8. Observatory cases
Fifteen observatory cases per country have been selected to showcase exemplary heritage adaptive reuse projects developed. These cases represent diverse typologies and highlight the broad social and institutional frameworks necessary for the sustainable implementation of such projects.
The selection process considered a variety of civic engagement models, including public, private, and civil society collaborations, as well as a range of functions such as industrial, cultural, and social uses. It includes projects at different stages of development, from conceptualization to completion or even failure. Additionally, both protected and unprotected heritage sites were considered to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive representation.
La Tricoterie 🇧🇪
Théodore Verhaegenstraat 158,1060 Brussel, België
La Tricoterie is a 1600m² cultural and event venue, founded in 2010 by citizens who wanted to change the world by making a dream come true: to create a unique place focused on culture, public encounters and sustainability. Today, the Fabrique de liens welcomes you to the heart of Saint-Gilles and offers you a cultural season and numerous activities, spaces to rent and professional services, as well as artisanal and local cuisine.
Circularium 🇧🇪
Bergensesteenweg 95,1070 Anderlecht, België
Circularium, is the transformation of more than 20,000 m2 of industrial space into a large centre of innovation and circular production dedicated to the city. A place intended for productive activities with short supply chains, for actors from the cultural sector and for neighbourhood life. A space for everyone, where people work, live and meet. The site offers numerous advantages. It is located a stone’s throw from the city centre, the South Station and the canal. Its surface area is over 2 hectares (of which 7,933 m2 of built covered + 12,067 m2 of outdoor space available for Circularium). The ceiling heights of the spaces allow for different types of industrial production and cultural events. Their occupation can be flexible in time and space, depending on everyone’s needs. Circularium was launched in March 2020 for a minimum period of 5 years and can be extended depending on the evolution of the project. The aim of this transitional occupation is to give a new dynamic to this former automobile complex. The reconfiguration into an innovative, attractive and sustainable place for a new type of entrepreneurship and urban economy. During the transitional phase of 5 years, the site will host various projects, preferably an interesting mix of long-term projects, start-up projects, projects with a pop-up character and event projects. This period of 5 years allows these new activities to be tested and possibly then – why not – to settle there permanently.
Maniak Padoue 🇧🇪
Monnikenstraat 26,1190 Vorst., België
The municipality and the churchwardenship agreed to a secondary destination as a climbing hall. Importance was attached to the heritage value of the building and the preservation of the historical character of the church. Attention was paid to the local residents and prices that are accessible to the neighbourhood. In this way, the church building was returned to the neighbourhood.
Construction began in 2022. And in one year, the entrepreneurs managed to improve the foundation, repair the church roof and give the building a second life. During the works, the original state of the church was preserved as much as possible. For example, nothing changed to the altar or the special stained glass windows. At the request of the churchwardenship, symbols reminiscent of Christianity were removed. For example, the confession booths and the church chairs disappeared from the space.
Thanks to the high nave, there is room for a 4.5 meter wall for bouldering, a 15 meter high climbing wall and a 20 meter wall for lead. In addition, a bar has been installed in the church. In addition to the commercial function, a mass is celebrated twice a week in the front of the church.
Maniak Padoue explicitly invites local residents to come climbing. Through the community centres, young people can even use the facilities for free and parishioners enjoy a discounted
Mona 🇧🇪
Jetselaan 225, 1090 Jette, België
Mona, located in a former monastery at Jetselaan 225 in Jette, is a socio-cultural and activist hub designed as a space where anyone can participate in or propose activities. The emphasis is on creating an inclusive, open meeting space for a wide range of community-driven interactions. Mona seeks to foster collaboration, creativity, and cross-pollination of ideas among different groups and individuals. The project embodies the idea of shared ownership, where community members are encouraged to contribute by organizing events or simply using the space.
The history of Mona stems from a broader movement of reclaiming unused or underutilized urban spaces for social, cultural, and civic purposes. Such initiatives are often driven by the desire to preserve heritage buildings while giving them a contemporary function that benefits the local community. In the case of Mona, the transformation from a monastery into an open, accessible meeting place aligns with a trend seen in other European cities, where old religious or industrial buildings are repurposed to serve as venues for social innovation, activism, and cultural activities.
The project’s mission is rooted in inclusivity and accessibility, offering a platform for diverse forms of engagement, from art and activism to education and social events.
Beurs/Bourse 🇧🇪
Beursplein 1, 1000 Brussel
The Stock Exchange is one of the most iconic buildings in Brussels, mainly due to its impressive architecture. It was built between 1868 and 1873 to a design by the Belgian architect Léon-Pierre Suys and is a true neoclassical gem. This building, in which shares were traded until 1996, was an important trading and stock exchange centre for decades. During the First World War, the area around the Stock Exchange was also an important distribution point for the clandestine press, the symbol of the Belgian resistance against the occupier.
After the stock exchange activities ceased, the Beurs underwent many renovations and has since been used as a location for temporary exhibitions and events. However, it became known above all as an iconic meeting place for Brussels residents and Belgians: demonstrations, celebrations of our Red Devils, events and concerts and sometimes also honest moments of tribute… Yes, the Beurs has been the scene of countless striking events. In the near future, the inhabitants of Brussels will provide all kinds of animations to transform the meeting place into an eclectic stage for creative talent and expression.
The stock exchange building is much more than just heritage. After the current, phenomenal metamorphosis, it will become an extremely pleasant place where Brussels residents can meet, and an unmissable tourist hotspot for visitors from home and abroad. Welcome to the Stock Exchange.
Be Here 🇧🇪
Dieudonné Lefèvrestraat 4, 1020 Brussel, België
Be Here, located in the former Byrrh building, is a community-focused project integrating various stakeholders including local businesses, cultural organizations, and the community. The project aims to revitalize the space through adaptive reuse, turning it into a vibrant hub for cultural and commercial activities.
Buda 🇧🇪
Broelkaai 6 8500 Kortrijk
Kunstencentrum BUDA is an arts centre in Kortrijk . The name refers to the Buda Island on which the arts centre is located.
In addition to being an arthouse cinema, the BUDA Arts Centre is also the largest workplace for performing artists in Flanders and organises a number of festivals, including Almost Summer festival, Ecopolis and, together with 4 other partners in Kortrijk, Rijsel (FR) and Valenciennes (FR), the international arts festival NEXT.
Arts centre BUDA uses several specific buildings in Kortrijk, in particular:
Budascoop (formerly Pentascoop which opened in 1975) for the creation and presentation of contemporary theatre and dance performances and arthouse cinema.
Budatoren , (formerly Tacktoren , the restored fermentation tower of the former Tack brewery (1760) on Buda Island) with 5 rehearsal studios for Dutch and foreign artists
BK6 (Broelkaai 6, the former Broel Museum) as a co-office, with exhibition space and a hidden garden.
Arts centre BUDA was founded in 2004, when three Kortrijk non-profit organisations (Beeldenstorm vzw, Dans in Kortrijk vzw and Limelight vzw) jointly started a new project, which eventually merged with it.
