A Criteria- and Case Study-Based Approach to Evaluate Adaptability in Buildings

Hatice OZLER; Basak GUCYETER

doi:10.2478/acee-2024-0011

A Criteria- and Case Study-Based Approach to Evaluate Adaptability in Buildings

Architecture, Civil Engineering, Environment

Volume 17 (2024): Issue 2 (June 2024)

By: Hatice OZLER and Basak GUCYETER

Open Access

|Jan 2025

Figures & Tables

Principle of Levels (Source: Authors. Adopted from Open Building Research Group, TU Delft, [50])

The shearing layers approach (Source: Authors. Adopted from [46])

Table 1.

Example studies that interpreted Brand’s shearing layers approach [46]

Duffy [55]	Brand [46]	Slaughter, Sause, and Pessiki [56]	Ashbolt [57]	Abdullah and Al-Alwan [58]
	Site		Site
	Structure	Structure	Structure	Structure
Shell	Skin	Enclosure	Skin	Outfit
Services	Services	Service	Services	Services
			Circulation
Scenery	Space Plan	Spatial/Functional	Space Plan	Infill
Sets	Stuff		Stuff	Interior
				Ambient

The methodological framework of the study (Source: Authors)

Table 2.

Distribution of adaptability strategies across 33 studies based on [14]

	Sources
Strategies	[67]	[68]	[39]	[12]	[69]	[65]	[70]	[71]	[72]	[73]	[58]	[26]	[74]	[57]	[19]	[15]	[75]	[17]	[6]	[76]	[77]	[5]	[78]	[79]	[80]	[66]	[81]	[2]	[82]	[21]	[83]	[84]	[85]	Total
Generality			x																								x							2
Flexibility/Versatility			x	x	x	x		x	x	x		x	x	x								x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x		x	x	21
Expendability/Scalability		x	x	x		x	x	x	x					x					x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x				19
Convertibility				x		x		x	x					x							x	x	x					x						9
Dismantlability/Separability		x		x			x		x	x					x	x	x		x	x	x							x	x	x				14
Prefabrication/Standardization	x								x		x				x	x																		5
Overcapacity/Redundancy	x						x						x		x	x	x	x	x	x									x	x				11
Movability/Mobility	x					x	x		x		x			x					x	x		x	x	x	x	x								13
Rearrangeable	x						x												x	x														4
Reusable/Recyclable		x		x		x			x		x						x						x	x	x					x				9
Refitability						x																x	x	x	x	x								6
Multifunctionality							x						x						x	x									x					5
Integratable		x																	x															2
Universality							x							x					x	x														4
Modularity			x				x		x			x		x			x		x	x														8
Ejectable							x								x	x																		3
Exchangeable							x								x	x			x	x														5
Customization												x																					x	2
Upgrading												x																x	x				x	4
Variability/Variety												x		x																			x	3
Zonable																			x	x														2
Availability																								x	x	x								3
Adjustability																			x	x		x	x											4
Durability/Robustness																				x								x	x		x			3
Accessibility															x	x	x											x						4
Simplicity																												x	x					2
Independence					x						x				x	x	x											x	x	x				8
Collective-Individual																			x	x														2
Central-Decentral																			x	x														2
Shapeable																			x	x														2
Automation											x								x															2
Alterable																			x	x														2
Predictability															x	x																		2
Affordability																													x					1
Segmentability																																	x	1
Mendability																															x			1
Replaceability																															x			1
Inspectability																															x			1
Suitability																																x		1
Reliability																																x		1
Ductless																			x															1
Intelligent																			x															1
Responsiveness														x																				1
Commonality																	x																	1
Malleability																					x													1

Histogram/Pareto diagram for the frequency distribution of the identified adaptability strategies (Source: Authors)

Histogram/Pareto diagram for the frequency distribution of the identified adaptability parameters (Source: Authors)

Table 3.

Distribution of adaptability parameters across 19 studies, adopted from [14]

