Sustainable adaptive reuse of the existing building stock in western Australia

Research into initiatives to improve the sustainability of buildings has tended to focus on new construction projects rather than existing buildings. One reason for this is our tendency to regard old buildings as products with a limited useful life that are eventually discarded and eventually demolished. However, the adaptability of the existing building stock provides it with a potential of being a renewable resource and thus a sustainable one. This study examines the factors that determine the opportunity for changes of use that subsequently extend the available lifetime of buildings. It builds on previous outcomes of a focus group held in Western Australia in 2003 to investigate questions raised about sustainable construction by CIB Working Commission W82. A further survey of the focus group was carried out to identify barriers and opportunities for the adaptive reuse of existing buildings. Particular emphasis was placed on how existing buildings can be adapted, the decision-making process and the balancing of occupant needs with considerations of sustainable adaptive reuse.