Vacant factory buildings offer opportunities for something new. In numerous cities such buildings offer room for experiments and creativity. In the beginning it is mostly young people who recognize the potential of these buildings and use them in many ways: factory halls as skating rinks or sound studios, storage areas as bicycle workshops or as a location for clubs and parties. In the German and Polish cities of Lusatia early “space pioneers” have appropriated vacant factory buildings. In most instances they have worked in networks, founded associations and established contacts to similar endeavors in Berlin, Poznaň or Dresden.

Why not in Forst (Lusatia)? Within the project “Discovering Factory Buildings,” INIK, in cooperation with students of the Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn High School in Forst, wants to infuse new life into the old industrial complexes of the city on the Neisse River. The goal is to analyze the potential of the spaces, to sketch possible changes of use and to mutually prepare projects. An intermediary result of the project work will be presented on September 2, 2006 in Forst (Lusatia) on the occasion of the Brandenburg Day.

Direction: Florian Breipohl, Dr. Lars Scharnholz
Period of Duration: 2006-2007
Organization: INIK e.V., F.-Ludwig-Jahn Gymnasium
Cooperational Partners: Stadt Forst (Lausitz), Park 7 e.V., Internationale Bauausstelung (IBA)