De Hoorn 🇧🇪
De Hoorn. Sluisstraat 79 3000 Leuven
The Artois breweries were founded in the 14th century. In the following centuries, an impressive building stock was developed at the Leuven Vaartkom. The De Hoorn complex consists of the three former brewhouses Artois, International and Immo. The very first ‘Stella’ was brewed in Artois in 1926. The building was restored and raised in 1949, after damage sustained in WWII. The International and Immo brewhouses were added in 1964.
The complex consists of a concrete skeleton construction with heavy Vierendeel girders and grain silos. The brewery comprises a machine room on the ground floor, a brewing room above and a tremel room, mill and distribution room on the upper floors. The striking brewing room with copper boiler and vat installation is finished with decorative floor and wall tiles.
In 2006, several entrepreneurs came up with the plan to purchase this industrial complex and give it various new uses: catering, offices for the creative economy, and event rooms in the brewing halls. This gave the building a semi-public character. The oldest part, the Artois brewing hall, was completely restored, while Immo and International were renovated, with the addition of a new building on the south side for smooth traffic of visitors between the floors. Onroerend Erfgoed supervised the repurposing process and granted subsidies for the restoration.
De Hoorn opened its doors in 2012. The office section currently houses several larger companies and a service centre for 20 small businesses and start-ups, with shared meeting facilities, ICT, reception, kitchen… The unique, historical setting of the monument largely determines the success of De Hoorn. In addition, it scores high in terms of sustainability through the reuse of valuable inner-city heritage.
This project won the 2015 Leuven City Architecture Award and the 2016 Europa Nostra Award, and was nominated for the 2013 Belgian Architecture Award.
KANAL 🇧🇪
Square Sainctelette 11-12 1000 Brussel
The former Citroën garage impresses with its incredible dimensions. The complex at the intersection of the IJzerplein and the Willebroekkaai forms a kind of island. It stands out with its magnificent showroom, a glass palace of 21 meters high, and became famous thanks to the round curtain wall. The spectacular building, bathed in a sea of light, became the proud emblem of a company that dares to radically innovate.
A page of industrial history
A factory built on a site specially chosen for its visibility and accessibility, next to the canal and close to the historic centre of Brussels.
In the early 1930s, André Citroën bought land on the IJzerplein. According to him, this was the ideal location for his new car factory, which would remain the largest in Europe for many years. Together with the French architect Maurice-Jacques Ravazé, the Belgian architects Alexis Dumont and Marcel Van Goethem designed a gigantic complex of 16,500 m², consisting mainly of glass, steel and concrete, entirely in the modernist style of the time. At the heart of the building is a gigantic hall housing the construction workshops. This is where the cars are built before they are placed in the showroom. At first, the showroom took up the entire ground floor. After the Second World War and the occupation of the building by the Germans, the showroom was divided into plateaus to free up more space for the garages.
A new cultural ambition
The relocation of the Citroën garage’s activities as the start of a resolutely cultural future.
In 2015, the Brussels-Capital Region’s Urban Development Corporation (MSI) purchased the Citroën-IJzer garage to house an international arts centre, at the request of the Brussels-Capital Region Government. The garage work continued for another two years to give Citroën time to construct a new building. In the meantime, the MSI issued a public tender for the analysis, followed by an international competition, which the KANAL Foundation later took over. The competition was geared towards the development of an architectural conversion project. The winning project was announced at the end of March 2018, a few weeks before the former Citroën garage reopened for a preliminary year. This preliminary year preceded the actual renovation, which will take several years. The museum is scheduled to open in 2025.
Sint Jacobskerk 🇧🇪
Sint-Jacobsplein, 3000 Leuven, België
For almost 60 years, the St. James Church was closed due to stability problems. These have now been solved by major works. That is why the city now wants to turn the St. James Church into a covered meeting place for the neighbourhood. The city has appointed the PLUSOFFICE – Laura Dreesen study team. In collaboration with a group of active residents and local associations, they will search for a possible new purpose for the church and its surroundings.
Over the past year, 6 working groups with volunteers have been set up:
The Keychains – They keep the keys to the church. They manage the agenda and see what activities are possible.
Our Bar – They created a counter that serves as a reception desk, tap, storage case, stage, etc. They regularly organize a neighbourhood drink.
Inn Jacky – They opened the church to the general public during Open Monument Day 2024 on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September 2024. There were various activities such as a discussion evening about the repurposing of churches, a joint breakfast and performances by the choir SoTTo voce.
Please Slow Fair – They organised an activity focusing on sustainable mobility in the neighbourhood, with a cycling route, a sidewalk walk, folk games, etc.
Big Food Day – They started a vegetable garden in the former cemetery next to the church. On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, there was the big Food Day. They processed the harvest in a solidarity neighbourhood dinner for the entire neighbourhood.
All Jacky Parade – The research trajectory and the guidance of the study agency will end at the end of 2024. As a closing event, there will be a parade with music, movement and art on Sunday, November 3, 2024 , accompanied by the social-artistic city company Compagnie Tartaren.
Spirito 🇧🇪
Stassartstreet 18 1050 Elsene
Because the first king of Belgium, Leopold I, was originally Anglican, the Anglican church in Brussels really gained a foothold. Leopold converted to Catholicism because of his kingship but insisted on the establishment of an Anglican church in Brussels. Charles and Jean Jenkins, respectively son and grandson of Evan Jenkins (first minister and chaplain of Leopold I), were commissioned in the early 1870s to build the Church of the Resurrection in the Stassartstraat . On 23 October 1874, the three-aisled building with tower and annex in neo-Gothic style was consecrated and thus also the official meeting place for the Anglican congregation. Less than a century later, when the congregation merged with that of the Church of Christ to form the current Church of the Holy Trinity in 1958, the church building became empty. The ground floor of the former church was used for a long time as a retail space for the adjacent Hema on the Elsensesteenweg. Until architect and entrepreneur Francesco Ravo accidentally stumbled upon the then miserable building. It took Ravo three years and two million euros in renovation work to restore the church building to its former glory as a meeting place, albeit of a non-religious nature. The nightclub and event location is now managed by the Art Blanc group.
House of Compassion 🇧🇪
Beguinage, 1000 Brussels
Since priest Daniël Alliët retired in 2019, the Begijnhof church has lacked a pastor. However, Alliët’s retirement did not mean the end of this church. With ‘House of Compassion – Beguinage – Begijnhof – Beginenhof’ (HOC), the church, which has been committed to the underprivileged for the past thirty years, houses a new project. A group of Dutch and French speaking Christians from the heart of Brussels, drew the outlines of the project. HOC can be translated as the ‘House of Compassion’. As a thematic church, HOC wants to cultivate openness, broaden awareness and build bridges. With tourists and bystanders. With believers of all persuasions and philosophies, and non-believers. With people and associations who are committed to a more just and fraternal world.
Porta 1070 🇧🇪
Ninoofsesteenweg 369, 1070 Anderlecht
Because the local religious community of Scheut continued to decrease in numbers and major renovation works were required, the mass celebrations came to an end on 27 September 2014. The ministerial decree of 1 July 2016 decreed that the church is no longer intended for the performance of religious services. This meant the end for the parish and churchwardenship. Several construction companies showed interest in the location, but the proposal by the Flemish Community Commission, Agion and the non-profit organisation Sint-Goedele Brussels to house a teenage school on the site was preferred by the diocese. The non-profit organisation, which groups together numerous schools and day-care centres in the city, was given the church, the rectory and a few adjacent premises on a long lease and proceeded to build the very first teenage school in Belgium. The architectural firm ‘OSK-AR Architecten’ drew up the plans. Topco took care of the stability and EPB study, AA&O designed the techniques. The works were carried out by Jan De Nul.
Les Brigitinnes 🇧🇪
Petite Rue des Brigittines 1000 Brussel
In 1623, Archduchess Isabella of Austria (1566-1633) granted the Order of Brigitta of Sweden permission to settle in Brussels, where they built a monastery and chapel. The design for the chapel was made by Baroque architect Leo Van Heil (1605-1664). During the bombardment of 1695, which reduced most of Brussels to ashes, the building was only slightly damaged. Nevertheless, in 1784, the Habsburg Emperor Joseph II (1741-1790) decided to withdraw the chapel from religious worship. The Brigittinenkapel was subsequently used as a school (1783), an official pawn shop (1789), a warehouse for monastery books (1789), a prison (1792), a military pharmacy (1796), an arsenal, a hospice, a storage facility for beer and wood (1798), a covered market (1830), a ballroom (1850) and a publisher’s warehouse. In 1922, the city of Brussels bought the chapel and had the building listed in 1953. At that time, the chapel was in a very bad state. City architect Jean Rombaux (1901-1979) thoroughly restored the chapel in the 1960s. In 1975, the first dance production was held in the chapel. In 1982, the building was permanently available to emerging dance companies. From 1997, vzw Bellone Brigittines took over the chapel. In order to further develop the artistic role of the Brigittine Chapel, the city of Brussels decided in 1999 to expand the existing infrastructure. The Italian architect Andrea Bruno (°1931) won the design competition in collaboration with the Belgian SumProject. The works started on 9 May 2005. The complex was officially opened to the public on 20 August 2007.
De Hannekesnest 🇧🇪
Burggravenlaan 7, 9940 Kerkbrugge - Langerbrugge (Evergem)
In 2014, the church in Burggravenlaan was withdrawn from worship. The churchwardenship then gave the building, for a period of 30 years, on a long lease to vzw Obra|Baken (now Voluit), an organisation that offers tailor-made activities and support to people with intellectual disabilities, autism, non-congenital brain damage and people who are vulnerable in life. In 2018, residents of Kerkbrugge – Langerbrugge were asked what they missed in their neighbourhood and what function the former church could take on to fill this gap. It soon became clear that the closure of cafés, shops and other informal meeting places in the neighbourhood promoted a growing anonymity between residents. A place was needed that contributed to a connected, caring neighbourhood. A place where neighbours get to know each other better, where things happen, where everyone feels at home. In 2020, the parish church was converted into a central meeting place for the entire community.
Freight Station 🇧🇬
NPZ Hadzhi Dimitar, "Vladayska Reka" St 2, 1510 Sofia
On the initiative of Sofia’s chief architect, Gradoscope is researching the former freight station, a large early 20th-century cargo site near the city centre. The area has potential to host community events, green startups, and a new recreational zone to better integrate the urban landscape.
Buzludzha 🇧🇬
Buzludzha Peak, Central Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria
The Buzludzha Memorial Complex, Bulgaria’s largest socialist-era monument, was built in 1981 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Bulgarian Communist Party and Bulgaria’s 1,300th anniversary. Abandoned after 1989, its striking ruins have become an alternative tourist attraction and pop icon in visual arts.
Toplocentrala 🇧🇬
Yuzhen, ul. "Emil Berzinski" 5, 1408 Sofia
Since 2014, Sofia Municipality and independent artists have aimed to transform the National Palace of Culture’s former heating plant into the Contemporary Arts Centre. Following an international competition, funds were allocated in 2019, and reconstruction began in 2020. Toplocentrala was officially established in 2021.
Central Market Hall 🇧🇬
Sofia Center, Knyagina Maria Luisa Blvd 25, 1000 Sofia
Sofia’s Central Market Hall, a national cultural monument, opened in 1911 as the city’s first modern market. It grew into a major trade hub, housing 170 stalls by the 1940s. After closing for renovation in 1988, it reopened in 2000 and again in 2023, revitalized by Kaufland Bulgaria to restore its historic spirit.
National Palace of Culture 🇧🇬
Ndk, Bulgaria Blvd, 1463 Sofia
In the mid-1970s, Bulgaria decided it needed a major cultural centre, with a deadline to complete it in time for the country’s 1,300th anniversary. Construction of the complex took just three years, and the National Palace of Culture officially opened on March 31, 1981. The centre’s value is enriched by priceless works of visual art. Since the 2010 the abundance of cultural spaces and hallways of the building has been gradually occupied by different cultural and community activities, festivals, event spaces, cafés, bars etc.
Rivers of the City🇧🇬
Festival of reviving riverbanks -- different locations in different cities over the years
“Rivers of the City” is a long-term initiative aiming to reconnect cities with their rivers. Launched in 2020 with the Sofia Rivers Festival, it has since spread to cities across Bulgaria, creating a supportive ecosystem of allies at local, national, and European levels.
Varusha South 🇧🇬
v.k. Varusha South, Veliko Tarnovo
In 2021, a cultural centre TaM moved to Veliko Tarnovo’s Varusha South, restoring the former Club of Cultural Figures. The venue, which is a cultural heritage site, has a hall, bar, and garden with old-town views. Supported by VT EVENT, artists, partners, and volunteers, TaM gives access to a flexible cultural event program year-round.
Boyana Church 🇧🇬
Boyana Vitosha, ul. "Boyansko ezero" 3, 1616 Sofia
The Boyana Church, or “St. Nicholas and St. Pantaleon,” in Sofia’s Boyana district, is renowned for its medieval frescoes, especially those of Kaloyan and Desislava (1259). Declared a national antiquity in 1927, it became a UNESCO site in 1979 and reopened after restoration in 2006, attracting over 200,000 visitors annually.
Sharena Fabrika🇧🇬
5670 Golyama Zhelyazna
Sharena Zadruga’s “Sharena Fabrika” project aims to restore key buildings in a mountainous village in Northern Bulgaria, called Golyama Zhelyazna, like the the school, the bakery, and the bathhouse, to create an international campus for culinary arts and traditional crafts. Focused on professional training, it will serve as an inspiring hub for high school graduates, involving the inhabitants in various activities.
Trakia microrayon 🇧🇬
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
The “Trakia” microrayon district is Plovdiv’s youngest neighbourhood, designed in 1968 by urbanist Ivan Popov. Built on open fields, it followed modern architectural principles, mainly using panel construction. Rapid development started in 1973 to address the housing crisis, with new residents primarily young families. The nearby “Trakia” industrial zone focuses on high-tech industries. In 2015-16 an architectural festival One Architecture Week has set its goal to transform the public spaces in Trakiya and an abandoned supermarket hall with low-cost structures and events, actively involving its citizens.
