"The successful marriage of old and new, of past and future is dependent upon thorough knowledge or anticipation of what is expected" (Brooker and Stone, 2004, p67).

The reuse of buildings results in a shift between the traditional relationship of form and function. Whereas a new building is usually designed to meet the requirements of its function, in reuse the form exists and the function must adapt to it (Schittich, 2003, p13).

 

The requirements of a building's new function has an enormous impact on remodelling, with some projects being almost completely dictated by it (Brooker and Stone, 2004, p67). Without responding to the requirements of a new function within the existing form, the reuse of a building is merely an aesthetic exercise which is unlikely to respond practically.

 

This infographic explains the different approaches there are for pairing a building with a new function: