Adaptive Reuse: Extending the Lives of Buildings Book Review

Liliane Wong’s Adaptive Reuse: Extending the Lives of Buildings is an outstanding scholarly effort that investigates the origins, theoretical underpinnings and practical implications of adaptive reuse in contemporary architecture in relation to the process of converting or reconverting buildings for new functions. The 256-page book published by Birkhäuser provides a detailed analysis of how built spaces can be regenerated and reintegrated into the urban fabric, capitalizing on their cultural potential as well as on the practical or cultural requirements of today’s society. This review will highlight the major themes of the book, assess the validity of the arguments and methodology employed by the author, and emphasize the work’s contribution to existing debates in the field, drawing upon established research methodologies and current scholarly understanding.