Banya Starinna 🇧🇬
Plovdiv Center, ul. "Chetvarti yanuari", 4000 Plovdiv
The Chifte Hamam, a unique XVI-century architectural monument near the Three Hills, operated until the 1980s and was partially restored in 1999 as a Centre for Contemporary Art. In 2020, the City Art Gallery planned to develop it further but left it unattended after taking control. The restoration project is now in progress after approval from the National Institute of Cultural Heritage.
Ancient City of Nessebar 🇧🇬
Staria Grad, 8231 Nessebar
Nessebar, a 3,000-year-old site on the Black Sea, was a Thracian settlement and later a Greek colony. Its Hellenistic remains include an acropolis, Apollo temple, agora, and fortifications. Medieval landmarks and 19th-century wooden houses reflect its Byzantine significance and unique Black Sea architecture. The town has gradually become a lively touristic site.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude Centre 🇧🇬
ul. "Bryanska" 72, 5306 Gabrovo
After reviewing options, the project team chose to establish the Centre in the former Textiles Vocational School, closed in 2009. The spacious labs are ideal for exhibitions, with ties to Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s work. Near the Museum of Humour and Satire, it forms a cultural hub, aiming for energy efficiency and urban regeneration.
Thracian Royal Tomb in Sveshtari🇧🇬
Sveshtari
The tomb is located near the village of Sveshtari, between the cities of Razgrad and Silistra, in northeast Bulgaria
The Sveshtari tomb was built in the 3rd century BC. Its rich decorations and cultural significance earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1985. The “Sveshtari in a New Light” project, supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund and led by the Credo Bonum Foundation, addresses urgent issues like air conditioning, lighting, and renovations of the exhibition and reception centre.
ReBonkers 🇧🇬
ul. "Baruten pogreb" 4, Hristo Botev residential area, Odesos district, 9008 Varna
The tomb is located near the village of Sveshtari, between the cities of Razgrad and Silistra, in northeast Bulgaria
The Sveshtari tomb was built in the 3rd century BC. Its rich decorations and cultural significance earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1985. The “Sveshtari in a New Light” project, supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund and led by the Credo Bonum Foundation, addresses urgent issues like air conditioning, lighting, and renovations of the exhibition and reception centre.
Carob Mill Museum 🇨🇾
Vasilissis Street, Limassol 3042, Cyprus
The Carob Mill Museum is situated in a historic industrial complex that dates back to the late 19th century. Originally, it served as a carob processing facility, contributing significantly to the economy of the region. Carob, a traditional Mediterranean crop, was processed in this complex, and the museum showcases the evolution of carob processing techniques and its importance in Cyprus’s heritage and economy.
Saint Barnabas Monastery 🇨🇾
Vasilissis Street, Limassol 3042, Cyprus
Apostolos Varnavas Church is a historic Orthodox Christian church situated in the heart of Famagusta’s old town. The church dates back to the Byzantine era, with significant architectural features reflecting various periods of Cypriot history, including Gothic and Ottoman influences. Originally serving as a religious centre for the local community, the church holds deep cultural and spiritual significance.
Panayia Stazousa Church 🇨🇾
Vasilissis Street, Limassol 3042, Cyprus
Panayia Stazousa Church is a historic Orthodox Christian church situated in the village of Pyrga. Dating back to the Byzantine era, the church is dedicated to Panayia Stazousa (Virgin Mary of the Shelter), a revered figure in Orthodox Christianity. The church features significant architectural elements and religious iconography, reflecting the cultural and spiritual heritage of Cyprus.
Panayia Stazousa Church 🇨🇾
Kourion is an extensive archaeological site showcasing the remains of an ancient city-state that flourished from the Late Bronze Age to the early Byzantine period. The site features well-preserved architectural structures, including a theatre, Roman villas, public baths, a stadium, and religious sanctuaries. Kourion was an important centre of trade, culture, and religion in antiquity, with influences from various civilizations, including Greek, Roman, and Byzantine.
Tombs of the Kings 🇨🇾
Tombs of the Kings Ave 63, Chloraka 8015
The Tombs of the Kings is a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of a necropolis dating back to the Hellenistic and Roman periods (3rd century BC to 3rd century AD). Despite its name, the site was not actually a burial ground for royalty but rather a burial site for affluent citizens and high-ranking officials. It features impressive underground tombs, some of which are carved out of solid rock, with intricate architectural details and elaborate frescoes. The site reflects the wealth and sophistication of ancient Paphos society.
Choirokoitia Archaeological Site 🇨🇾
Choirokoitia 7741, Cyprus
Choirokoitia is an archaeological site containing the remains of an ancient Neolithic settlement dating back to around 7000 BC. It is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the Eastern Mediterranean, providing valuable insights into early human civilization. The site features well-preserved stone dwellings, defensive walls, and other artifacts, indicating a complex social and economic structure.
Nicosia Old Aqueduct 🇨🇾
Nicosia 1016, Cyprus
The Nicosia Aqueduct is a historical water supply system that dates back to the Ottoman period in the 17th century. It consists of a network of underground tunnels and cisterns designed to transport and store water from nearby sources to meet the needs of the city’s inhabitants. The aqueduct played a crucial role in providing clean water for drinking, irrigation, and sanitation, contributing to the development and sustenance of Nicosia’s urban life.
Kolossi Castle 🇨🇾
Λεωφόρος Αρχιεπισκόπου Μακαρίου Γ, Kolossi 4632, Cyprus
Kolossi Castle is a medieval fortress built in the 13th century by the Knights Hospitaller, also known as the Knights of St. John. It served as a strategic stronghold during the Crusades and later became the headquarters of the Hospitallers in Cyprus. The castle’s imposing structure features thick stone walls, towers, and a central courtyard. Over the centuries, it has served various purposes, including as a residence for nobility, a centre for sugar production, and a military outpost.
Paphos Castle 🇨🇾
Paphos castle, Paphos
8040 Cyprus
Paphos Castle is a medieval fortress located at the edge of Paphos Harbor. It was originally built as a Byzantine fort to protect the harbour in the 13th century, although much of its current form dates to the 16th century when it was rebuilt by the Venetians after being destroyed by an earthquake. The castle has served various purposes throughout its history, including as a fortress, prison, and residence for the British colonial administration. Today, it stands as a prominent landmark and popular tourist attraction, hosting cultural events and exhibitions.
Kykkos Monastery 🇨🇾
Mylikouri, 2895 Cyprus
Kykkos Monastery is one of the most significant religious sites in Cyprus, known for its rich history and cultural significance. Founded in the 11th century, the monastery is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is renowned for its ornate architecture, religious artifacts, and iconography. Over the centuries, Kykkos Monastery has played a crucial role in the religious and cultural life of Cyprus, attracting pilgrims and visitors from around the world.
