Converting historic textile-industry complexes in European cities: A typology of urban spatial structures of textile-industry complexes, and best conservation and enhancement practices for their conversion

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Heike Oevermann
• Subject Area: Architecture, Building and Construction History, Construction Research, Sustainable Building Technology
• Term: from 2017 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 338539858

Converting historic industrial complexes is a new and important task in many European cities. Architectural and planning practices show that historic industrial complexes are composed of urban spatial structures that might be conserved and enhanced during conversion to new uses. For research, the question arises, of what constitutes best practice for conservation and enhancement when converting historic industrial complexes. Best practice will be discussed and identified, based on five criteria derived from debates in architecture and conservation.The research project will achieve two aims: 1. To identify the historic urban spatial structures of former textile-industry complexes. Accordingly, a typology will be developed, contributing to research on historic urban design. 2. To identify best practice in converting historic industrial complexes. The following questions will be addressed: How are the conservation and enhancement of historic urban spatial structures handled in practice? Design and planning practices will be comparatively analyzed, and best practice will be identified (contributing to the discourse on architecture).The project will analyze 25 representative case studies from European cities, focusing on case study conversions of former spinning and weaving mills in eight textile cities. Several additional case studies will function as a reference group. The cases will be systematically captured through data sheets / cataloguing and comparative analysis. Additionally, the findings will be discussed in terms of their relevance for monument protection and urban development. The research builds on the DFG project: Historical Industrial Architecture and Conflicting Objectives of Urban Development, Creative Industries and Architectural Production. The work forms a major part of the Habilitation of the applicant, and will be published as such.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants