Innovative Approaches for User-Centred Retrofit and Adaptive Reuse of Buildings

Dear Colleagues,

The building sector faces increasing pressure to reduce environmental impact while responding to evolving social needs and changes in use. Retrofit and adaptive reuse of existing buildings have emerged as critical strategies for extending building lifecycles and conserving resources, supporting a more circular and sustainable urban transformation. However, many of these practical initiatives continue to prioritise technical performance over the lived experiences, needs, and practices of building users. A user-centred perspective is, therefore, essential to ensure that interventions not only improve environmental performance but also have a clear focus on social value.

This Special Issue invites contributions that explore innovative approaches to the user-centred retrofit and adaptive reuse of buildings. It will bring together interdisciplinary research that integrates architectural design, building technology, social sciences, digital tools, and participatory methods to better understand and incorporate user perspectives in the design and construction of such projects. Relevant topics may include co-design, collaboration and participatory design methods, post-occupancy evaluation, living labs, behavioural insights, digital and data-driven approaches, heritage-sensitive retrofit, inclusive design strategies, retrofit of culturally significant buildings, and sustainable and community-driven approaches for domestic and urban regeneration. The relationship between user-centred approaches and the natural environment is also a topic of interest in this Special Issue, considering biodiversity factors and the focus on user well-being.

We welcome theoretical, methodological, and empirical contributions that examine how user needs, behaviours, and experiences can inform the planning, design, and evaluation of retrofit and adaptive reuse projects. By foregrounding the role of users in shaping building transformation, this Special Issue will advance knowledge of and practice regarding the use of more responsive, inclusive, circular and sustainable built environments.

Dr. Joao Soliman-Junior
Dr. Maria Yioutani-Iacovides
Dr. Eunhwa Yang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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