Adaptable Reuse Proposals through Collaborative Learning in Interior Architecture Education: The Case of a Historical Warehouse

Spaces, shaped by everyday practices, also embody a community’s cultural memory. Preserving and transferring this memory to future generations is vital for maintaining urban identity. Within this framework, adaptable reuse provides a sustainable strategy for revitalizing obsolete structures while safeguarding their heritage value. This study examines the adaptive reuse potential of a historical warehouse located within the Konya Train Station Campus, which has received little scholarly attention despite its cultural significance. The research was conducted with fourth-year students enrolled in the Restoration course in the Department of Interior Architecture at Selcuk University. The process followed two stages: (1) a design phase, where students worked in small groups using a collaborative learning approach to propose reuse strategies, and (2) an evaluation phase, where students reflected on the process through a structured survey. Guidance was provided by the instructor through periodic critiques, and student works—including drawings, models, and presentations—were assessed based on contextual sensitivity, creativity, and feasibility. Survey data and qualitative reflections were analyzed to evaluate both the design outcomes and the educational method. Findings reveal that collaborative learning significantly enhanced students’ skills in project management, teamwork, and communication, while also fostering awareness of the social and environmental dimensions of adaptive reuse. The study highlights how integrating adaptive reuse into studio-based education not only strengthens professional competencies but also promotes heritage-sensitive and sustainable design thinking. The conclusions suggest that the approach could be replicated in other educational contexts, offering valuable insights for future curriculum development in interior architecture.