Proyecto 'Berreibar': Reconversión proactiva de edificios industriales en desuso

Abstract

'Berreibar' (berreibar.blogspot.com.es) is an investigation project developed by M-etxea (m-etxea.com) in Eibar. With this project we aim to create productive spaces in empty studios/workshops and to promote the value of our industrial heritage. In fact, from an utilitarian point of view, most of the industrial buildings that are still in disuse have an enormous potential to host new uses and, due to their geographical location, lots of these obsolete structures could become catalyst elements in the urban life. This investigation project emerged in 2011 aiming to generate new strategies for the urban recovery of towns and cities around Gipuzkoa. Our purpose is to show the possibility of implementing new urban policies that are more social and promote urban renewal by reusing obsolete buildings and mixing diverse uses. It is not just about reconverting industrial buildings in disuse, but about implementing an integral renewal process that takes into account different parameters forming the city. New creative and innovative initiatives generated by young locals will be promoted by the new productive space taking place in the obsolete industrial building. To carry out the project it is indispensable the participation and interaction of the different urban agents: public institutions, owners of the buildings in disuse and enterprising citizens that are possible users of the buildings in disuse; they all are key for the urban renewal of Eibar. Parallel to this research Berreibar carries out a cultural program that tries to show the citizens the possibility of these industrial buildings in disuse, the value of the industrial heritage of Eibar or examples of cooperative initiatives carried out in other places, as we, the Berreibar team, find it important to make a reflection about what is meant by industrial heritage.