'From Abandoned to Reused'

URBAN REGENERATION CASE STUDY

Reuse Strategies and Industrial urban environments

LX FACTORY Lisbon, Portugal Student: Athanasia Panagiotidi

FROM

ABANDONED

TO

REUSED

Creative Industries and Urban space

The current project presents an urban regeneration case study that focuses on the reuse of abandoned urban industrial sites, and the implementation of strategies that aim at the development of Cultural and Creative Sectors (CCSs) within the urban area. CCSs bring together architecture, archives and libraries, artistic crafts, audio-visual (including film, television, video games and multimedia), cultural heritage, design (including fashion design), festivals, music, performing and visual arts, publishing and radio (EC, 2012).

In a wide variety of places, reinterpretations of the legacy of the industrial age are releasing tremendous potential energy and creativity – in the USA, Russia, Brazil and China just as much as in Europe, and encourage the creation of growth and jobs (Baum and Christiaanse, 2012).

European Commission has stressed the importance of reinforcing cooperation across Cultural and Creative Sectors and with other sectors such as ICT, tourism, industry, education, urban and regional development, territorial planning, including through joint initiatives to foster understanding across sectors and contribute to developing a more

open, innovative and entrepreneurial mind-set in the economy (EC, 2012).

In the case of LX Factory urban regeneration project that is analyzed forward, investors and people have managed to fulfill the european standards set towards the development of creative and cultural activities, creating in this way an alternative economic hub that embraces all age groups and encourages interest and active participation.

Creativity within urban space reflects people, their need to express their emotions through artistic or innovative activities that find a place within the spatial context of urban societies.

Sources

Location

LX Factory is an urban regeneration project realized at the municipal parish of Alcântara, in south- west Lisbon (Portugal)

Objective

The regeneration focuses on the development of a creative urban environment that adds value to the economy and sustainable growth of the city.

Investors

The project was implemented by the private company Mainside Investments in 2008.

Brief history

Alcântara started its industrialization process during 1807- 1824 when Ratto family, situated in Calvário area, tried to construct factories for the production of porcelain, wool and textiles. The textile factory named “Companhia de Fiação e Tecidos

Lisbonense”, that now has been transformed into a cultural-economic pole, was constructed in 1846 and played an important role within Lisbon’s manufacturing sector.

During the middle of 19th century there were several factories installed in Calvário, transforming the area, which was initially characterized by the presence of farms, palaces and convents, into an important industrial zone.

The industrialization of the area in combination with the rapid urban development led to the creation of public transport networks (e.g. railway) in 1860, a fact that improved the accessibility of Alcântara’s district and contributed in its development, since trade relations were encouraged by the form of spatial connections within the urban space.

1846 1850

1900

Usage: Textile Factory

In particular, the site hosts architectural firms, artists, creative people, design studios, internet start-ups, advertising agencies, boutiques, performing art schools, IT and software companies, fashion designers, magazine agencies, library, workshops and music events (Partners in Business, 2012).

Activities

LX Factory

According to a study carried out in 2004, the formerly industrial district of 23.000 m2 in Alcântara was to be developed into a mixed-use district called Alcântara XXI. The old factory buildings were due to demolition in order for new projects to take place. The process stagnated due to recent economic developments and consequently, the private owners of the site in 2008 decided to temporarily redesign it, attributing a new identity and sense to the place (Baum and Christiaanse, 2012).

LX Factory lies in the shadow of a bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril) and attracts multiple users. As a ‘creative island’, the area is occupied by corporations and proffessionals that have settled within the industrial site (Baum and Christiaanse, 2012).

Outdoor Space Use

2008- present 1950

2000 2004 Usage: Usage: No use Creative companies, studios and gastronomy

The operators maintained most of the existing built environment and users were offered the opportunity to design the spaces according to their own requirements. The old facilities, pipes, cables and signposts are mixed together with the new elements (Baum and Christiaanse, 2012), linking the past structures and memories with modernity.

Lessons Learned

In their book, Baum and Christiaanse (2012, pp. 185-189), characterize the LX FACTORY industrial complex as a ‘loft’ where urban qualities can arise and establish an adaptable, flexible environment that enhances powerful and authentic spaces in which people are able to live and work.

The ‘creative’ requalification and preservation of derelict structures is important for the cultural identity of places. The new dynamics introduced to the processes of globalization have shown new areas of generation of capital but also new processes of socialization and creation of local identities (Dunning , 2000 in Drake, 2003). The diversity of people, firms and cultures in cities constitute a fertile ground for new ideas and innovations (Jacobs, 1969 in Van Winden et al , 2010 ), so the attraction of various professionals can generate a substantial portion of the wealth produced in cities (Van Winden et al, 2010), as it happens in this specific part of Lisbon.

LX FACTORY has its own specific features, is a vibrant place linked to history and context, and seems to be open to current and future needs attracting the involvement of local people (Baum and Christiaanse, 2012) that reflect the image of their living space. LX FACTORY project can function as an example of creative industry development and be attempted also in other parts of the urbanized areas in Lisbon, where abandoned structures can be found and where there is a need for the creation of regional competitiveness.

Moreover, it is a matter of policy choice whether these creative places will be accessible to some or tolerant to all social classes.

References 1. Baum M., Christiaanse K., 2012. City as Loft. Zurich: gta Verlag 2. EC, 2012. Promoting cultural and creative sectors for growth and jobs in the EU, COM (12) 537, final.

3. Leandro G. et al., 2013. Formaçao de espaços criativos: O caso da LX FACTORY em Lisboa. In: Associação Portuguesa de Geógrafos (APG) and Universidad de Evora, IX Congresso da Geografia Portuguesa- Geografia: Espaço, Natureza, Sociedade e Ciência, 28-30 November 2013: Evora.

4. LX FACTORY, www.lxfactory.com 5. Partners in Business, 2012. Globalization (1), LX FACTORY, Alcantara, pp. 51-52 6. Van Winden et al., 2010. Creating knowledge locations in cities: innovation and integration challenges. European Institute for Comparative Urban Research (EURICUR), November 2010.

Figures Own elaboration; Google maps Junta de Freguesia de Alcântara, www.jf-alcantara.pt LX FACTORY, www.lxfactory.com Baum M., Christiaanse K., (2012). City as Loft. Zurich: gta Verlag