Can Ricart_A Ruin Re-storied

The Laboratory of Re-Assemblement converges three demographics, students, artists and immigrants, providing humanistic acupuncture at the architectural scale. A network of learning reverses the alienation of man through production created entirely of recycled goods, inspiring the return of hand-craft to the centre of this new digital district.

In Barcelona, at the junction of Poblenou’s key thoroughfares, Avinguna Diagonal and Pere IV, the ruin of the Can Ricart factory acts as a pivot. This multi-scalar investigation coordinates a parallel study between social, political and economic issues at the scale of the block, cluster and community. The Re-Storying of Can Ricart suggests a convergence of three microcosmic demographics through students, individual artists and immigrants, providing humanistic acupuncture at the architectural scale.\nAn immersive, ethnological five-week residency in Poblenou allowed a new level of understanding un-paralleled with any learning at a distance, provided a deeper insight into the battle of Can Ricart factory for its occupancy and development. This was continually scrutinized against the impact on the wider community. This led to investigations into heritage values, resilience and stakeholder interests. \nThe University of Barcelona current lease is critiqued through the suggestion of an alternative faculty, a Laboratory of Re-Assemblement, that offers a new framework of learning through collaborative production and creates a new network of dependency. Parallel to this, a series of live work units will offer shared workshops and studios for local makers, artists or inventors. Teaching at the Lab will supplement their income and will provide opportunities for students to learn through creating a context for their learning and a relationship with the area. \nMaterials will be provided through a scrap programme, whereby one-year contracts will be offered to the immigrant community, supporting them in their application for residency. In this environment, it will allow them to learn new skills, gain new qualifications, creativity and offer them a safe and secure place to live whilst integrating them into the wider community. \nThough this new network of learning and skill-sharing, the alienation of man can be reversed through production of new inventions created entirely of recycled goods, inspiring the return of hand-crafted products and making to the centre of this new digital district.