This paper presents findings from the study of tourist-dependent adaptive reuse in the old residential quarter of Melaka City. Two surveys have been conducted in this study. The first survey involves the collection of building and land use data via non-participatory observation method. While the second survey uses a questionnaire to measure the perceptions of different users of the old quarter, namely local community which consist of residents and business owners, and also domestic and international tourists, on the effects of adaptive reuse. Findings show that almost 25 percent of the actively used buildings are housing tourist-dependent uses (TDUs), which are concentrated mainly on Jonker Street and its surrounding area. A number of streets have more TDUs buildings than non-TDUs, and some are dominated by one type of TDU only. This shows that tourist-dependent reuse activity in the old quarter needs to be checked to minimise future negative implications. This study first classifies adaptive reuse approaches in the old quarter and relates them to the different effects they bring to the old quarter. Then the concerns and expectations of different user groups in the old quarter towards the physical, social, economical and tourism effects of adaptive reuse are identified. Finally, this paper proposes planning and area management measures to regulate adaptive reuse in the old residential quarter.