Odeon Amphitheatre 🇨🇾
Roman Odeo, Paphos 8040 Cyprus
The Odeon Amphitheatre in Paphos is an ancient Greco-Roman theatre believed to have been built during the 2nd century AD. It served as a venue for musical performances, theatrical productions, and other cultural events during ancient times. The theatre features a semi-circular orchestra, tiered seating carved into the hillside, and a stage with elaborate architectural elements. It is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Paphos, showcasing the region’s rich cultural heritage.
Ledra Palace Hotel 🇨🇾
Markou Drakou, Nicosia 1102
The Ledra Palace Hotel is a historic hotel with a complex and storied past. Built in 1949, it originally served as a luxurious accommodation for visitors to Cyprus. During the Cyprus conflict in the 1960s and the subsequent division of the island in 1974, the hotel became situated in the buffer zone between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot areas of Nicosia. Since then, it has been used for various purposes, including as a United Nations headquarters, a diplomatic meeting point, and a symbol of the divided city.
Skali Cultural Centre 🇨🇾
Agiou Georgiou 15, Aglantzia 2108 Nicosia
The “Skali” Cultural Centre, a vibrant hub in Aglantzia, Cyprus, stands as a symbol of cultural pride and community engagement. Designed to blend seamlessly with its surroundings, including natural caves and historic landmarks, the centre offers a rich array of cultural experiences. Since its inception in 1992, it has been a venue for concerts, theatre performances, exhibitions, and academic events. Recognized for its architectural excellence, it has received prestigious awards, including the State Prize for Remarkable Architectural Project in 1995.
ETKO Cultural Centre 🇨🇾
ETKO, 31 Tsiflikoudia, LimassolCyprus
ETKO Cultural Centre is a vibrant cultural institution dedicated to promoting arts, heritage, and community engagement in Limassol. For the past years, the territory of the former wine factory which operated until 1971, was a totally abandoned place with old equipment, tanks, barrels, and bottles. Everything was left among the crumbling walls and dusty rooms. In 2023 the territory was renovated and was returned to its former glory: saving historical heritage, decorating public areas, and installing special lighting effects. Now the venues are reviving and are soon be opened for everyone.
Trakasol Cultural centre 🇨🇾
Kioproulouzate, Limassol 3042 Cyprus
A creative and inspirational space filled with history, memories and undertones of tradition. Once a warehouse used to store carobs, known as the ‘black gold of Cyprus’ for their export appeal, the listed building of Trakasol at Limassol Marina dates back to the early 19th century. Its convenient location, a few steps from the Old Port, made it ideal storage space for a variety of goods, as well as fertiliser. Now renovated as part of the Limassol Marina masterplan design, it houses a marine training school and a cultural centre which it has been used as a multi-purpose function rooms for exhibitions, conferences and events in the past.
OMA e.V 🇩🇪
Ernst-Kohl-Str. 23, 99423 Weimar
OMA e.V. (Offene Medienarchiv) is located at Ernst-Kohl-Straße 23 in Weimar, housed in the historic former Ducal Customs Office. Since 2009, this building has been home to OMA, a nonprofit organization focused on creating open and accessible archives for media art and culture. The building has a rich history, having served as the POS Friedrich Engels school during the GDR era, and later as the Harry Graf Kessler elementary school until 1997.The organization’s mission is to adapt the building for contemporary use while preserving the traces of its history. OMA hosts workshops, exhibitions, and collaborative media projects, promoting engagement with digital culture, archives, and technology in this culturally significant space.
C*SPACE 🇩🇪
Langhansstraße 86, 13086 Berlin
C*Space is a creative and community hub located on Langhansstraße 86, in the district of Weißensee, Berlin. Housed in a former 1950s industrial building (a former furniture factory), it offers an inspiring environment for collaborative projects, events, and workshops. The space is known for its mix of co-working areas, event rooms, and studios, catering to artists, entrepreneurs, and innovators. C*Space also hosts cultural and social events, fostering a community atmosphere. The rooftop terrace provides a panoramic view of the surrounding urban landscape, and its proximity to Berlin’s vibrant creative scene makes it a dynamic space for collaboration.
Saline34 🇩🇪
Salinenstraße 34,
99086 Erfurt
Saline 34 is a creative and cultural space located at Salinenstraße 34 in Erfurt, Germany.
Situated in a former salt warehouse, the building has been transformed into a dynamic hub for artistic and social engagement. The venue is home to various initiatives, including workshops, exhibitions, and performances, offering a platform for local artists, musicians, and cultural practitioners. Saline 34 emphasizes community-driven projects and alternative cultural expression, fostering collaboration and creativity within Erfurt’s vibrant cultural scene.
NudelFabrik 🇩🇪
Neue Werkstraße 4, 06712 Zeitz
NudelFabrik Zeitz is a cultural and creative venue located in the town of Zeitz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Housed in a former noodle factory, this historic industrial building has been revitalized as a hub for artistic and social activities. The NudelFabrik offers a variety of spaces for exhibitions, workshops, and performances, providing a platform for local and regional artists to showcase their work. It is also used for community events, fostering a sense of cultural exchange and collaboration.
IBA - Eiermannbau Apolda 🇩🇪
Auenstraße 11, 99510 Apolda
The IBA Eiermannbau Apolda is a striking industrial landmark located on Auenstraße 11, in Apolda, Thuringia, Germany. Originally designed by modernist architect Egon Eiermann in the 1930s as a textile factory, the building is an iconic example of functionalist architecture, with its
sleek, minimalist design and extensive use of glass and steel. Today, it is part of the International Building Exhibition (IBA) Thüringen, which has revitalized the space for cultural and community activities. The Eiermannbau serves as a venue for exhibitions, workshops,
and events, promoting innovation, architecture, and sustainable development. Its preservation and adaptive reuse symbolize a blend of historical heritage and contemporary creativity.
Uferhallen 🇩🇪
Uferstraße 8, 13357 Berlin
Uferhallen is located in a former tram depot, offering space for artists’ studios, galleries, and cultural events. This industrial site is home to a vibrant community of creatives, including painters, sculptors, and performance artists. The venue hosts exhibitions, concerts, and workshops, promoting contemporary art while maintaining the character of the original building.
KreativQuartier 🇩🇪
Dr.-Hammacher-Straße 6, 47119 Duisburg
Situated in a former port area, KreativQuartier Ruhrort has repurposed old warehouses and industrial spaces for cultural use. It serves as a home for artists, musicians, and cultural practitioners, hosting events such as art exhibitions, concerts, and festivals. The initiative aims to revitalize the Ruhrort neighbourhood through creativity and community engagement.
Spinnerei 🇩🇪
Spinnereistraße 7, 04179 Leipzig
Spinnerei is a massive former cotton mill turned creative and cultural centre. It is now home to over 100 artist studios, galleries, and creative businesses, including theatres and designers. Spinnerei is a key part of Leipzig’s cultural landscape, hosting exhibitions, art festivals, and events that attract artists from around the world.
