Contact Tom Cartledge, CEO Handley House
tom.cartledge@handley-house.com
Evidence suggests that the best social, economic, and environmental outcomes are often achieved – not by knocking down existing assets and building afresh – but by repurposing and upgrading. In other words, rejuvenating assets makes good business sense.
Return to Future ThinkingThe first quarter of 2023 has flown by…quite literally for me as I dusted off my passport to reconnect with clients and colleagues in Hong Kong, Macau, Saudi Arabia and most recently Cannes for MIPIM. I always feel so energised by these trips – understanding what has gone before and what the opportunities are ahead.
A common theme arising from all my meetings recently is the role that adaptive reuse can play in creating agile, flexible and forward-thinking spaces. When it comes to improvements in building performance, there is growing consensus among architectural and engineering communities that ‘better’ and ‘more sustainable’ does not necessarily mean ‘new’.
Evidence suggests that the best social, economic, and environmental outcomes are often achieved – not by knocking down existing assets and building afresh – but by repurposing and upgrading.
In other words, rejuvenating assets makes good business sense, and we are proof of this thinking.
Benoy’s ‘new’ Hong Kong studio was repurposed from an existing WeWork site, with open and flexible space to promote collaboration and creativity. Breakout spaces with ‘million-dollar views’ have been created to provide moments of inspiration, reflection, and calm. To quote one of our Design Directors, Gregory Kovacs, “if 80% of the buildings we find in 2050 are already built today, what does it mean for us?”
It gives us a great mandate to shift our focus from new construction towards adapting that vast existing building stock: improve their environmental performance; integrate them better into their social, cultural contexts; contribute more towards their local communities; rethink their commercial models with a long term financially sustainable vision.
One of the key drivers behind asset rejuvenation is the shift from single to mixed-use buildings and urban environments. We’re currently working with several clients who value our unique ‘one stop shop’ offering of commercial data and creative design to generate new life for an old building. A recent repositioning project involving two residential towers, two shopping malls and 16 community buildings highlighted what can be achieved with a new narrative and good engagement.
