Rehabilitation of Historic Markets: A Case Study of Granville’s Market Hall

Thesis Abstract

The rehabilitation of Granville’s Market Hall addresses a critical tension between heritage preservation and contemporary urban vitality, where historic fabric faces deterioration and underutilization amid rising market pressures and evolving consumer expectations. The study investigates how a strategically framed rehabilitation can reconcile conservation imperatives with functional modernization to foster social, cultural, and economic resilience in a historic market district. The aim is to develop an evidence-based, context-specific framework for adaptive reuse that maintains architectural integrity while enhancing usability, accessibility, and viability for vendors and visitors. Specific objectives are (1) to assess the existing condition, patrimonial value, and physical constraints of Granville’s Market Hall; (2) to identify stakeholders’ needs, rights, and expectations through participatory engagement; (3) to examine regulatory, financial, and technical feasibility of proposed interventions; (4) to evaluate alternative design strategies for circulation, stall configuration, environmental performance, and digital integration; (5) to develop a costed megastructure and phased implementation plan aligned with conservation principles; and (6) to propose a monitoring and governance model to sustain improvements post-rehabilitation. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach underpinned by the Conservation Theory of Place and the Theory of Adaptive Reuse, integrating qualitative insights with quantitative performance indicators. Methodologically, the research employs a sequential explanatory design beginning with a comprehensive survey of 240 market stakeholders, including 40 vendor interviews, 15 focus groups with community members, and a survey of 2,000 weekly visitors. Architectural condition assessments (n = 60 diagnostic samples) and building performance simulations (thermal, daylighting, and energy use) inform a life-cycle cost analysis. Data collection instruments comprise semi-structured interview protocols, structured questionnaires, observational checklists, and environmental sensors. Validity and reliability are ensured through triangulation, pilot testing of instruments (n = 30), inter-rater reliability checks on architectural assessments, and the use of standardized measurement scales for visitor satisfaction and perceived place quality. Data analysis combines thematic analysis for qualitative data, descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations for survey responses, and inferential techniques including multiple regression to identify predictors of acceptance and willingness to pay, ANOVA to compare stakeholder groups, and structural equation modeling to test the relationships among conservation values, perceived usability, and acceptance of interventions. A bespoke conceptual model integrates conservation ethics, user experience, and economic viability to guide design decisions and inform policy recommendations. Expected findings indicate that interventions prioritizing a clear hierarchy of historic fabric, improved circulation, and modular stall configurations yield the greatest gains in usability and vendor resilience without compromising heritage integrity. Environmental performance improvements are anticipated to reduce energy consumption by 18–26% and to improve indoor environmental quality, as measured by acceptable PM2.5 and thermal comfort indices. Social findings are likely to show higher perceived value among local residents and frequent visitors when participatory design processes are transparently structured and when stalls accommodate diverse product typologies. Economic analysis is projected to demonstrate a viable 15-year return on investment driven by enhanced footfall, rental yields, and cultural tourism, supported by a targeted grant mix and private–public partnership. The study contributes to knowledge by offering a replicable, stakeholder-centered framework for the adaptive reuse of heritage markets that integrates conservation theory with modern performance metrics, and by providing a robust methodology for balancing preservation with lifecycle economic viability in historic urban cores. Policy implications include a set of design guidelines, governance mechanisms, and funding strategies that other historic market halls facing similar pressures can adopt. The main conclusion posits that a phased, participatory rehabilitation approach—focused on preserving core heritage elements, introducing flexible space typologies, and improving environmental and navigational performance—can deliver sustainable socio-economic benefits while maintaining the cultural essence of Granville’s Market Hall. Recommendations emphasize establishing a governance charter for ongoing stewardship, securing diversified funding streams, implementing a living heritage plan, and institutionalizing performance monitoring to inform future interventions.