Adapting to the Island: the Architectural Reuse of a once active British Naval Facility for Bermuda

Abstract

This thesis explores the possibilities of adaptively reusing an existing site to provide new services and work spaces for the local artistic community within a once heavily used Brit- ish naval ship building and repair station, but now a major centre of tourist activity on the island of Bermuda. This thesis examines how a courtyard and two large stone storehous- es can be refurbished and made useful again rather than torn down. There exists a strong national bias to maintain and preserve the heritage of the place. By understanding both the site’s inherent value, varying levels of design can be proposed that not only transform the site but also bring forward a new sense of place. The adaptive reuse design and the program chosen is a synthetic response to the inherent cultural and historic values of the place, providing spaces that meet needs of the present artist and artisan communities of the Dockyard.