Share and reuse factory | ATAMA

The old firestation Kortrijk has been redeveloped into a share and reuse factory, where civic, neighborhood, and city initiatives come together. The ‘Tuighuizen’ building, known as the Old Fire Station, was built in 1940 and classified as a protected monument in 2003. This striking structure catches attention because of its tower housing a staircase, flanked by lower wings constructed in a concrete frame and clad in brick. The design emphasizes the building’s welcoming gesture by opening it up at the corner and introducing a public market hall; a space where all participants can showcase their activities and where a social grocer displays its goods. At the heart of the project a series of workshops are organized, each with an own address facing the opened up courtyard. The existing industrial hall has been renovated into a central depot. The tower houses a climbing club, and the glass- enclosed crown becomes a unique space under a sky reimagined by an artist. The building is set to become a beacon, integrating the sharing economy into the city.