​

Certain architectural structures have the ability to persist over time when a building undergoes a change of use. This is the case of patios, according to the conclusions of a study focused  on  the  reused  buildings  of  Barcelona  recently  developed.  The  survey  of this  architectural  element  should  enable  us  to  better  understand  the  behaviour  of  these buildings. 

If we define the open-air inner courtyard of a building as a patio, this study is especially interested in those who have the capacity to organize spaces, systematize circulations — along  with  stairs  and  corridors  —  and  configure  the  building  as  a  whole.  This  set  of structuring patios particularly applies in a dense city like Barcelona because their position and size also provide liveability  to  interior  rooms.  In  light  of  these  qualities,  such  patios  can be regarded as an essential piece of both the formal and the bearing structure of a building. 

The location and attributes of these patios can be associated with the potential for adaptive reuse: they can help achieve a lower impact on the architectural and formal structure of a renovated building, when used appropriately. Hence the patio can be seen as an indicator of how a new programme adapts to the existing support. 171 out of 565 buildings documented and analysed in Barcelona — a thirty percent of the overall — have at least one patio of a kind whose characteristics have outlived one or more renovation processes. The percentage rises  to  50%  in  Ciutat  Vella  and  Eixample  districts,  where  density  and  architectural typology make them particularly relevant. 

Buildings with patios match different uses and periods from the 11th to the 20th century. In spite  of  the  expected  differences,  the  studio  draws  conclusions  on  the  understanding  of material transformations and changes of use they have undergone. 

In short, with regard to buildings included in this category — both heritage and common ones — this paper helps verify the hypothesis that the very existence of a patio is responsible for the persistence of the internal arrangement and structure and must be carefully considered in future interventions when addressed to extend the life-cycle of a building.

​

== Full document ==

<pdf>Media:Draft_Content_669646921p990.pdf</pdf>

== References ==

​

[1] Monteys, X., Mària, M., Fuertes, P., Sauquet, R., & Salvadó, N. (2018) Atlas del aprovechamiento arquitectónico. Estudio crítico de los edificios reutilizados en Barcelona. Barcelona: MINECO, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.  

​

[2] Austin, R. L., Woodcock, D. G., Steward, W. C., & Forrester R. A. (1988). Adative Reuse:  Issues and Case Studies in Building Preservation. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.  

​

[3] Ball, R. (1999). Developers, regeneration and sustainability issues in the reuse of vacant industrial buildings. Building Research & Information, 27(3), 140-148.  

​

[4] Bon R., Hutchinson K. (2000). Sustainable construction: some economic challenges. Building Research and Information, 28(5/6), 310-4.  

​

[5] Douglas, J. (2006). Building Adaptation, 2nd ed., Burlington: Butterworth-Heinemann.  

​

[6] Bullen, P. A. (2007). Adaptive reuse and sustainibility of commercial buildings. Facilities, 25, 20-31.  

​

[7] Langston, C. A. (2008). The sustainability implications of building adaptive reuse. In CRIOCM 2008 International Research Symposium. Retrieved January 21, 2019 from  https://works.bepress.com/craig_langston/1/  

​

[8] Rueda, S. (2018). Carta para el diseño de nuevos desarrollos urbanos y regeneración de los existentes. Congreso Post-Habitat III. Retrieved December 15, 2018 from Barcelona.http://www.cartaurbanismoecosistemico.com/  

​

[9] Díaz Recasens, G. (1992). Recurrencia y herencia del patio en el movimiento moderno. Sevilla: Universidad de Sevilla.  

​

[10] Yung, E. H., & Chan, E. H. (2012) Implementation Challenges to the Adaptive Reuse of  Heritage Buildings. Towards the Goals of Sustainable, Low Carbon Cities. Habitat international, 36(3), 352-361.

​