Abandoned and disused buildings in communities can often lead to anti social behaviour such as graffiti, drug use and vandalism. How can the reuse and refurbishment of these buildings help to benefit communities?
The reuse of such structures is a function of the locality/habitat around it and also on the landscape. Often such abandoned structures are used as eco-resort or for developing Interpretation centre
An example you might look at are the alleyways of Melbourne, Australia which were old freight alleys and service docks that were converted to thriving Cafe and restaurant corridors. The Highline park in New York is a very successful conversion of an old feeder railway that directly serviced warehouses on the west side, all of which were defunct for years, and which is now an elevated urban park. In general urban freight facilities such as wharves and docks and railway stations have often been successfully reused. The Musée d'Orsay in Paris was an abandoned railway station (and where Orson Welles filmed his film 'the Trial' when it was still that) before becoming a very successful musuem that integrates many of the railway station architectural elements.
I think the best way to prevent anti-social behavior is to involve potential users in making decisions about the possible rehabilitation of urban spaces. The sense of belonging and space characteristics are consistent with user expectations can be a good way of social intervention.
The answers above are very valid. Besides, a combination of factors that highlight both heritage and economic benefits is the right direction for urban policies for such areas. Most countries have strong heritage laws that will help - (don't forget industrial heritage!)
You will probably find many inspiring examples for positive effects of reused structures in the field of Landscape Architecture. Many new urban parks and gardens are currently designed on former industrial areas, using the old building structures as valuable points of orientation, identity and activity. Some of the best examples world wide are The High Line in New York (http://www.thehighline.org/), the Gas Works Park in Seattle (http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?id=293) or the Landscape Park Duisburg-Nord in Germany (http://en.landschaftspark.de/startseite). You’ll notice that all of these parks and their reused buildings have very positive effects on the neighbouring local communities, because they are open to the public and sometimes designed in close cooperation (Participation) with the local communities .... read for example: "Syntax of Landscape. The Landscape Architecture of Peter Latz and Partners"
Dear Alexandria,
Here in São Paulo (Brazil) there are some experiences of rehabilitation of abandoned building for use of social interest. These buildings are generally in the central area of the city where the jobs are concentrated. So use them with low-income residence avoids lost time and money on the way home to work.
Some papers about:
UNUSED URBAN SPACE: CONSERVATION OR TRANSFORMATION? POLEMICS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF URBAN WASTELANDS AND ABANDONED BUILDINGS by Merten Nefs
http://www.ceci-br.org/novo/revista/docs2005/CT-2005-42.pdf
Public policies and architecture in the central area of megacities. The case
of São Paulo, Brazil by Leandro Medrano
http://www.rc21.org/conferences/amsterdam2011/edocs/Session%2024/24-2-Medrano.pdf
São Paulo, center and periphery: The environmental rhetoric and the limitations of urban policy by Maria Lucia Refinetti Martins
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0103-40142011000100005&script=sci_arttext&tlng=em
SUSTAINABLE MEGACITY VISIONS FROM SÃO PAULO by Carlos Leite
I participated in an adaptation project of an abandoned building in housing and this study resulted in a book:
Rehabilitation of slum: the project of the Ouvidor Street.
Requalificação de cortiço: o projeto da Rua do Ouvidor.
http://www.google.com.br/books?id=y0vmCgC2E8kC&printsec=frontcover&hl=pt-BR&redir_esc=y
(if you want I can help with the Portuguese).
Regards,
Vanessa
In my opinion that is a crucial step in any industrial city... Check for example the case of Detroit...
You may read for example:
Post-industrial landscapes as drivers for urban redevelopment: Public versus expert perspectives towards the benefits and barriers of the reuse of post-industrial sites in urban areas
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