Old into new: a transformation of an industrial building

Abstract

I have always liked the idea of former industrial buildings being used for communal purposes. That‘s what they were built for in the first place. So, if it can’t be a factory anymore, what about transforming it into architecture for the local community, such as co-housing, a cultural centre, or something similar? Something that the community benefits from. The number of vacant factories, warehouses, and mills in the rural area of Sweden is still high. Spinning mills, paper mills and other industrial buildings were often built near rivers, which served as an energy source. With an industry, society began to build up, which was mostly dependent on the factory economy. Today, many industrial buildings and former factories are abandoned, or used for a temporary purpose. They are omnipresent and often go unnoticed, but they exist as a valuable resource and offer a great opportunity for community projects that could enrich the lives of many. This thesis looks at a particular former spinning mill in Alafors, a community in the rural area of Gothenburg. The factory area consists of several buildings and has been partly developed in the past. However, the current concept is unclear, but the municipality and the property owners see great potential for further development. A new concept focuses on a mixed-use that creates synergies within the factory site, but also beyond its boundaries. With appropriate new functions, financial risks are spread and lead to resilience for future happenings. New functions can feed off each other, making a scheme more attractive to all users and giving it long term vitality. An evidence-based design proposal focuses on one building specifically and displays improvements in its environmental impact through an iterative design approach. This was performed through different design tools. Architectural qualities, such as functionality, proportion and materiality, have been investigated through literature, interviews, and design experiments. The outcome of this thesis is an appropriate new architectural programme for the former spinning mill in Alafors that includes all aspects of sustainability. Social, ecological, and economical.