Integrating Adaptability in the design process of outer dike Industrial Halls

Abstract

Human civilization is intricately woven with the thread of progress—a relentless pursuit that has fueled societal advancements, technological breakthroughs, and intellectual evolution. Every quest for improvement is simultaneously reflected in architecture. Every shift in development generates new spatial needs, which would subsequently generate new structural and building typologies. With the arrival of the Industrial era, the need for massive and well-lit spaces where laborers could manufacture and process goods generated a new typology – the industrial halls. These buildings are characterized by a practical, utilitarian architecture, expressed by inexpensive materials, most of the time locally sourced, such as bricks or timber. In many cases, skylights were used to provide light, or a combination of wall and ceiling openings. Given the large volume of materials and need for transportations, a large part of industrial halls would be located close to large port cities and waterbodies, such as canals or rivers, thus being predominantly in outer dike zones (den Boer, A. 2020). In time, the halls grew larger and taller, answering to the new industrial production challenges, primarily bigger machinery, faster production and increased workforce. In most of the cases, the old industrial halls would be fully or partially demolished with the goal of enlargement. An unfortunate consequence of production development was the loss of the initial industrial halls that were on site. The flourishing industrial period would start its decline in the end of the 20th century, when globalized production would foster the factory owners to move their production to other countries with cheaper material and labor cost, thus rendering many industrial sites abandoned and creating a period of economic uncertainties. Companies like Nedstaal, Kloos, Oude Werf. were either closed or bought off by other companies (den Boer). Neglection and decay would tower over most of these plants. In the 20th century, Dutch industrial halls represented a whole amplitude of feelings for the settlements around them. In the case of Alblasserwaardt (located in the industrial region of Rotterdam and Dordrecht), the sentiment towards industries transcended into multiple attitudes, them being seen first as a source of income and pride in technological development (den Boer), followed by a negative attitude after the factories migrated to cheaper countries and finally, culminating in a sentiment of nostalgia and pride for the older times and accomplishments. In the case of Sliedrecht, the dredging industry molded the inhabitants’ identity, household culture and belief, every family having at least one member that employed in dredging. The same occurrence is discussed in Ivan Nevzgodin’s paper on adaptive reuse of industrial architecture (2016). Besides the fact that water represented a geographical opportunity (efficient transport of goods), it was still the main threat for industry because of potential floods (Han Meyer 2016). With growing industry, riverbeds have been dredged, more saltwater reached deeper inland and soil deterioration appeared more often in outer dike zones. With the rising sea levels and threat to the Dutch delta regions, outer-dike industrial zones experience an elevated risk of flooding and deterioration (KNMI, 2014). Therefore, it is pivotal to focus on an adaptable architectural strategy conscious towards the flood risk and other outer dike related risks. The term of adaptability or adaptable reuse is in the research scene for half a century already (B. Plevoets 2014) nevertheless, due to its polyvalent meaning, no precise definition is accepted (Meyer, 2020). In term of architecture one could see adaptability as a durable transformation design, or perhaps a design that answers to its user’s needs in different manners and phases. An exact definition is provided in the methodology of this research. This paper investigates the integration of adaptability as a key value in the transformation design process of outer dike industrial halls, ensuring their continued relevance in the modern urban context. Based on Redeker’s research on urban floods in Rhine cities (Redeker, 2018), every development in outer dike zones must have a high degree of adaptation. The term would encompass several fields, notably environment and heritage adaptation. Drawing from architectural, historical, and urban development perspectives, this paper establishes a foundation for understanding adaptability as a key criterion in the building value assessment of industrial heritage. By proposing design guidelines, it aims to contribute to the discourse surrounding the sustainable and resilient revitalization of these unique and historically rich urban landscapes. Therefore, the research adopts the subsequent question: How can adaptability be integrated in the transformation process of the 20th century outer dike industrial halls? With the following sub questions: 1. What is the current state of affairs regarding the 20th century outer-dike industrial halls? 2. What challenges are posed when designing in outer dike regions? 3. How can adaptability be integrated in industrial heritage value assessment?