ADAPTIVE PRE-THINKING
Paul Fairweather 2020
As an architect, the re-use of existing buildings is called Adaptive Re-use. The possible re-use of a building is often limited due to different factors, including location and zoning, structural system, fire ratings and the like.
Over the years, I was lucky to work on numerous wool-store building conversions around Australia, and invariably the most common re-use was residential. There are only a few examples of successful commercial adaptations, mostly because the standard 4-metre structural grid and deep floor plates with little access to light are unattractive to commercial tenants. The conversion for residential is not perfect, but with a trade-off against volume, size and character, it makes the projects not only attractive but viable.
So my idea of adaptive pre-thinking is about pre-thinking future adaptations but focused on business systems and models. The idea is that to be better prepared for different future circumstances, divergent thinking is required now!
Adaptive pre-thinking is like taste buds for the brain. Individual taste buds are a particular shape that only a specific molecule fits into, sending a signal off to the brain. If you damage your taste buds, then these molecules have nowhere to dock.
In the same way, a healthy creative brain needs to be able to connect with new ideas and concepts to come up with…
