Byens Rum Aalborg

During November 2013, GivRum instigated the construction of a 2.400 m2 creative entrepreneurial community at the eastern waterfront of Aalborg, more specifically in a former warehouse for feeding stuff.

GivRum organized the initial 60 users in a user-association, and by organizing a collective rebuilding operation, the building was made fit for use. The users were invited to take responsibility for running and developing The Urban Space of Aalborg, which since October 2015 has been 100% user-driven.

The challenge

Aalborg’s waterfront has for several years been the scene of a major urban development. In 2006 the reconstruction of the Eastern Harbour of a total of 74.000 km2 took place. The municipality together with the new owner wanted to ensure that the area was not idle during the long construction process. But how do you transform a construction site into a vibrant community with an emerging creative and innovative environment?

GivRum got engaged in the project and was given the task of shaping and revitalizing a 2.400 m2 warehouse distributed on three floors. With an ambition to embrace as wide a range as possible, it was decided to work with three types of activities:

• Temporary activities, which would allow for collaborations with external stakeholders such as the university, public institutions, businesses, etc.
• Artistic and cultural workshops, which comprised for example huge paintings, bicycles, furniture, art installations, etc.
• A lively shared office partnership for entrepreneurs, which would provide space for networking, sparring and social activities.

The goal was to transform the former warehouse into a creative workspace and an open laboratory for urban development. The project illustrated how temporality can incur as an asset for the forthcoming urban district by shaping positive publicity, creating intriguing activities and creative workspaces.

Solution

With the launch of The Urban Space of Aalborg in November 2013 the project’s goals were realized.

In the course of the first couple of years, the urban district began to sizzle and bubble with life, creative power and industriousness in every one of the 2,400 m2.

GivRum initiated the project by negotiating a contract with the building owners A. Enggaard. The contract entailed that:

• The buildings were made available free of charge over a period of five years.
• A particular rental model was established that allowed the management and operation to be transferred from GivRum to the association Urban Space after two years. It created a balance between ownership and responsibility for the committed parties and it is a powerful tool for building sustainable communities.

Shared office facilities were established, as well as open event spaces for conferences and concerts, studios and workshops with the potential for creative development on three floors. Here, the graphic designers, the animators, the game developers, the event makers, the entrepreneurs, the visual artists and the carpenters worked on a daily basis, and they are still a huge part of the shaping of life and entrepreneurship in this area, which before has been dominated by heavy industry.