What is Adaptive Reuse? 

Adaptive reuse refers to the process of reusing an existing building for a purpose other than which it was originally built or designed for.

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What are we trying to achieve with the 'Tomodachi House'...?

Reusing and revitalizing an existing structure through a sustainable and cost affective method. While concurrently exploring new and appropriate programs or functions that can reconnect the structure to the community.

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How can this type of 'Adaptive Reuse' approach become a cost affective design method?

From the get-go, an 'Adaptive Reuse' approach prevents thousands of existing buildings from being demolished. This allows the life of the structure and its materials to be prolonged through means of reuse and repurposing. An 'Adaptive Reuse' approach extends the life expectancy of a material "cradle-to-grave" and allows for other materials to be repurposed "cradle-to-cradle"...mitigating the embodied energy it would take to send and incinerate materials at a waste site, as well as, mitigate the energy it takes to order-produce-ship new materials to the construction site. 

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Reusing the existing structure and repurposing materials through a conscientious design will save us the expense that accumulates during construction and save us the cost of purchasing entirely new materials. 

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What is the overall goal for the 'Tomodachi House'...?

Throughout its design we will continuously keep track of important data. This Data will include information gathered overtime, such as:

• Interior Temperature/ Humidity

• Indoor Air Quality

• Natural Ventilation and Convection properties

• Material and Labor Costs

• Budget and Expenses

• Document Fees

• Site Analysis

• Other

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The data will ultimately provide a catalogue of information that will become available for others to utilize within their own projects. Allowing others to continue sharing and expand upon this information

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We are not the first to take this 'Adaptive Reuse' approach, but we were certainly inspired by those who have gone before us to employ this design method. We can only hope you too can continue to share the knowledge.

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