Abstract:
Vacant Buildings in infrastructure projects has become a serious environmental and economic issue in
Indian planning scenario. Several instances of newly constructed unoccupied buildings indicate
wastage of financial and environmental resources such as virgin building materials and most
importantly land resource. Vacant vegetable markets constructed as a part of public infrastructure
projects by municipal authorities in many cities particularly in the city of Nasik is a glaring example of
such redundant investments in Maharashtra state of India. Large scale presence of abandoned, vacant
and unoccupied buildings is resulting into an ineffective use of resources and increasing risk to first
responders and the community. Vacant and abandoned properties, whether residential or commercial,
are a drain on city budgets in addition to detracting from the quality of life, as well as the economic
opportunities, of those living around them. They are an impediment to individual neighbourhood
redevelopment and, ultimately, to achievement of city wide economic development goals. Minimizing
the harm done by vacant and abandoned properties and restoring these properties to productive use
are priorities for city planners across the globe.
This research attempts to quantify the amount of resources in terms of embodied energy invested into
such projects using a case study method. It further evaluates the reuse potential of such built spaces to
prompt the meaningful use of resources by investigating its structural capacity and architectural
configuration. A spatial analysis with respect to adjacent land uses will also be done to identify the
best suitable reuse of the case-study building. Finally, this research draws conclusions to suggest
planning strategies to prevent building vacancy in public sector buildings and also reuse strategies for
existing unoccupied buildings to evade wastage of environmental resources.
