Bored Panda asked designer Kurani about some of the main upsides of adaptive reuse. "Repurposing buildings offers several advantages. First, it's environmentally friendly. Construction accounts for about 11% of global carbon emissions, so renovating existing structures instead of building new ones reduces our carbon footprint. It requires less energy, fewer materials, and produces less waste," explained the founder of 'Kurani,' a social impact-driven design firm that creates educational, cultural, and community spaces.

Moreover, repurposing buildings and structures is a more efficient way to use space, according to Kurani. "In society, we often underutilize existing buildings: our homes are empty while we're at work, and our offices are empty when we're home. Repurposing buildings maximizes the potential of our most underutilized structures."

Furthermore, there's the potential to revitalize neighborhoods. "Adapting an old building can transform an unattractive area into a vibrant, useful place for the community," Kurani said.

Sharing a couple of great examples of his work with Bored Panda, Kurani said, "I'm a big believer in reusing buildings, and recently built a learning lab for children in a retail storefront and transformed a former industrial warehouse into a rehabilitation center for incarcerated men."

If you want to be all fancy and impress your friends at your next dinner party, the technical term for repurposing buildings and using spaces for needs other than they were originally intended is ‘adaptive reuse.’

The practice is also known as ‘recycling’ and ‘conversion,’ and it is offered as an alternative to new construction for the sake of better sustainability, urban regeneration, and creating a circular economy. Think of it this way: if you can change the purpose of a single room in your home, why not apply that same logic to an entire building or structure?

Real estate and infrastructure are expensive to build and maintain, so it’s economical to be flexible in how we view various spaces. Objectively speaking, at their core, buildings are just big (hopefully artistic) boxes with walls, ceilings, and floors. Maybe even windows if you’re a fan of sunlight!

What we do with—and in—those spaces, what functions we hope they serve, and how we configure and design them is entirely up to us. And the fun part is that we, as a society, can change our minds depending on our shifting wants, needs, and attitudes.

A factory can become affordable housing if there are massive changes in the economy and certain industries are no longer profitable. Palaces can transform into concert halls, event spaces, or museums.

Skyscrapers full of offices can turn into apartments, or vice versa, depending upon where the wind blows in the real estate market. And, yes, old banks can become really cool coffee shops. The only limits are your imagination and your budget for changing the ‘guts’ of the building.

Reusing what you’ve already built and repurposing those spaces makes a lot of financial sense. Not only is it economical, it’s also ecological. Instead of laying down foundations and building something new, you’re redesigning the space.

Sure, you might have to check that the building’s up to code and update the plumbing and electrical systems, but that’s easier than starting everything completely from scratch. You'd also probably have to handle far less paperwork when adapting a space compared to building something new. Getting building permits, while necessary, is also a huge headache.

The Varisco Design Build Group suggests that adaptive reuse projects are a testament to the seamless fusion of innovation. From their perspective, repurposing buildings can “honor the past while embracing the future,” giving new life to old structures. It’s environmentally friendly and can create a more culturally diverse urban environment as cities continue to develop.

According to the Varisco Design Build Group, your first step should be coming to grips with the existing structure. “The project’s architectural design and structural integrity must all be examined. By comprehending the strengths and limitations of the building, we can make informed decisions about the feasibility of the intended transformation.”

Meanwhile, you'll have to be very clear about exactly what it is you intend to do with the space once you convert it. You’re changing things, yes, but to what end? What are the functions of the new space going to be?

Coffee shop and grocery store employees and clients are going to have very different needs from those of galleries, corporate offices, and the like. In short, you need a clear vision of what you’re doing before you start doing it. Changing your mind in the middle of a project is going to end up costing you a pretty penny.

Next, you'll have to check whether the intended design and functions of the structure comply with zoning requirements. You have to do your research and get in touch with the necessary government agencies to get approval. What you intend to do and what's (not) legal might be two very different things.

But bureaucracy might not be the main challenge. You have to consider potential structural issues, too. “We must take care of problems like load-bearing capacity, foundation stability, and seismic retrofitting while preserving the original character of the building,” the architectural design and build firm states.

Which of the adaptively reused buildings featured in this list impressed you the most, and why?

What is the single coolest repurposed building or structure that you’ve personally seen, dear Pandas? What's the worst?

If you could redesign any space for your own (business or personal) needs, what would you do? We’d love to hear your thoughts!