In recent years, our built heritage has been treated with increasing respect. After all, not we but future generations are the owners. We can only preserve it well and pass it on to the future. Preserving quality has and only selective demolition is responsible handling of our heritage. Use of built heritage is the best guarantee for preservation because then there is (financial) support for maintenance so that decay is prevented. Industrial heritage, because of its often large spaces, lends itself to cultural reuse (theatre, concert hall) and to the incorporation of smaller spaces (rehearsal rooms, offices).
More and more churches are becoming available for redevelopment or multiple use. The latter means that the religious function is combined with other functions. To this end, many municipalities have drawn up a Church Vision with government funding as an inventory of the church buildings in the municipality with a guiding vision of the future as a guide for initiatives. In cities, we see a great diversity of new functions (commercial, cultural), while in villages reallocation to multifunctional accommodation (MFA) with a community hall and e.g. a library is most common.
More and more farms are losing their original agricultural purpose, because modern business management demands different and more large-scale requirements. Agricultural use has become a rarity, with opportunities especially in the areas of organic, nature-inclusive farming and animal husbandry . Partly due to scaling up in agricultural operations, many farms are becoming available for conversion/restoration into residential farms or division into single dwellings, care apartments, a function as a care farm or a recreational function. Following in the footsteps of the church visions that have been drawn up, some municipalities have also drawn up a farmstead vision.
Many of the buildings to be repurposed have national or municipal monument status and/or are worthy of preservation because of their image-defining contribution to the environment in which they stand.
Acoustical and building physics advice is often necessary in the case of redevelopment, because the use requirements in this area are quite different from those for which the building was originally intended. Large spaces (factory halls, churches) usually have too much reverberation for their new function. Dividing into smaller spaces, dwellings, etc., places specific demands on mutual sound insulation and soundproofing against outside noise (traffic noise).
In addition, of course, the energy performance, sustainability, etc. PBTA calculates and advises on the necessary provisions, carries out measurements, etc. It goes without saying that this is done with respect for the monumental character, such as the principle of “reversibility” of the modifications, so that the heritage is not irreparably damaged and future generations can continue to use the monument in the then desired manner: the best guarantee of preservation for years to come!
See also MFA Multifunctional Accommodations
For advice on redevelopment of industrial heritage, churches and farms, PBTA is the right company (including advice / design / tender / procurement / quickscan ).
