Spatial Building Typology – Function Follows Form

Buildings today are subject to change. New functions are accommodated in vacant buildings. This is a favorable development from both a sustainability point of view and a cultural-historical perspective. Originally, the volume and form of a building was dictated by its original function: form follows function. We now see that a spatial form is already present. Is it logical to conclude that the new functions adapt to the existing available form and space: function follows form?

In order to gain insight into how the existing form and space relate to the possibilities of reuse, research into a spatial building typology is necessary. Existing typological studies of buildings are usually based on functions. An inventory of research that has already been done with regard to spatial characteristics of buildings and the way of translating it into analyzes is part of this research. Also, on the basis of two comparative spatial analyzes of two groups of buildings (Department Stores V&D’s and Police Stations in The Netherlands), a methodology is explored that maps the spatial characteristics of the locations. Eight locations per group of buildings were explored through analyzes on four scale levels: city, block, object and envelope and on the basis of twelve spatial aspects. After analysis per location the characteristics have been compared per aspect. Parallel twenty-four students worked on the redesign assignments during two graduation studios at Delft University of Technology (Heritage & Architecture). Their final designs were related to the existing spatial types of the locations in order to arrive at a redesign typology per building group in order to answer the question: can statements be made about the redesign possibilities of these buildings based on a Spatial Building Typology of buildings? Finally, some recommendations are made for further research.