Adaptive Reuse Trifecta: determinants, strategies, and future directions in Lagos, Nigeria

This research explores expert insights into adaptive reuse in Lagos, Nigeria, across three major aspects: drivers and determinants, strategies, and future directions. This study provides relevant, in-depth insights into construction practitioners' perspectives on adaptive reuse, positioning it as a more sustainable approach to urban development and renewal. A structured interview guide was used to gather the opinions of ten (10) professionals across various disciplines in the built environment. Relevant codes were then identified and grouped based on recurring patterns and themes. The study presents the findings descriptively, through texts and visually through tables and charts. The professionals' perspectives reveal that multiple factors influence adaptive reuse in Lagos; technical strategies are essential for implementation, and widespread adoption substantially depends on the level of institutional and regulatory support available. The interrelationships among these major dimensions were used to develop a conceptual framework, termed the Adaptive Reuse Trifecta. Notably, the study also contextualizes key findings within current literature, identifying areas of convergence and divergence. Practically, this paper has implications for future design professionals, policymakers, investors, residents, and other key stakeholders in the heritage and built environment sector. By translating experts' insights into an integrated guide, it provides a context-specific framework that has the potential to inform adaptive reuse decision-making amongst building professionals in Lagos. Its insights could enable practitioners to identify key project determinants, adopt the most suitable approach and ensure that the adaptive reuse aligns with regulatory and market conditions. Moreover, it outlines suggested areas that require rapid regulatory, practical, and institutional interventions to promote efficient adaptive reuse practices in Lagos and similar contexts.