Abandoned windmill factory reimagined as hub for street sport, music and culture
by Kim Megson | 23 Jan 2017
We propose to open up the opaque and introverted industrial building, and transform the impressive central factory space to a new kind of interior space
– EFFEKT
– EFFEKT
Danish architects EFFEKT will convert an abandoned windmill factory in the city of Viborg into a vibrant culture house for street sports, street culture and street art.
The studio have won a design competition for the project, which will be the second of their buildings to carry the ‘Streetmekka’ name. Last year they completed GAME Streetmekka in Esbjerg – an urban sports hub in a converted rail depot.
In Viborg – a city in central Denmark – the industrial building will be opened up, wrapped in a new performative translucent facade and adapted for parkour, basketball, skateboarding, bouldering and dance. Customised areas will be built for DJ-ing and music production, alongside an animation studio and art workshops.
The surrounding landscape is filled with various street sports and street cultural functions placed within a recreational string of greenery connecting to the main city-pathway of the area.
In a statement, EFFEKT said: “The existing building is a typical example of one of the many more or less identical mass-produced warehouses or factories buildings from the late 1960s and 70s found in almost every suburban industrial zone in the western world. Typically constructed from prefabricated concrete panels or corrugated steel, industrial leftovers are perceived as having little to no historic, cultural and architectural value.
“We propose to open up the opaque and introverted industrial building, and transform the impressive central factory space to a new kind of interior space: a covered streetscape opening up to the outside.”
Streetmekka Viborg is set to open in January 2018.
It has been a good month for EFFEKT, who have also recently been given the green light to proceed with their plans for a spiralling 150ft (46m) observation tower in the protected forest Gisselfeld Klosters Skove.
Streetmekka street sport EFFEKT Viborg Parkour skateboarding architecture design
The industrial building will be opened up, wrapped in a new performative translucent facade Credit: EFFEKT
The building is designed to reinvigorate the community through culture, activity and sport Credit: EFFEKT
This is the second Streetmekka to be designed by EFFEKT Credit: EFFEKT
A skating arena will form part of the complex Credit: EFFEKT
20 Jan 2017
EFFEKT win green light for spiralling 150ft tower among the trees
23 Feb 2016
Danish studio Effekt transform derelict train depot into street sport and culture hub
28 Nov 2014
EFFEKT to design new cultural and sporting hub in Denmark
Danish architects EFFEKT will convert an abandoned windmill factory in the city of Viborg into a vibrant culture house for street sports, street culture and street art. The studio have won a design competition for the project, which will be the second of their buildings to carry the ‘Streetmekka’ name. Last year they completed GAME Streetmekka in Esbjerg – an urban sports hub in a converted rail depot. In Viborg
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