Reinventing Heritage: Design Compass on Adaptive Reuse

In Reinventing Heritage, Park Associati—a Milan-based interdisciplinary collective of architects, designers, and researchers—explores the transformative potential of adaptive reuse in architecture as a key strategy to address environmental, social, and economic challenges. Rather than demolishing and rebuilding, adaptive reuse champions the repurposing of existing structures to extend their lifecycle, reduce waste, and foster sustainable urban regeneration.

Through a combination of theoretical insights and practical case studies, Reinventing Heritage highlights the diverse ways in which adaptive reuse can revitalize cities and honor cultural heritage while creating innovative spaces serving contemporary demands. Contributions by leading international authors—including curators, urban planners, ecologists, photographers, and designers— offer a multifaceted dialogue around the future of our built environment. The book also provides a behind-the-scenes perspective on Park Associati’s most prominent adaptive reuse projects, detailing their processes, challenges, and innovative solutions. An additional design compass showcases how Park Associati’s practice can be replicated worldwide.

320pp., cloth, Park Books, 2025.