A STUDY OF ADAPTIVE REUSE PROCEDURES IN A POST-COLONIAL KUANTAN SHOPHOUSE

• Published in: Malaysian Construction Research Journal
• Main Author: White N.N.; Kadir S.A.; Rahman S.; Hasri N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Construction Research Institute of Malaysia 2023
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85194553464&partnerID=40&md5=b11452b74bc9bcde3af152120c94cccb

Post-colonial buildings exhibit the persisting impact of colonization across periods and geographical regions. Post-colonial buildings in Malaysia's urban and suburban areas are often found in abandoned or dilapidated states. Their neglect is predominantly due to a lack of purpose in modern settings. In answer to this, interior designers can take responsibility for their revival by promoting new ideologies for these buildings. By providing an in-depth examination of the potential revitalisation strategies for abandoned and dilapidated buildings of historical importance, the building’s character can be conserved. Adaptive reuse is a new discipline of retrofitting an existing building's interior, encompassing the renovation and restoration processes in preparation for renewed use. This practice is becoming an essential element of modern interior design and architecture. Adaptive reuse utilises a combination of restoring and modernising existing buildings, allowing them to oblige contemporary practices whilst preserving features from the past. These methods have lower consumption of building materials and waste in comparison with new-build projects, thus reducing the environmental impact of the development. This paper recommends a new preliminary stage of interior design guidelines that incorporates the observation of existing materials and finishes. © 2023, Construction Research Institute of Malaysia. All rights reserved.