Fragile by Design: How Can Buildings Be Designed to Outlast Their First Purpose?

Having explored adaptability at the city scale, we are now zooming in on the building itself—and, crucially, on practice. How can architects, developers, and consultants embed adaptability as a measurable, mainstream outcome? This question will be on the agenda at the Adaptable Building Conference (ABC) on January 22 at the Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam, where architects, engineers, policymakers, and industry leaders will explore the potential of adaptable buildings—and how to deliver them at scale.

Underdream Hygge Lodge / ArCONNECT Architects

1. Two Temperaments and Two Scales of the Site — The site is an independent old farm located outside a village at the foot of Cangshan Mountain. It is a long, narrow plot oriented east–west, with relatively shallow depth from north to south. To the north lies Shuangyuan Stream, one of the eighteen streams descending from Cangshan. The site is embraced by dense woodland, accompanied by the constant sound of flowing water, creating a secluded and tranquil mountain-forest atmosphere. To the south, the land opens dramatically toward vast farmland, where the nineteen peaks of Cangshan undulate across the horizon in full view, evoking an expansive pastoral scene reminiscent of the poetic line, "Plucking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, I leisurely glimpse the southern mountains." The site thus possesses two distinct temperaments: mountain forest and pastoral landscape.

Ki Residence / Studio Sanshou

A 360-degree turnstile is the heart of our design, transforming the home into a changing medley of spaces. When closed, the wall blends into a shade of pink. With a slow, dramatic turn, the spaces beyond are revealed. Now, a maroon shelf and its contents are on full display.

JL Dam House / Garbin Arquitetos

Implanted on a rugged plot of land at the edge of one of the arms of the Ibiúna reservoir, in the interior of São Paulo, Casa CR JL emerges from a careful reading of the topography and the existing landscape. The project begins with an understanding of the steep slope of the lot and the strong presence of water as structuring elements of the architectural proposal. From the outset, a solution was sought that not only adapted to the land but utilized its characteristics as spatial and landscape potential. The residence was designed for a young couple, with the premise of accommodating transformations over time, which led to the adoption of a modular system capable of allowing coherent future expansions. Currently, the house features five suites, a direct result of this progressive growth strategy.

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