Adaptive Reuse City Housing Initiative
Transforming spaces, unlocking housing potential
ARCHI explained
Could your vacant or underused property be transformed into city housing?
Established in partnership with the South Australian Government, the Adaptive Reuse City Housing Initiative (ARCHI) helps create new homes within underused buildings across the City of Adelaide.
We offer a free case management service to support your building conversion, along with funding to help bring your project to life. Our experienced team provides practical advice and guidance at every stage.
The ARCHI Incentives Scheme is also available to help cover the costs of developing residential adaptive reuse projects in the City of Adelaide.
View the adaptive reuse process flowchart for a quick overview.
ARCHI INCENTIVES SCHEME ADAPTIVE REUSE EXAMPLES HOW-TO GUIDES AND FACT SHEETS
What is adaptive reuse?
Adaptive reuse is the process of repurposing an existing building for a new use. For ARCHI, this means converting a vacant or underutilised commercial space into residential accommodation.
This approach helps address housing shortages, promotes sustainability, and preserves our city’s unique architecture.
ARCHI support helped transform a former office into a family home.
ARCHI Incentives Scheme
Two types of ARCHI Incentive Scheme funding are available to support your project:
- Part 1: Feasibility assessment, professional advice and documentation
- Part 2: Building works
For full eligibility details, refer to the ARCHI Incentives Operating Guidelines.
Part 1 – Feasibility assessment, professional advice and documentation
Part 1 ARCHI Incentive Scheme funding helps cover the costs of professional advice and project documentation, including architectural drawings, building certification and other specialist advice. Funding is reimbursed once a Development Approval is granted.
| Category | Funding |
|---|---|
| Shop-tops: Buildings up to four storeys in height | Up to 50% of the total cost of consultant fees (up to $10,000) |
| Commercial to residential: Buildings five storeys and above | Up to 50% of the total cost of consultant fees (up to $25,000) |
Part 2 funding - Building works
Part 2 ARCHI Incentives Scheme funding helps cover the costs of building works required for the change of use, such as fire safety upgrades, internal partition walls, new wet areas, and interior finishes. Funding is reimbursed upon completion of the works.
| Category | Projects delivering one to three dwellings | Projects delivering four + dwellings |
|---|---|---|
| All buildings | Up to 50% of the total costs (up to $25,000) | Receive up to 50% of the total costs (up to $50,000) |
Major Projects
Major projects delivering 20+ dwellings are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the ARCHI team to discuss your proposal.
Other grants
ARCHI Incentives Scheme applicants can access corresponding City of Adelaide grants:
- Heritage Incentives Scheme
- Sustainability Incentives Scheme
- Noise Management Incentive Scheme
The Heritage Incentives Scheme provides financial and other incentives to support owners in the conservation of their heritage places.
The Sustainability Incentives Scheme helps cover the cost of energy efficiency upgrades.
The Noise Management Incentives Scheme helps manage the impact of noise.
The ARCHI team can assist in facilitating access to these grants, where applicable. Please contact the team via the link below for further information
Express your interest
Applications for the ARCHI Incentives Scheme are now open. Please contact the ARCHI team via the link below to express your interest and arrange next steps.
Adaptive reuse examples
Discover how vacant and underutilised buildings are being transformed into homes. This series of case studies explores real-life projects and shows how adaptive reuse is delivering sustainable housing solutions in Adelaide and beyond.
Adaptive reuse spotlight
This Sturt Street project involved the adaptive reuse of ground floor commercial tenancies, transforming underutilised office spaces into three high-quality studio apartments.
The conversion embraced the building’s existing architectural advantages, which included individual entries, full-height street-facing windows, and secure courtyards.
The design strategy focused on creating flexible, functional, and affordable residential spaces without compromising on comfort or aesthetic appeal.
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ARCHI shop-top adaptive reuse series of guides
This series of guides offer insights into the advantages and processes of residential adaptive reuse, along with practical advice for initiating and navigating adaptive reuse projects.
Adaptive reuse fact sheets
This series of fact sheets provides practical guidance on the technical aspects of adaptive reuse, offering insights into key challenges and effective approaches for successful projects.
Need more information?
Contact the team to discuss how we can help your transform your vacant or underutilised building into city housing.