Reimagining Historical Interiors: An Interior Architecture Workshop on the Adaptive Reuse of Casa Botter

This qualitative study aims to explore the concept of adaptive reuse through the case of Casa Botter, emphasizing the significance of preserving architectural heritage and sustaining urban memory in the face of contemporary urban challenges. This study employs a case study, incorporating a two-day university workshop on Casa Botter, Art Nouveau building in Istanbul and the notion of adaptive reuse. The workshop with 19 participants facilitated an investigation into the building’s restoration process, adaptive reuse strategies, and its evolving function. It included a site visit, visual documentation, presentation on adaptive reuse, and the development of alternative design scenarios. The workshop unveiled the interpretations of adaptive reuse and the levels of engagement with cultural memory. It also underlined the limited participatory practices in the restoration process. The study contributes to discussions on sustainable heritage management and the integration of collective memory in design. It proposes that participatory and culturally informed approaches can lead to context-sensitive heritage practices. It also identifies the need to connect design education closely with historical research, the assessment of existing spatial qualities, and participatory approaches to heritage management.