Poetics of Construction - 4 Acts of Adaptation for a School in Anderlecht

Abstract

This thesis explores adaptive reuse as an ongoing process, with continuous and evolving acts, interpreting multiple theatrical phenomena within architectural practice to challenge the conventional before-and-after architecture model. To investigate how this concept can be operated in practice, the design proposal reimagines an art school in Anderlecht, Brussels. The school consists of a cluster of buildings from different eras, which has continued to metabolize through informal adaptations and repairs over the past century. Rather than implementing a large-scale intervention all at once, the proposal adopts a phased approach aimed at guiding the school toward a more resilient and improved condition for its future use while preserving the spatial and historical complexity that defines its unique character. The research part of the thesis supports this methodology by examining the benefits of this process-based adaptation from different perspectives, integrating architectural case studies and theoretical discourse. By integrating theatrical concepts not only as metaphor but also as methodological inspiration, this thesis draws a mediation point where spatial poetics and architectural tectonics meet. In the end, the objective is not just to celebrate the construction process itself, but to seek a way to foster a deeper connection between people and the site, where architecture is not just built, but continuously grows with its users.