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book: The Potential of Form
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The Potential of Form

How to Transform Existing Buildings in Post-functional Europe
  • Elena Guidetti
Language: English
Published/Copyright: 2025
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About this book

How can we explore adaptations of old buildings from a fresh, post-functional perspective? Exploring the concept of transformative potential, this book shows how the repurposing of existing buildings uncovers untapped possibilities that go beyond traditional categories. Analyzing several European examples in depth, it asks how architectural designs change over time and what this means for sustainability and preserving heritage. Drawings illustrate how architectural forms interact with their functions and environmental effects, providing a dynamic exploration of adaptive reuse. The Potential of Form suggests that adapting buildings involves balancing their design interventions, their consistency across time, and the latent energy embedded in their architectural form.

With an afterword by Matteo Robiglio, Full Professor in Architectural and Urban Design at the Department of Architecture and Design of Politecnico di Torino

  • Explores new methods for repurposing old buildings, using an innovative framework
  • Presents detailed case studies of adaptive reuse in European architecture (i.e. Bourse de Commerce, Elbphilharmonie, Duperré Playground, Vitali Sheds, PC Caritas, Alvéoles)
  • Richly illustrated with drawings by the author

Author / Editor information

Elena Guidetti holds a PhD in architecture and currently serves as a fixed-term assistant professor at the Department of Architecture and Design at Politecnico di Torino, where she is also a researcher at Future Urban Legacy Lab. Her work focuses on adapting buildings, aiming to bridge architectural heritage and sustainability.


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Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
May 6, 2025
eBook ISBN:
9783986121716
Paperback published on:
May 6, 2025
Paperback ISBN:
9783986121709
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
Main content:
184
Coloured Illustrations:
46
Downloaded on 29.12.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783986121716/html
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