Zollverein Coal Mine Complex 🇩🇪
Gelsenkirchener Str. 181, 45309 Essen
Zollverein, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was once one of the largest coal mines in Europe and has since been transformed into a major cultural and creative centre. The site now hosts museums, art exhibitions, design studios, and cultural events. Its industrial past is carefully preserved, making it an iconic example of how old industrial spaces can be reimagined for cultural purposes.
Kunstkraftwerk 🇩🇪
Saalfelder Str. 8, 04179 Leipzig
Kunstkraftwerk is a former power plant turned into a multimedia art and cultural centre. It focuses on digital art, immersive exhibitions, and light installations, often mixing technology with creativity. The industrial building itself adds to the atmosphere, preserving its raw architectural charm while embracing new media.
Schlachthof 🇩🇪
Mombachstraße 10-12, 34127 Kassel
Schlachthof is a cultural centre situated in a former slaughterhouse complex in Kassel. This multifunctional space hosts a variety of events, including concerts, theater performances, exhibitions, and community activities. It serves as a platform for local artists and cultural initiatives, promoting creativity and collaboration. The preservation of the building’s industrial character adds a unique atmosphere, making Schlachthof a vibrant part of Kassel’s cultural scene.
Hafen 2 🇩🇪
Nordring 129, 63067 Offenbach am Main
Hafen 2 is a cultural centre located in a former industrial site along the river. This venue hosts a variety of events, including concerts, theatre performances, and art exhibitions, with a strong emphasis on community engagement and local culture. It offers rehearsal spaces, artist studios, and a café, creating a vibrant hub for creatives and residents alike. Hafen 2 is dedicated to fostering collaboration among artists and cultural organizations, making it a cornerstone of Offenbach’s cultural landscape.
Westwerk 🇩🇪
Karl-Heine-Straße 93, 04229 Leipzig
Westwerk is a creative and cultural hub located in a former textile factory in Leipzig’s Plagwitz district. This multifunctional space houses artist studios, galleries, and event venues, offering a platform for local and international artists to showcase their work. Westwerk hosts exhibitions, performances, and workshops, fostering collaboration and cultural exchange. The renovation of the industrial building maintains its historical character while providing a modern environment for creativity and community engagement.
Kulturzentrum Schlachthof 🇩🇪
Findorffstraße 51, 28215 Bremen
Kulturzentrum Schlachthof is a cultural centre located in a former slaughterhouse in Bremen. This vibrant venue hosts concerts, theatre performances, and art exhibitions, as well as workshops and community events. The space is dedicated to promoting local and regional artists, offering a platform for diverse cultural expressions. The preservation of the building’s industrial architecture adds a unique charm, making it an integral part of Bremen’s cultural landscape.
Palazzo Castrofilippo 🇮🇹
Via Alloro, 64, 90133 Palermo PA
Castrofilippo Palace is located in one of the oldest streets of Palermo, the Ruga de Alemannis, whose current name refers to the secular laurel tree (Alloro in Italian) implanted in the courtyard of the Bellacera family. Built in the 17th century, it rises on medieval ruins that can be found on the ground floor. You will find our beautiful coworking in one of the palace’s courtyards, inside the former stables.
Since its construction the Palace has always had a private residential function. At the beginning it was used by aristocracy, later towards the end of the 20th century and before being abandoned, by the working class including also some artists and private citizens.
Today it has a predominantly private residential character with the ground floor intended for offices and commercial activities. Some of the apartments are intended for tourist rentals and the Neu Noi coworking is in the former stable.
IMorticelli 🇮🇹
Largo Plebiscito, Salerno
Former sixteenth-century church of San Sebastiano del Monte dei Morti, in the old city of Salerno
With a governance model based on 5 years framework agreement among the Municipality of Salerno, the university of Naples and Blam Aps, IMorticelli today is a community space, a social cafeteria, a cultural hub, neighbourhood concierge and info point.
Le serre dei giardini Margherita 🇮🇹
Via Castiglione, 134 Bologna
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Municipality of Bologna purchased land bordering the Margherita Gardens and adjacent to Via Castiglione. Here greenhouses have been built here to shelter plants in the winter. It has been abandoned for a long time before the cooperative Kilowatt started taking care of it.
Today, based on a Public – private partnership with whom the space has been entrusted by the Municipality of Bologna to the association Kilowatt with a 15 years gratuitous bailments, Serre dei Giardini are a regenerated space and hybrid cultural centre within the Margherita Gardens, in Bologna, which comes to life in the 650 square meters redeveloped of the former municipal greenhouses. It hosts: the hub for cultural production Serra Madre, a coworking, the educational service Kw Baby, the festivals Kw Summer and Resilienze Festival, the bistrot VETRO.
Cascina Rocca Franca 🇮🇹
Via Gaidano 76, Turin
Initially owned by the Immacolata Concezione religious confraternity. In 1689, the farmhouse was sold to Count Lorenzo Ballard. In 1840 the next owner, Baroness Chionio, enlarged the farmhouse and modified
its original structure. From 1957, the agricultural land connected to Cascina Roccafranca was progressively reduced and taken over by the Fiat Mirafiori establishment and workers’ residences. In the 1970s, Cascina Roccafranca ultimately lost its function and its buildings were abandoned.
Today Cascina Roccafranca is a social and cultural centre, focused on the citizens and designed for them to support participation and hospitality.
Scugnizzo Liberato 🇮🇹
Avvocata district, Naples
Former convent of San Francesco delle Cappuccinelle, a public property, recently listed as an Italian cultural asset. In 1809 it has been converted into a juvenile detention centre, the Filangieri Institute. Indeed, this use was maintained over the following century when, on 23 November 1980, it was severely damaged by the Irpinia earthquake, one of the most destructive seismic event of Naples that struck the entire region of central Campania and Basilicata. Once abandoned, several attempts at adaptation and reuse occurred, ultimately failing to restore the enormous complex of 10,000 sqm.
The building has been reopened to the city in 2015. At the moment it hosts cultural, social and sport activity for the community. Currently It is managed as a common according to the city regulation of common goods.
Crezi.Plus 🇮🇹
Via Paolo Gili 4, Palermo
They are pavilions 10 and 11 of the former furniture factory “Ducrot,” a 55,000 sqm citadel that was an example of industrial excellence in the 19th century in Sicily. The two buildings used to be the carpentry and the canteen of the factory. During the 20th century, the factory declined, and the site was abandoned and sold to the Municipality of Palermo.
The site is managed by many organizations, taking care of the different aspects of the hub: Clac, Cantiere Cucina, Easy integrazione di sistemi and others. The space is entrusted by the Municipality to these subject with the formula of bailment at no charge.
The space was inaugurated in 2015 and nowadays provides many services for cultural production: coworking space, film production centre, space for events, catering.
Ecomuseo mare memoria viva 🇮🇹
Via Messina Marine 14, Palermo
“The former locomotive depot of Sant’Erasmo, now the headquarters of the Ecomuseum, was built in 1886 as part of the Sant’Erasmo railway station complex, the terminus of the Palermo-Corleone-San Carlo line, the first narrow-gauge railway built in Sicily.
