hurrengoa
reconverting: looking for a new life for empty spaces irune jimenez gonzalez   It’s clear that in recent years many factories, shops and other places with economic activity in the streets, districts and cities around us have stopped doing what they were doing. But there is something that can be done about that. There is a growing tendency for these empty spaces to be reconverted for artistic uses by creative people and for cultural uses, and there are many examples of this in international initiatives. In most cases, these merely commercial spaces, or buildings with historical value, are buildings which are transformed, and this is almost always done with projects which are of value to the local community.

Each of those projects makes it clear just how many uses an empty shop can be put to: supporting a cause, collecting donations, trying out ideas, organizing training or courses, setting up community projects, holding ceremonies or exhibitions... Many things can be done in those spaces which are no longer used for any activity. The UK’s 3space organization is a point of reference for organizing a new life for what were once places for selling things. When it comes down to it, their work is to put people in contact: on the one hand, any small organization which wants to start a project up and needs free space for that and, on the other hand, owners of empty properties.

Another tendency which is very fashionable is using shop windows like one-sided art exhibition areas, for example Chicago’s PopUp Art Loop and Seattle’s Storefronts Seattle. On similar lines, but developed in a more experimental way, is
New York’s successful Recess; this project understands shop windows to be spaces for artistic creation which are always open to spectators and offers them to contemporary artists. Miami’s innovative The Wynwood Walls project has turned empty shops and storeroom’s blinds into exhibition centres for the most important graffiti artists worldwide. When talking about spaces which have been recovered thanks to creators and culture, you have to mention Beijing’s 798 Space. This model brings together factories which used to belong to the state and they now attract one of the city’s artistic movements which is growing quickly. 798 Space was built in the original style of the Bauhaus school and later, thanks to remodelling, it offers, amongst other things, national and international exhibitions and initiatives, the
highest standard of cultural activities and trade activities, fashion parades, conferences and concerts.

Toronto’s Artscape works in the same way. During the 80’s it was the leader in organizing the city’s cultural and artistic sectors’ spaces and, as part of that, it remodelled abandoned buildings and worked to put them at artists’ disposal. Le104 works in the same way. From being the building in which Paris’es funeral services were offered, it has been remodelled into an innovative cultural centre which creates experiences. And London’s The Deptford Project, starting off with a disused train wagon, has started a great project with the area’s industrial creativity. And these projects offer a reflection about the current concept of ownership. Taking into account the models offered by new systems set down in some countries, some changes approved by parliament might be appropriate here too. Perhaps reorganizing local empty spaces to create strong local projects could be the key for creating livelier surroundings.