From Losing to Siegen:  Rethinking Post-Industrial Spaces through Adaptability

Master’s thesis by ​​Laura Caroline Barbosa e Silva

Supervised by:
Prof. Christa Reicher
Prof. Dr. Agnes Förste

Advisored by:
Dr. Javier Ostos Prieto

Keywords:
Adaptability, industrial transformation, post-industrial cities, scenario planning, industrial heritage

Thesis Abstract

This thesis examines how adaptability can guide the transformation of underutilized industrial sites into resilient, multifunctional spaces. Confronting challenges of deindustrialization, spatial fragmentation, and negative local perceptions in Siegen, the research frames adaptability as both a planning tool and a design strategy that integrates flexible spatial structures, inclusive governance, and socio-cultural values. A multi-scalar, scenario-based methodology combines spatial analysis, surveys, interviews, and international case studies to assess dynamics across city, neighborhood, and site scales. This approach links land-use patterns, temporal aspects, and community perspectives to a theoretical framework that positions adaptability as central to navigating uncertainty and reinforcing local identity.

Three future scenarios: The Networked Mosaic, The Circular Corridor, and The Social Resilience Turn, were developed from the analysis to explore alternative transformation strategies. These were tested at the Hundt & Weber site in Geisweid, where a hybrid design proposal synthesizes the scenario‘s programmatic vision into a flexible plan prioritizing iterative, stakeholder-driven development over fixed end-states. Findings indicate that areas closer to industrial sites hold both high transformation potential and heightened vulnerability, underscoring the need for policy flexibility, cross-sector collaboration, and context-sensitive interventions. The study concludes that adaptive planning grounded in local potential and community engagement can reposition post-industrial sites as adaptable urban assets capable of responding to evolving needs and generating long-term opportunities.