It is a beautiful example of industrial archaeology, characterized by a single-aisle pavilion supported by cast iron pillars with Art Nouveau decorated capitals. Its type and architectural quality make it unique in the context of Palermo.”
The site entrusted to the association Mare Memoria Viva by the municipality of Palermo through the mean of the bailment at no charge.
It was inaugurated in 2014 and now functions as an ecomuseum dedicated to seaside culture. It also offers educational and social activities for adults and children.
Trame di quartiere 🇮🇹
Palazzo De Gaetani, Pistone 55/57/59 Catania
Palazzo De Gaetani is an historical palace built in 1870 and belonging to the family De Gaetani. After World War II it hosted the newsroom of the newspaper “La voce dell’Etna” founded by Giuseppe De Gaetani. The neighbourhood where the palace is placed, San Berillo, was in the IX century the manufacturing centre of the city but later on turned in a progressive state of abandon and become known for hosting prostitution and legal activities. In 1971 the palace was abandoned and occupied illegally. In 2010 the entrances were walled up to impede further occupations.
The owner entrusted the asset to the association Trame di Quartiere through a bailment at no charge
The interventions carried out so far allowed to restore the basement spaces of the building and the first floor. The palace now offers social housing apartments, cultural and social activities aimed at improving the conditions of the disadvantaged inhabitants of San Berillo, a café and a coworking space.
Big 🇮🇹
Via Carlo Conti 20, Milano
An historic Cascina formerly belonging to Conti di Greco
Based on a Public – private partnership between Municipality of Milan and ABCittà officina del futuro, the building provides 25 mini-apartments, shared spaces and services. It offers quality, low-cost housing for young people, students and workers, single parents with children, self-employed elderly people. BIG is also an innovative hospitality service that facilitates collaboration between people of different ages, with different needs in relation to the neighbourhood and the city.
Farm Cultural Park 🇮🇹
Cortile Bentivegna, Favara, Agrigento
Farm Cultural Park is located inside the Bentivegna Courtyard, a complex consisting of seven small courtyards that host small palaces. The complex is situated near the historic centre of Favara.
The site is managed by the Bartoli family that are also the owners.
Opened in 2010, it is an art gallery and artist residency. The farm also participates in public calls for further art interventions, as well as cultural and educational events aimed at fostering territorial development through art.
Ex Fadda - Officine del sapere 🇮🇹
Via Brindisi s.n. , San Vito dei Normanni, Italy, 72019
Former Winery. In 2010 the young enterprise Sandei, together with 5 local associations related to different areas (welfare, theatre, music), won the call for the temporary management of the winery Dentice Frasso
In 2010 the young enterprise Sandei, together with 5 local associations related to different areas (welfare, theatre, music), won the call for the temporary management of the winery Dentice Frasso
Today Ex-Fadda runs several projects/activities: a recreation centre for children, a music school, a carpenter’s workshop, a group of photographers, a library, a bar and a radio.
Dumbo space 🇮🇹
Via Casarini 19, Bologna
It’s the former Ravone freight yard, owned by FS Urban Systems. The area comprises 6 buildings, with a total surface area of over 18,000 square meters, plus 20,000 square meters of uncovered space.
The space of the former freight yard, which remains property of FS Urban Systems (FS Italiane Group), is entrusted on temporary lease for 4 years. The management is by Open Event Srl, formed by Open Group and Eventeria.
Since 2021 the space offers a range of activities and services: business incubation, coworking space, library, space rental for events, social and cultural activities for children and adults.
Spazio Nova 🇮🇹
Caserma Passalacqua, Viale Francesco Ferrucci 2, 28100, Novara
It is one of the three ex-military barracks of the city of Novara. The governance model is based on a public-private partnership where the Municipality collaborates with social enterprises or non-profit organizations. Now the association Nova is the subject in charge of managing the space.
Today It is a hub for cultural production and youth activities. It carries on different services for the community: school support, youth empowerment, cultural activities, art workshops, study space, digital hub.
Booq 🇮🇹
Via Santa Teresa/Piazza Kalsa, Palermo
The building that houses booq is the former Convent of Santa Teresa of the Discalced Carmelites, later the Artigianelle Institute, owned by the Municipality of Palermo.” The foundational core of the historic complex, in the area of the Porta dei Greci addition plan, dates back to the construction of the Gambacurta Palace in 1581. In 1653, it became a monastery for the nuns of the Carmelite order. At the end of the century, the order built the Church of Santa Teresa in Piazza Kalsa, designed by the architect Giacomo Amato, a master of Sicilian Baroque. The building was converted into the Artigianelle Institute following the establishment of a city committee, whose presidency was entrusted to the Princess of Torremuzza. The purpose of the institution was to provide shelter, assistance, and artisan education to abandoned or orphaned young adolescents.
Since 2019 Booq provide educational activities for disadvantaged children in the neighbourhood. It also works as neighbourhood library open to the community and it hosts cultural events.
Badia Lost & Found 🇮🇹
Via San Francesco D'Assisi, 4, 96016 Lentini SR
The Beneventano Palace, located within the Badia di Lentini neighbourhood, is one of the most important noble residences in Sicily. It comprises more than 50 rooms spread over an area of approximately 1,700 square meters, along with a large inner courtyard and a series of external spaces. The building was constructed in the 19th century by a descendant of the Orsileo family, a branch of the Orsini house that moved to Benevento following conflicts with Pope Boniface VIII. This descendant, upon arriving in Lentini with part of his family, changed his surname to Beneventano. The decline began in the second half of the 20th century when, due to the Beneventano family’s financial problems, the property was acquired by the Municipality of Lentini in 1976. It was then used as a municipal dog shelter, a nursery school, and finally as a depot for sanitation vehicles. The situation began to change in the early 2000s when, thanks to European funds, a partial restoration of the complex was initiated. However, the restoration did not provide a new purpose for the building, and the work was halted in 2011.Today the palace serves as the headquarters for many activities aimed at promoting urban regeneration of the neighbourhood through art and cultural interventions.
BCuartel de Artillería (Artillery Barracks) 🇪🇸
Calle Cartagena s/n, Murcia 30002, Murcia
The Artillery Barracks, old military buildings, goes beyond its historical and architectural value to become a venue for cultural events and citizen participation that promotes creativity and the exchange of ideas. The Pavilion, measuring around 3000 square meters, offers multipurpose space for artists and cultural creators. The centre’s activities are towards contemporary and experimental music, digital art, audiovisual production and contemporary culture. The centre promotes research, development and innovation.
Sala Verónicas 🇪🇸
Calle Verónicas, 4, 30004, Murcia
The 18th century baroque church of the Verónicas convent, now desecrated, was converted into an exhibition hall in the late 1980s and today is a national reference in the promotion of contemporary art. It hosts large-scale projects of high level by national and international artists, showing new trends in contemporary art and creations specifically made for this emblematic place, generating an attractive dialogue between the space and the works it houses.
