Redevelopment trends of Melbourne CBD: The use of facadism and adaptive reuse

Two models have emerged for retaining heritage elements in the redevelopment of Melbourne’s (CBD). The most common model is facadism, which involves developers retaining the exterior walls of the building but completely replacing the interior. There are academic debates about whether facadism adequately retains the heritage integrity of the building. The other model involves adaptive reuse where the external walls and the character of the building’s interior are retained. Concerns exist about the costs of upgrading a heritage interior to meet modern building codes and requirements. This research is based on a sample of building developments in the Melbourne CBD that have taken place over the last 50 years. Case studies selected from this list of buildings are then used to determine which model, either facadism, adaptive reuse or a combination of the two, was undertaken in the redevelopment. When the case studies are used collectively it provides an understanding of the evolution of the redevelopment approaches used.

keywords: Melbourne heritage; facadism; adaptive reuse

• with: Jannine Christensen (lead)
• year: August 2022 – April 2024
• for: Architecture, Media, Politics, Society
• download: Article