Adaptive Reuse and Canberra: How does the application of adaptive reuse of commercial office buildings for residential purposes fit into Canberra’s urban planning goals for 2030?

6 Mar

Adaptive reuse architecture repurposes underutilised buildings for new functions, offering a more sustainable alternative to demolition and reconstruction.

This approach preserves up to 75% of a building’s lifetime carbon footprint while maintaining historical and cultural significance.

In Canberra, adaptive reuse has been applied to museums, galleries, hotels, and student accommodation, primarily through interior modifications. However, office-to-residential conversions remain rare due to strict building regulations, and no such projects exist in the Canberra CBD, despite its potential. Current ACT planning policies mandate sustainability but do not explicitly support adaptive reuse as a solution.

A study of three Sydney case studies - commercial offices converted into residences - highlighted challenges such as ceiling heights, privacy, orientation, and regulatory barriers. Testing these insights against Canberra’s 1968 CML Building revealed strong adaptive potential due to its location, construction, and lack of heritage restrictions. By demonstrating practical solutions, this study advocates for incorporating adaptive reuse in planning frameworks to foster a more sustainable built environment.

The Alastair Swayn Internship 2024: a joint initiative between the Alastair Swayn Foundation, the ACT Government and the University of Canberra

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