Page 80 - Beyond Decommissioning

The phases of redevelopment 61

disruptions, lost opportunities, and premature obsolescence. Adaptability strives to
prolong the longevity of a product by incorporating changing needs. Three approaches
to developing an adaptable product are commonly cited: modular design, product plat-
form, and mass customization. All three approaches include modularity as a design
principle to drive the design of new products. According to Bianchi and Turturiello
(2015) common features for building adaptability include:
l “The design needs to address the lifecycle and not just the first use
l The range of solutions offered by the adaptable building must been known and carefully
studied from the start
l A grid suitable to the function if defined simplifies the work, enables the components and
changes coordination, gives coherence to the process and allows the growth and changes in a
planned way
l A high degree of repeatability and reusability of the components will contribute to make the
building more adaptable
l The use of easily maintained and readily available materials with simple construction details
can make an invaluable contribution to building adaptability
Refurbishment of existing buildings adding flexibility can have substantial benefits in terms
l
of time, cost and assist in extending its useful life
A service strategy allowing access, replacement, maintenance and up-date of the different
l
parts is basic for a successful adaptable building
l It must be able to be changed over its life cycle to adapt to the inevitable evolving needs of its
end users. Buildings must remain efficient places to live and work to ensure real life-
cycle value.”
Many flexibility/adaptability indicators are suggested in Bianchi and Turturiello
(2015), with the total number being close to 100. Weights are assigned to each indi-
cator. A simplified list of 17 indicators is given in Table 3.1.

Table 3.1 Indicators for building adaptability (Bianchi and Turturiello, 2015)

Surplus of site space
Surplus of building space/floor space
Surplus free of floor height
Access to building: location of stairs, elevators, core
Surplus of load-bearing capacity of floors
Extendible building/unit horizontal
Extendible building/unit vertical
Dismountable facade
Customisability and controllability of facilities
Surplus facilities shafts and ducts
Surplus capacity of facilities
Disconnection of facilities components
Distinction between support—infill (fit-out)
Access to building: horizontal routing, corridors, gallery
Removable, relocatable units in building
Removable, relocatable interior walls in building
Disconnecting/detailed connection interior walls; hor./vert.