		Sources
Layers	Parameters	[86]	[67]	[87]	[15]	[7]	[2]	[76]	[81]	[39]	[88]	[59]	[65]	[72]	[89]	[13]	[79]	[57]	[78]	[90]	Total
Location	Location/accessibility/orientation/proximity							x	x				x		x	x		x		x	7
Structure	Building dimensions and height		x			x		x		x			x		x		x	x		x	9
	Structural design/slabs/loads		x		x	x		x	x		x		x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	14
	Floor height	x		x			x	x	x	x		x	x		x	x	x			x	12
	Technical span				x		x		x	x		x			x	x	x	x	x	x	11
	Core/vertical circulation	x	x		x	x	x					x	x		x	x		x		x	11
Layout	Plan organization	x	x		x	x	x	x		x		x		x		x	x	x	x	x	14
	Circulation (horizontal)	x			x	x										x					4
	Plan depth		x			x							x		x			x			5
	Partitions/walls				x		x		x			x				x	x		x		7
Services	Service spaces				x		x		x	x	x	x			x	x	x		x		10
	Mechanical, electrical, IT, and HVAC installations	x	x		x	x			x	x	x				x						8
	Fire safety design		x		x					x	x		x								5
Envelope	Envelope design	x	x		x	x	x				x		x			x		x		x	10
Elements	Connection types						x	x						x		x	x		x		6
	Selection and availability of building elements/standard/prefabricated/product family/Plug-and-play construction elements									x						x	x		x		4
Reinforcements	Furnishings/stackable and movable units/non-fixed objects															x	x		x		3

Table 4.

Weighted scores of the associated adaptability strategies and parameters (k_strategy x k_parameter)

			Strategies
Layers	Parameters	Physical Attributes	Flexibility/Versatility 1.06P]	Expandability/Scalability [0.95P]	Dismantlability/Separability [0.70P]	Movability/Mobility [0.65P]	Overcapacity/Redundancy [0.55P]	Convertibility [0.45P]	Reusable/Recyclable [0.45P]	Independence [0.40P]	Modularity [0.40P]	Refitability [0.30P]	Sub-parameter Score
Location	Location/accessibility/orientation/proximity [0.50P]	Low-density		0.48				0.23					0.71
Structure
	Building dimensions and height [0.64P]	Low-rise						0.29					0.29
	Building dimensions and height [0.64P]	High-rise					0.35	0.29					0.64
	Structural design/slabs/loads [1.00P]	Steel	1.06	0.95	0.70	0.65	0.55		0.45	0.40	0.40	0.30	5.46
		Reinforced Concrete	1.06							0.40			1.46
		Prefabricated Concrete	1.06		0.70	0.65			0.45	0.40	0.40	0.30	3.96
		Increased load-bearing capacity		0.95			0.55	0.45					1.95
		Dry connections		0.95	0.70				0.45	0.40		0.30	2.80
	Floor height [0.86P]	fh < 3 m	0.91										0.91
		3 m fh < 5m	0.91					0.39					1.30
		fh 5 m	0.91	1.01			0.47	0.39					2.78
	Technical span [0.79P]	ts < 6 m											0.00
	Technical span [0.79P]	ts 6 m	0.84	0.75			0.43	0.36					2.38
	Core/vertical circulation [0.79P]	Centralized	0.84	0.75				0.36					1.95
	Core/vertical circulation [0.79P]	Steel structure stairs	0.84		0.55	0.51			0.36	0.32	0.32	0.24	3.14
Layout	Plan organization [1.00P]	Open plan	1.06					0.45		0.40			1.91
		Modular organization	1.06	0.95				0.45			0.40		2.86
		Standard size	1.06	0.95				0.45			0.40		2.86
		Multifunctional spaces	1.06					0.45		0.40			1.91
		Spatial Overcapacity	1.06					0.45					2.06
	Partitions/walls [0.50P]	Movable/Rearrangeable	0.53	0.48				0.23		0.20	0.20		1.97
	Partitions/walls [0.50P]	Fixed	0.53	0.48				0.23		0.20		0.15	1.59
Services	Service spaces [0.71P]	Raised floors	0.75					0.32		0.28	0.28	0.21	2.80
		Suspended ceilings	0.75					0.32		0.28	0.28	0.21	2.80
		Shafts	0.75	0.67				0.32		0.28		0.21	2.62
	Mechanical. electrical. IT. and HVAC installations [0.57P]	Natural	0.60					0.26					0.86
		Mechanical	0.60					0.26					0.86
		Hybrid	0.60	0.54				0.26					1.40
Envelope	Envelope design [0.71P]	Double skin facades	0.75	0.67				0.32		0.28	0.28		2.30
		Modular/panel systems	0.75	0.67				0.32	0.32	0.28	0.28	0.21	3.33
		Independent	0.75					0.32	0.32	0.28		0.21	2.38
		Universal	0.75					0.32					0.32
		Irregular	0.75					0.32					1.07
		TOTAL	21.84	11.26	4.65	3.06	3.29	8.81	2.35	4.8	3.24	2.34	65.63

Frequency of physical attributes of buildings within the scope of adaptability strategies (Source: Authors)

Table 5.

