Adaptive reuse: Transforming cities through repurposing
In Krakow, Poland, a grain mill has shed its industrial past to become a thriving residential complex. In Basel, Switzerland, a forgotten wine warehouse has been turned into vibrant living spaces for local families. And in Berlin, Germany, what once was a Schindler production facility now plays host to contemporary apartments.
These aren't just renovation success stories – they're textbook examples of repurposing done right.
Repurposing – or adaptive reuse – transforms existing buildings into something entirely new, and it’s fast becoming the preferred approach for many urban planners. Instead of tearing down to make way for new buildings, the focus is on breathing new life into structures that have served their communities for decades so that they can continue to serve them in new ways.
In some cases, repurposing has helped to revitalize dormant neighborhoods, while allowing them to keep their architectural heritage intact. In districts shaped by poor urban planning or left behind by economic shifts, adaptive reuse is driving renewal.
Adaptive reuse is also fast emerging as a key solution to housing shortages faced by cities worldwide while responding to changing trends in working models and lifestyles – converting underutilized office buildings, warehouses, and industrial facilities into much-needed residential units.
Repurposing: a smaller carbon footprint
Another reason to love repurposing: it delivers immediate environmental benefits. It avoids the massive carbon footprint of demolition and reconstruction, preserves embodied carbon – the energy going into a building's materials and construction – and enables performance upgrades.
According to research by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), adaptive reuse can avoid up to 75% of the embodied carbon emissions compared to new construction, primarily by preserving the foundation, structure, and building envelope.
With the addition of solar panels, smart technology, and energy-efficient systems, even the most dated buildings can be transformed into models of sustainability.
Not all plain sailing
While adaptive reuse offers significant advantages, it's not without challenges. Projects often face higher upfront costs than new constructions, and developers often need to contend with complex structural limitations, while zoning restrictions can also hinder development. But then, the best transformations rarely come without effort.
Four building transformations showing the way forward
The following projects illustrate how adaptive reuse creates value across different contexts and sizes.
A former grain mill now a premium residential building
In the heart of Krakow, Poland, a former grain mill district once essential to the city's food supply has found a new lease of life as Młyny Mogilska Kraków, a modern residential complex replete with communal spaces and greenery. The complex has retained the mill's imposing red-brick exterior – honoring its industrial past – while inside, contemporary apartments are served by our elevators, both new installations and modernized units, keeping residents moving smoothly through this transformed heritage site.
A supermarket turned museum
In Nanjing, China, the building now known as Jinling Changlefang once served as the district's supermarket for over 20 years, before closing its doors in 2022 – a victim of the broader shift away from brick-and-mortar retail. Now, this former commercial hub is experiencing an unexpected renaissance: a cultural complex devoted to Ming dynasty history, where our equipment will carry visitors through centuries of Chinese heritage – effortlessly.
Disused industrial space turned community hub
In Basel, Switzerland, a former wine warehouse has found new purpose as a vibrant multigenerational residential complex, strengthening the neighborhood's social fabric while delivering much-needed housing for local residents. By preserving the building's distinctive steel frame, concrete structure, and high ceilings, the project achieved grey energy savings of 42%. Schindler elevators now help residents navigate the 7-story complex, seamlessly integrating modern mobility with the building's industrial heritage.
From factory floor to upscale apartments
Sometimes the most meaningful transformations happen closest to home. What was once a Schindler production facility in Berlin's Kreuzberg district has been reimagined as contemporary apartments featuring exposed brick walls and state-of-the-art connected elevators with remote maintenance capabilities. The project preserves the industrial character that makes Kreuzberg unique while providing the kind of modern, well-connected housing that today's urban residents demand.
Looking forward
As cities worldwide grapple with housing shortages, climate goals, and the need to preserve cultural identity, adaptive reuse offers a path forward that honors the past while building for the future.