usually opting for demolition as opposed to adaptation, due to a stigma attached that it is both a complicated and costly process. The study utilises a case study approach that focuses on a conversion project, the Ford Factory Lofts, situated in Parnell, one of Auckland’ s CBD fringe areas. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out with the property developer, architect, structural engineer, planner and marketing manager. Fieldwork and documentary research complemented the interviews with the aim to understand the potential that adaptive reuse has in the context of Auckland City. The findings indicate that for a developer to consider adaptive reuse as a viable alternative to demolition, a clear set of financial incentives must be identified. Although the undertaking was not attractive in terms of cost and risk related to buildability, marketability and the potential for return on investment played an important role and ultimately validated the process, allowing the developer to capitalise on the building’s character. Other drivers, associated with sustainable building practices, were not considered and were instead a bi-product of the adaptive reuse process.