The Production of Reused Church Buildings: The Process of Adaptive Reuse Examined

Abstract

This thesis examines the process of adaptive reuse of church buildings with help of Lefebvre’s Conceptual Triad. Four reuse processes are researched in Emmen, Oss, Standdaarbuiten and Weert. All the church buildings were listed as a municipal monument and therefore, the municipality was involved in the process. The municipal policy, the process of reuse and the influence of the involved actors are examined from the perspective of Lefebvre’s theory. Furthermore, Lefebvre distinguishes a difference between the planned space by a public organization as the municipality (conceived space) and the way this space is experienced (lived space). Policy officers who plan the space we live in, are also part of that space. It seems assumable that their personal background (formed by the lived space) can influence their policy-making (conceived space). This aspect is also researched in the different cases.