Shifting narratives: Stripping layers of time to reveal hidden maritime heritage

Abstract

Transformation is inevitable. It happens spontaneously, as well as intentionally. This thesis deals with architectural and social values associated with the many renovations and alterations of Amerikaskjulet, an industrial building of Gothenburg. In its glory days the area was bustling with activity, as Amerikaskjulet not only was a warehouse of incoming goods but also a terminal for thousands of people travelling with, or just witnessing the greatness of, the America ships. Eventually, however, the departures ceased and in the 1980’s the building was transformed into an office building. This transformation, and renovations of Amerikaskjulet prior to that, have been brutal. The building is now altered into anonymity. The building has lost its prominent features and thereby its beauty. It is a collection of layers presenting an awkward pile of materials. On the facade, some details are still resembled but from the inside it looks like any other office building from the 1980’s. For this thesis, I am imagining Amerikaskjulet as layers of time, seeing the many interventions the building has had. This thesis is an investigation and application of a method. Through the method of stripping and slow dismantling of materials, the layers and what’s beneath them is uncovered. I am illustrating Amerikaskjulet in the stripping phase with collage techniques. During the stripping, waste material from the dismantled objects has occurred, which is then integrated in the project. Thus, this thesis also suggests concepts of adaptive reuse of materials in Amerikaskjulet. Although the adaptive reuse is the final act of the thesis, it doesn’t stand alone as the thesis’ result. The process of uncovering and stripping is the project’s core and should also be read as the thesis’ result. By transforming old buildings in a slow way and at the same time retrospecting to find other values that are not evident at first glance, heritage can be maintained and revived.