Conservation of monasteries by adaptive reuse: diversified program as a source of inspiration in past and future?

Abstract

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 structures for adaptive reuse focusing on four monasteries and their diversified programs that made them selfsufficient? 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.