Las Cigarreras 🇪🇸
C/ San Carlos, 78 Alicante
The old tobacco factory is today the Las Cigarreras Cultural Centre: created at the beginning of the 19th century, it forms an outstanding architectural complex of urban heritage. A workplace for thousands of workers for two centuries, it is part of the collective imagination of several generations of Alicante residents. With the transfer of tobacco production to the outskirts of the city, the old factory in the centre was at the municipal disposal and is now dedicated to contemporary culture and exhibitions.
La Iglesia Skate (The Skate Church) 🇪🇸
C. A, 3, 33428 Pol. Ind. de Asipo, Asturias
Located in the heart of Asturias, the Skate Church is a place where architecture and urban art converge in perfect harmony. This old religious temple was abandoned for years until Ernesto Fernández decided to turn it into a unique venue for skateboarding and street art. Without outside help, a group of young people used their own resources to restore the building and build a skate park that. The Skate Church project soon caught the attention of renowned Santander artist Okuda San Miguel. Falling in love with the space, Okuda decided to join the cause and, together with his assistants, began putting his art on the walls of the church in 2015.
Hospital Sant Pau 🇪🇸
Carrer de l'Hospital, 56, 08001, Barcelona
The origins of the Hospital de Sant Pau date back to 1401, with the creation of the Hospital de la Santa Creu, in the Raval neighbourhood, in Ciutat Vella. For five centuries, this was the only hospital in Barcelona. In the 19th century, due to the increase in population, new hygienic trends and advances in medicine, the construction of a new hospital, Sant Pau, became necessary. The Historical Archive of the Hospital de la Santa Creu y Sant Pau is one of the most important hospital documentary collections preserved today, which includes historical works and documents from the 15th century to the 20th.
Matadero Madrid 🇪🇸
Plaza de Legazpi, 8, 28045, Madrid
Originally built in 1911 as an important place for meat and livestock processing in the city for many years. However, meanwhile Madrid as a city was evolving, a slaughterhouse was not needed anymore, and it was closed in 1996. Matadero Madrid is the Contemporary Creation centre of the Madrid City Council. Across its various buildings, it hosts an extensive program that includes exhibitions, theatre, festivals, live music, film and audiovisual projects, conferences, talks and workshops, artist residencies, educational programs, and activities for families.
La Cárcel Vieja (Old Prison Centre) 🇪🇸
Av. General Primo de Rivera, 2, 30008, Murcia
The building of the former Provincial Prison of Murcia is listed as a Singular Element and is characterized by its architectural layout in a cross plan, creating a set of separate rooms and the existence of garden patios. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century, inaugurated in June 1929 and closed in 1981. Murcia City Council intends, with the recovery of the Old Prison, to return to the people of Murcia part of their heritage, converted into a new social and cultural space, a new bright, open and participatory cultural meeting point.
Condeduque 🇪🇸
Calle Conde Duque 9, 11, 28015, Madrid
The building of the old Conde Duque Barracks is one of the buildings with the longest history in Madrid. Built at the beginning of the 18th century, to house the Royal Corps Guards, it is a work of one of the most important architects of the Madrid Baroque, Pedro de Ribera. Finally, in 1969, the Madrid City Council acquired the Conde Duque barracks through an agreement with the Ministry of the Army. From then on, it functions as a large municipal cultural container dedicated to the institutions that support the memory of the city of Madrid and to cultural activities.
Hortensia Herrero Art Centre 🇪🇸
C. Adán Martín Menis, s/n, 38003 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The Hortensia Herrero Art centre is restoration of the old Valeriola Palace, that involved more than 5 years of work to turn it into an art centre, where a fragment of the Roman circus of Valentia has been found and which between the 11th and 13th centuries was part of the Muslim Balansiya. This new space brings together the private collection of patron Hortensia Herrero, which includes works by artists such as Andreas Gursky, Anselm Kiefer, Georg Baselitz, Anish Kapoor and Mat Collishaw among others. Some of these artists have created specific works that live in specific enclaves of the Art Centre.
El Tanque 🇪🇸
C. Adán Martín Menis, s/n, 38003 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The project reuses a warehouse from the former CEPSA refinery and turns it into a cultural centre that preserves the spirit and industrial heritage of the area. With the urban growth of its immediate surroundings, the El Tanque cultural space gains importance and its expressive force makes it a strategic piece within the city. For its rehabilitation, its structural characteristics are taken advantage of, creating a generous interior space that can be freely occupied by artistic installations of a different nature.
Tabakalera 🇪🇸
Pl. de las Cigarreras 1,
20012 Donostia-San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa
Originally, Tabakalera was built in 1913 as a tobacco factory, playing a crucial role in the local economy. For decades, the factory was a major centre of tobacco production and employment in the region. The factory operated until 2003, when it closed its doors due to restructuring of the tobacco industry and economic changes. Today, Tabakalera has become an International Centre of Contemporary Culture. Opened in 2015 after extensive renovation, the building now hosts a variety of cultural and artistic activities, including exhibitions, film screenings, workshops, and events.
La Casa Encendida 🇪🇸
Rda. de Valencia, 2, Centro, 28012 Madrid
La Casa Encendida is located in a large neo-Mudejar style building, designed by the architect Fernando Arbós y Tremantí. Construction began in 1911, and it was inaugurated in 1913. It was formerly the Monte de Piedad Pawnshop and a branch of the Madrid Savings Bank. It is protected at the highest level by the different conservation and management plans and is a pioneering project in Spain, combining social and environmental concerns & avant-garde multidisciplinary cultural programming.
Convalecencia 🇪🇸
P.º del Teniente Flomesta, 5, 30003 Murcia
It was built in 1915 as a hospital to accommodate convalescent patients coming from San Juan de Dios Hospital who needed greater care, to be cared for by the Sisters of Charity who resided here. During the Civil War, its basements were used as a refuge from bombings. It was modified in the mid-20th century to house the Priest’s House and the Diocesan Bookstore and was finally acquired by the University of Murcia becoming the headquarters of the University Rectorate in 1987 to this day, and the Chapel is now dedicated to art exhibitions.
Sala Canal de Isabel II 🇪🇸
Calle de Sta Engracia, 125, Chamberí, 28003 Madrid
The Canal de Isabel II Room, located in an old Canal water tank, has become a national and international reference space in the world of photography, hosting exhibitions of both great masters as well as representatives of young Spanish and international photography, consolidating itself as an emblematic space for dissemination of the latest trends. It was built between 1907 and 1911 by the engineer Diego Martín Montalvo as the first elevated water tank in Madrid and was restored and converted into an exhibition hall in 1986 by Javier Alau and Antonio Lopera.
Casa de Vacas 🇪🇸
Paseo de Colombia, 128009, Parque de El Retiro, Madrid
Casa de Vacas, in Retiro Park, is a cultural centre and theatre built in 1874 as a dairy and milk dispatch. At the beginning of the 20th century it was transformed into a legendary nightclub in Madrid’s nightlife. After a fire almost completely devastated it, it was transformed into the cultural centre it is today. In the exhibition hall, contemporary art of all styles is shown monthly, some highly recognized, such as the Reina Sofía Awards for painting and sculpture. It is integrated into the “Landscape of Light”, a cultural landscape declared a World Heritage Site on in 2023.
