The Digital Press

Architect Calvin Chua explores adaptive reuse and urban design across Asia, revealing how ownership, material constraints, and political systems shape cities in Singapore, Japan, Korea, and North Korea. His research blends ethnography, replication, and advocacy to uncover the "spirit" behind urban spaces beyond their physical structures.

Why it matters: Chua’s insights highlight how fragmented ownership and community values impact urban redevelopment and heritage preservation in dense Asian cities.

The big picture: Adaptive reuse varies from high-profile cultural projects to grassroots rural revitalization, reflecting diverse social, economic, and political contexts.

Stunning stat: Singapore requires 80% owner approval for changes in strata malls, leading to long-term "interim" uses and unconventional community dynamics.

Commenters say: Readers find the cross-Asian urban comparisons insightful but note limited direct applicability to U.S. contexts due to differing property rights and governance systems.