Adaptive Reuse Architecture:
Mathews Horse Barn Gets New Life
Adaptive reuse architecture - or building reuse - is the process of repairing or restoring an existing building for new or continued use. The idea of adaptive reuse is not a new idea; we're always renovating, repairing, restoring. The decision as to whether a building should become a part of the adaptive reuse architecture trend is based on several factors - location, market trends, architectural features, heritage, or a combination of these factors. But the final determination is sometimes an emotional one. Do we want to preserve our heritage? Do we want to remember the positive aspects of the past and pass them on to our children and grandchildren? Not long ago, Lan Brandon made the decision to save a historic landmark in West Fork and turn it into something new. Mathews Horse Barn was no longer going to function in its original use, so proposing a new function was necessary to preserve its history. The first step was to acquire and assess the building....