Page 258 - Beyond Decommissioning

Experience and lessons learned 239

– There was a use for the building that would result in rental income prior to final removal
– The building did not need to be removed right away for license termination purposes
– The underground liabilities were fixed in place
– The tenants expressed an interest in reusing the building and the reuse proposed was com-
patible with the structure and was not complicating eventual decommissioning
– The tenants were from within the nuclear industry, hence there were no undue fear
with reuse
– The tenants would not interfere with remaining contamination
– The regulators expressed no concern with building reuse
– The building could not be decommissioned because of funding priorities
In 2003, the building was modified to site carpentry workshop and calibration facility.

6.6 Tall structures

The prevailing height extent (with respect to length and width) of these structures is
the critical elements that will mostly determine the reuse option of these structures.
Other factors discussed in this book may contribute to the selection of the strategy.

6.6.1 Water towers

Supported on brick bases or metal stilts, water towers are common industrial struc-
tures worldwide. Local sentiment has saved many of them from demolition after they
have become unused for the original purpose.
Architects are now devising new ways for their adaptive reuse. Water towers are
being converted into holiday retreats, restaurants, or community spaces, each with a
special flavor. A selection of water tower reuses can be found in The Spaces (2015).
The following describes in more detail a few such cases. Chateau d’Eau is the name
of a project by BHAM design studio and consisting of a water tower conversion at
Steenokkerzeel, Belgium. The tower was constructed in 1938–41 and was in operation
until early 1990s. The works for tower renovation and reuse as a family house began in
2007. Freshome (2012) reads: “the preservation of existing concrete elements such as
the main water conduct, concrete ceilings, concrete stairs, and the 250 m3 concrete
water basin were essential to preserve the strong identity of the building. Every visible
concrete element inside was painted in dark gray in order to mark the old from the
new. The program foresees two distinct profiles of users. The private and main user
is the client, a couple living at the tower daily. Every room is equipped with the latest
IT technology, domotics, and the possibility to install projectors virtually anywhere on
the top floor.” The unusual house is 30-m high and consists of five floors. The terrace
provides an outstanding view of the nearby village.
At 50 m height the Fungo (the Mushroom) in Rome, Italy has an interesting history.
It was added late to the EUR development (a model Rome suburb), which was com-
menced by the Fascist regime in the late 1930s, then essentially completed in the late
1940s and early 1950s. Around that time, the planners in charge of EUR began to envi-
sion large green spaces for the EUR suburb, which entailed irrigation. And they were