Gjenbruk av historisk bygg

Torshov Kvartal VIII, an apartment building in Oslo, initially served as a municipal housing facility inspired by social housing and garden cities in Europe. An unused private building, an old electric supplier locked for 85 years, was identified as a potential community space.

Samarbeidsdrevet ombygging

A collective process lasting 6 years involved establishing a building program, creating a website, and identifying human resources to repurpose the electric supplier into a community house. This collaborative effort included both amateurs and professionals and led to the transformation without initial funding.

Multifunksjonelt samfunnshus

The 200m² community house now comprises a common space, kitchen, bathroom, and a mezzanine for guests. It has become a hub, hosting events from funerals to parties and workshops, with an occupancy rate of 75% weekly. The project, self-initiated and now built, has energized the neighbourhood by turning a neglected building into a multifunctional facility.