Scoring of the case studies based on the weighted adaptability strategies and parameters

Layers	Parameters	Physical Attributes	The Scröder House Gerrit Rietveld 1925	The Farnsworth House Mies van der Rohe 1951	Genter Strasse Otto Steidle & Partner 1972	Quinta Monroy Alejandro Aravena 2003	Het SchetsBlok ANA Architecten 2018
Location	Location/accessibility/orientation/proximity	Low-density	0.71	0.71	0.71	0.71	0.71
Structure	Building dimensions and height	Low-rise	0.29	0.29	0.29	0.29
	Building dimensions and height	High-rise					0.64
	Structural design/slabs/loads	Steel	5.46	5.46
		Reinforced Concrete	1.46	1.46		1.46	1.46
		Prefabricated Concrete			3.96
		Increased load-bearing capacity			1.95	1.95	1.95
		Dry connections			2.80
	Floor height	fh < 3 m				0.91
		3 m ≤ fh < 5m	1.30	1.30	1.30		1.30
		fh ≥ 5 m
	Technical span	ts < 6 m			0.00	0.00
	Technical span	ts ≥ 6 m	2.38	2.38			2.38
	Core/vertical circulation	Centralized	1.95		1.95	1.95	1.95
	Core/vertical circulation	Steel structure stairs			3.14	3.14
Layout	Plan organization	Open plan	1.91	1.91		1.91	1.91
		Modular organization		2.86	2.86	2.86	2.86
		Standard size			2.86	2.86
		Multifunctional spaces	1.91	1.91		1.91
		Spatial Overcapacity			2.06	2.06	2.06
	Partitions/walls	Movable/Rearrangeable	1.97			1.97	1.97
	Partitions/walls	Fixed	1.59	1.59	1.59	1.59	1.59
Services	Service spaces	Raised floors
		Suspended ceilings	2.80	2.80
		Shafts	2.62		2.62		2.62
	Mechanical. electrical. IT. and HVAC installations	Natural	0.86	0.86	0.86	0.86	0.86
		Mechanical
		Hybrid
Envelope	Envelope design	Double skin facades					2.30
		Modular/panel systems	3.33		3.33		3.33
		Independent	2.38	2.38	2.38	2.38	2.38
		Universal	0.32	0.32	0.32	0.32	0.32
		Irregular			1.07	1.07	1.07
		TOTAL	33.24	26.23	33.67	30.20	31.71

The layers that augment the adaptability characteristics of the Schröder House (Source: Authors)

The overall adaptability score and strategy scores of the Schröder House (Source: Authors)

The Farnsworth House (Source: Author, Basak Gucyeter)

The layers that augment the adaptability characteristics of the Farnsworth House (Source: Authors)

The overall adaptability score and the adaptability strategy scores of the Farnsworth House (Source: Authors)

Layers that augment the adaptability characteristics of the Genter Strasse (Source: Authors)

The overall adaptability score and the adaptability strategy scores of the Genter Strasse houses (Source: Authors)

Layers that augment the adaptability characteristics of the Quinta Monroy Housing (Source: Authors)

The overall adaptability score and the strategy scores of the Quinta Monroy Housing (Source: Authors)

Layers that augment the adaptability characteristics of Het SchetsBlok (Source: Authors)

The overall adaptability score and the strategy scores of the Het SchetsBlok (Source: Authors)

References

Authors

Metrics

Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acee-2024-0011 | Journal eISSN: 2720-6947 (formerly 1899-0142) | Journal ISSN: 1899-0142

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Language: English

Page range: 1 - 32

Submitted on: May 10, 2023

Accepted on: Jun 28, 2024

Published on: Jan 10, 2025

Published by: Silesian University of Technology

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: Volume open

Keywords:

Building adaptability,

Strategies, Parameters,

Criteria-based evaluation,

Case study

Related subjects:

Architecture and design,

Architecture,

Architects, buildings

© 2025 Hatice OZLER, Basak GUCYETER, published by Silesian University of Technology
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Volume 17 (2024): Issue 2 (June 2024)

A Criteria- and Case Study-Based Approach to Evaluate Adaptability in Buildings

Figures & Tables

Figure 1.

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Table 1.

Figure 3.

Table 2.

Figure 4.

Figure 5.

Table 3.

Table 4.

Figure 6.

Table 5.

Figure 7.

Figure 8.

Figure 9.

Figure 10.

Figure 11.

Figure 12.

Figure 13.

Figure 14.

Figure 15.

Figure 16.

Figure 17.

Figure 18.

Paradigm

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