Karen Lens
Universiteit Hasselt, Arts and Architecture, Faculty Member
- Arts and Architecture, Interior Design, Interior Design (Architecture), Interiors, Architecture, Architectural Theory, and 14 moreSpace and Place, Interior Architecture, Artistic Research, Walking, Adaptive Reuse, ADAPTIVE RE USE, Heritage Conservation, Cultural Heritage Management, Retail Design, Architectural History, Cistercian monasteries, Archaeology of Medieval Monasteries, Medieval Cistercian Female Monasteries, and Fashion and architectureedit
The past 1.400 years religious Christian churches and monasteries marked the landscape and social life of Europe. Yet the on-going process of secularisation affects our religious heritage: it becomes underused or even abandoned. Our... more
The past 1.400 years religious Christian churches and monasteries marked the landscape and social life of Europe. Yet the on-going process of secularisation affects our religious heritage: it becomes underused or even abandoned. Our research focuses on the potential role of the architectural discipline in the discourse of reusing monasteries; research by design is implemented as an exploration tool, starting from a large survey of sub-typologies of Christian monasteries in Western Europe.
This paper presents the first phase of our project: a survey of Christian monasteries in a specific study area (the Belgian province Limburg), and their analysis and classification into sub-typologies. Important sources are historical and architectural literature, but also local archives, databases, site visits, and newspapers. The inventoried sub-typologies are translated through sketches and schemes into models, which facilitate analysis of and communication about the existing monastic buildings. Practising adaptive reuse, the choice of an appropriate new program to a structure is vitally important to reinforce the original building character. The paper concludes by indicating the most suitable models to be implemented by social important (ambivalent) care programs through research by design, in hybrid combinations with other functions.
This paper presents the first phase of our project: a survey of Christian monasteries in a specific study area (the Belgian province Limburg), and their analysis and classification into sub-typologies. Important sources are historical and architectural literature, but also local archives, databases, site visits, and newspapers. The inventoried sub-typologies are translated through sketches and schemes into models, which facilitate analysis of and communication about the existing monastic buildings. Practising adaptive reuse, the choice of an appropriate new program to a structure is vitally important to reinforce the original building character. The paper concludes by indicating the most suitable models to be implemented by social important (ambivalent) care programs through research by design, in hybrid combinations with other functions.
Research Interests:
Historical buildings define the view and character of villages and cities, but some lose their function because of social, economical, political or religious changes. Without a suitable use, it is difficult for owners to conserve their... more
Historical buildings define the view and character of villages and cities, but some lose their function because of social, economical, political or religious changes. Without a suitable use, it is difficult for owners to conserve their property. Adaptive reuse has proven to be a useful solution. However, the research and practise to fitting new programs in existing (historical) buildings is rather complex. Not every heritage site can be transformed into a museum, hotel or concert hall as lever for economic, touristic regeneration.
To find suitable programs we need to understand current contextual demographic, ecological, economical, technological, transformations. Different interpretations of one situation are possible. Necessary knowledge is not pre- structured and asks careful moves towards a problem definition. Architects and designers can play an important roll in analysing transformations of the building and its context and in searching for suitable programmes. Their visualizations can open up a debate with all stakeholders. How can we confront design students with this complexity during their education? Subsequently can we use the therefore organised design studio as tool to develop alternative approaches to develop programs? What is the minimal intervention to define adaptive reuse?
Therefore, we organise a 12-weeks design studio in the master interior architecture. Based on in-group work gathered context data, the students develop a key plan by teams of 4 and create an individual partial design. Lectures of experts, involvement of design tutors and interaction with stakeholders guide them through the design process. Sketches, models and notebooks will document the process.
To find suitable programs we need to understand current contextual demographic, ecological, economical, technological, transformations. Different interpretations of one situation are possible. Necessary knowledge is not pre- structured and asks careful moves towards a problem definition. Architects and designers can play an important roll in analysing transformations of the building and its context and in searching for suitable programmes. Their visualizations can open up a debate with all stakeholders. How can we confront design students with this complexity during their education? Subsequently can we use the therefore organised design studio as tool to develop alternative approaches to develop programs? What is the minimal intervention to define adaptive reuse?
Therefore, we organise a 12-weeks design studio in the master interior architecture. Based on in-group work gathered context data, the students develop a key plan by teams of 4 and create an individual partial design. Lectures of experts, involvement of design tutors and interaction with stakeholders guide them through the design process. Sketches, models and notebooks will document the process.
Research Interests:
Adaptive reuse has proven to be an important strategy in conserving historical buildings. Nevertheless, reprogramming underused religious heritage sites in Western Europe is a sensitive subject because of its sacred aspects, history and... more
Adaptive reuse has proven to be an important strategy in conserving historical buildings. Nevertheless, reprogramming underused religious heritage sites in Western Europe is a sensitive subject because of its sacred aspects, history and connection to the surroundings. They represent strong intangible qualities. What can we learn from this original hybrid struc- tures for adaptive reuse focusing on four monasteries and their diversified programs that made them self-sufficient?
White Sisters and Herkenrode (Belgium) are still operating through a diversified program taking into account the memory of the buildings. Whereas Pousada de Santa Maria du Bouro (Portugal) and Ecole de Musique (France) were installed with a singular, homogeneous contem- porary program rather independent from its historic value. We will argue – partly by referring to the historic St Gallen model – that a heterogenous programming which respects the genus loci favors the protection of historical, cultural, social values and even sacred aspects of monastic sites.
White Sisters and Herkenrode (Belgium) are still operating through a diversified program taking into account the memory of the buildings. Whereas Pousada de Santa Maria du Bouro (Portugal) and Ecole de Musique (France) were installed with a singular, homogeneous contem- porary program rather independent from its historic value. We will argue – partly by referring to the historic St Gallen model – that a heterogenous programming which respects the genus loci favors the protection of historical, cultural, social values and even sacred aspects of monastic sites.