Reinventing Heritage — Adaptive Reuse as a Collective Practice

As part of the seventh edition of Milano Arch Week, dedicated to the theme “Inequalities and Architecture: Can Architecture Redistribute Power?”, the Milan-based interdisciplinary architecture and design collective Park is hosting a series of conversations on adaptive reuse as a practice capable of regenerating places and communities, reducing waste and inequality, and redefining how value is distributed in urban spaces.

At the heart of the initiative, and the source of its title, is the official presentation of the book Reinventing Heritage – A Design Compass on Adaptive Reuse, edited by Park to mark the studio’s 25th anniversary. More than a monograph, the book explores reuse as both a design and cultural tool, combining theoretical contributions, case studies, and a “design compass” aimed at making methods and processes transferable.

The editorial project serves as the starting point for a roundtable discussion with several of the book’s contributors — including Prof. Pierre Alain-Croset, Susanne Carruth, partner at 3XN/GXN, and Dieter Leyssen, partner at 51N4E — who will reflect on the importance of valuing existing heritage and how adaptive reuse can bridge memory and innovation. From the scale of individual projects to the urban context, adaptive reuse is here presented as an “open” practice: a field where diverse forms of knowledge converge and where design generates public value.

The day also features two additional discussions on adaptive reuse: a roundtable curated by Fosbury Architecture and the Canadian Centre for Architecture, bringing together ten Italian architecture firms to present projects focused on material lifecycle, urban regeneration, and social impact; and the screening of the documentary Power to Renovation: A Question of Values, produced by HouseEurope!, an independent European platform promoting a renovation-first culture. Park is a Supporting Practice of HouseEurope! and shares its commitment to responsible transformation of the built environment.

This initiative highlights the dialogue between research, design, and communication, offering a concrete opportunity to discuss replicable models that combine environmental sustainability, social equity, and architectural quality.

For the occasion, the book — published by Park Books — will be available for purchase at the Triennale di Milano bookshop.