Adaptive reuse for sustainable urban development: vertical farming in former department stores. German case study
Since digitalization has changed people’s shopping behavior, department stores have partly become obsolete. Concepts for adaptive reuse can help avoid future vacancies or counteract existing ones. However, developing viable concepts for reuse is challenging due to the layout of department stores, pa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Built Environment |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1455166/full |
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| author | Hanna Bonekämper Hanna Bonekämper |
| author_facet | Hanna Bonekämper Hanna Bonekämper |
| author_sort | Hanna Bonekämper |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since digitalization has changed people’s shopping behavior, department stores have partly become obsolete. Concepts for adaptive reuse can help avoid future vacancies or counteract existing ones. However, developing viable concepts for reuse is challenging due to the layout of department stores, particularly regarding building depth, which limits natural light penetration throughout the structure. While vertical farming as a technology is not new, its integration into former department stores is. The unique contribution of this work lies in offering new perspectives on repurposing the growing number of vacant retail spaces. Through an architectural case study, this research explores how vertical farming could be implemented in such buildings. Using a department store in Wuppertal, Germany, as an example, the proposed solution is tailored to the site’s structural conditions. Methods from the field of architecture were applied, including a site analysis followed by an iterative design process that progressed from conceptual planning to detailed development. The results include floor plans, elevations, sections, and visualizations. The proposed design indicates that these buildings are well-suited for vertical farming, offering significant added value to the city. This contribution provides an interdisciplinary concept that uncovers further research questions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-17db95e542f04ea29bcb176e01374d1d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2297-3362 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Built Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-17db95e542f04ea29bcb176e01374d1d2025-02-03T06:33:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Built Environment2297-33622025-02-011110.3389/fbuil.2025.14551661455166Adaptive reuse for sustainable urban development: vertical farming in former department stores. German case studyHanna Bonekämper0Hanna Bonekämper1Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, GermanyInstitute for Technology and Management in Construction, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Geo and Environmental Sciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, GermanySince digitalization has changed people’s shopping behavior, department stores have partly become obsolete. Concepts for adaptive reuse can help avoid future vacancies or counteract existing ones. However, developing viable concepts for reuse is challenging due to the layout of department stores, particularly regarding building depth, which limits natural light penetration throughout the structure. While vertical farming as a technology is not new, its integration into former department stores is. The unique contribution of this work lies in offering new perspectives on repurposing the growing number of vacant retail spaces. Through an architectural case study, this research explores how vertical farming could be implemented in such buildings. Using a department store in Wuppertal, Germany, as an example, the proposed solution is tailored to the site’s structural conditions. Methods from the field of architecture were applied, including a site analysis followed by an iterative design process that progressed from conceptual planning to detailed development. The results include floor plans, elevations, sections, and visualizations. The proposed design indicates that these buildings are well-suited for vertical farming, offering significant added value to the city. This contribution provides an interdisciplinary concept that uncovers further research questions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1455166/fulladaptive reusevacant buildingdepartment storesvertical farmingsustainable urban development (SUD)mixed-use urban development |
| spellingShingle | Hanna Bonekämper Hanna Bonekämper Adaptive reuse for sustainable urban development: vertical farming in former department stores. German case study Frontiers in Built Environment adaptive reuse vacant building department stores vertical farming sustainable urban development (SUD) mixed-use urban development |
| title | Adaptive reuse for sustainable urban development: vertical farming in former department stores. German case study |
| title_full | Adaptive reuse for sustainable urban development: vertical farming in former department stores. German case study |
| title_fullStr | Adaptive reuse for sustainable urban development: vertical farming in former department stores. German case study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adaptive reuse for sustainable urban development: vertical farming in former department stores. German case study |
| title_short | Adaptive reuse for sustainable urban development: vertical farming in former department stores. German case study |
| title_sort | adaptive reuse for sustainable urban development vertical farming in former department stores german case study |
| topic | adaptive reuse vacant building department stores vertical farming sustainable urban development (SUD) mixed-use urban development |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1455166/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hannabonekamper adaptivereuseforsustainableurbandevelopmentverticalfarminginformerdepartmentstoresgermancasestudy AT hannabonekamper adaptivereuseforsustainableurbandevelopmentverticalfarminginformerdepartmentstoresgermancasestudy |