The Potential of Forgotten Space: A method for the assessment of spatial qualities in adaptive reuse projects

Adaptive reuse is a process that currently is a fundamental part of the discussion about sustainable urban development in contemporary cities. Not only because of the series of economic, social and environmental benefits that this process offer, but also because it represents a new vision and a new way of thinking about the development and growth of citie making efficient use of the available resources. All this has led urban planners, developers and administrative institutions to reflect on the necessary conditions to carry out this type of process. This study will focus on analyzing and defining these conditions based on the concept of urban qualities, but more specifically on certain spatial qualities, adaptability and flexibility, that allow the development of adaptive reuse processes. To this end, a method will be purposed to analyze and compare quantitatively and qualitatively these spatial qualities in existing buildings. Therefore, this method will represent not only a new way of analyzing the buildings spatial qualities, but also a tool for supporting decision making in adaptive reuse projects.