Emerging patterns of adaptive re-use : the new American House Hotel

Abstract

This thesis aims to develop a design solution for the adaptive reuse of the American House Hotel that answers an architectural design challenge with technical responses. The process of actualization has been pushed a bit farther than has been done in the preservation/rehabilitation field. The intent is not only to define the philosophical and experiential intent, and analyze and document the historical process, but also to produce sets of details, materials, and textures that can work. The design issues, for once need, to take a back seat to the obvious complication of designing in harmony with an old structure. Specific answers are needed rather than just more questions. Some historical toes have been stepped on, but intent needed to be translated into a physical form--a possible solution to a design question. As in a realistic working world sense, a practical response needed to evolve quickly. The important steps to finding a method of approaching adaptive reuse will be of some use to those in need of a streamlined process; here one possible beginning is being explored.