The Origin of Spaces Project is co-funded

with support from the EU’s Erasmus+

LifeLong Learning Fund.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be

held responsible for any use which may bemade of the information contained therein.

The Origin of Spaces INNOVATIVE PRACTICES FOR

SUSTAINABLE MULTIDISCIPLINARY CLUSTERS

PHASE 1 - RESEARCH OUTCOMES

Origin of Spaces - researchinnovative practices for sustainable

multidisciplinary clusters

1.0 Introduction

Organisations from five European countries have joined forces on a three year journey to share existing know-how and explore new practices related to coworking ecosystems. However, as with every journey, the project began with a period of reflection and preparation, an opportunity to learn new work languages, structures and methods: “Where have we come from?”, “Where are we going?”, “What should be taken forward?”In addition there were specific questions and discussions on the meanings behind our coworking ecosystems themes, namely multidisciplinary coworking, local partnerships, ecological transition, participatory governance and social entrepreneurship. This report provides the history of our preparation for constructing a coworking toolbox. It focuses on the wealth of local background material unearthed by the partners and, by identifying the most relevant points, helps explain how the map to guide our journey began to take shape.The information you are about to discover will help explain why we believe that coworking and the creation of multidisciplinary creative clusters (also known as ecosystems or the Third Place) provide an innovative approach for European entrepreneurs and professionals to work collaboratively through improved communication and networking, in order to create new economic opportunities and benefit society.

Paul Chapmen, London Borough of Lewisham

Inspired by the Origin of the Spaces WordCloud – Paul Chapman 30/07/15

The Origin of Spaces EU project

2 PROJECT OUTLINEExtract from the original project proposal

Urbanisation is a continuous process for almost all European cities. The production process is frustrated with three major factors that have to be integrated: adapting to an accelerated demography, limiting the environmental impact and dealing with the depletion of resources. A critical match making of immediate investment possibilities in existing physical and socio-economical structures is an adaptive and complementary approach.

Since the current socio-economic crisis might be more than a temporary situation, innovative, positive action must be taken now to address this and create new solutions. Most european cities are impacted by the continuous processes of urbanisation and the impacts that this involves, both positive and negative. Running a business within this environment brings its own additional concerns. We need to act responsibly to: 1) Create positive working and living conditions for those who help improve society and the local and wider community (adapting to a continually changing demographic client base) 2) Look at innovating and developing new methods and approaches to using recycled materials, techniques and the skills of people that have a high environmental sensibility (Limiting the environmental impact of running a business) 3) To create the best places imaginable with the lowest impacts on the environment and manageable cost to do it (Learning to cope with the depletion of resources in a competitive marketplace)

We must utilise the opportunities available now, to re-use existing buildings and re-imagine them to accommodate promising start-ups who will contribute to the inevitable societal change at hand, whilst working closely with short and long term urban planning schemes. It is therefore critical that any interventions in this area, particularly in the provision of physical business space, is able to be both adaptive and complimentary. In our developed society there are a methods, sensibilities and habits than need support to be changed, to re-establish a more balanced and measured way of life. Ultimately the

inevitable ecological transition that is taking place is perhaps the only hard argument to kick start change.

We believe that sustainable multidisciplinary clusters and their orientation towards ecological transition, are one important approach for a responsible answer to the present needs of our society. In our experience, sustainable multidisciplinary clusters are, and could be innovation labs, incubators of new ways of working, living and acting for the co-creation of sustainable communities. They are cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary in nature, enriching in their very attitudes around working together, innovation and problem solving. They are safe spaces for the testing out of ideas and methods but within a supportive framework and environment. They are a fertile ground for the nurturing of innovation in society, as they are in themselves models of social innovation. Therefore, the main aim of this project is to work in partnership for the exchange of knowledge and skills, development and implementation of innovative practices in the field of development, creation and management of sustainable multidisciplinary clusters.

General objective: - fostering active citizenship & social entrepreneurship in terms of sustainable development - exchange of best practices that improve employability, inclusion, creativity and learning through a participative approach - to recognise possibilities and meet the challenges of co-creation, co-management, co-working, co-operation, co-living, co-intelligence and community gardens in urban sustainable and multidisciplinary clusters

Specific objectives: During the project period different creative methods and approaches, including new research and an on line Tool Box, will be made to present innovative models in the following 4 project scopes: 1. Ecological know-how 2. Participatory governance 3. Multidisciplinary co-working 4. Local partnership management5. Social entrepreneurship skills

Following our five key areas, our objectives are to improve and meet the needs for social and economical sustainability in management and development of activities in sustainable multidisciplinary clusters: a) Able to be for profit: economic sustainability b) Able to be for benefit: for society and for the environment c) Able to accept wide intergenerational scope of users d) Able to improve employability and creation of new jobs that respond to the needs of society e) Able to provide opportunities for different ways of life long learning

We want to improve and share our knowledge and skills for the benefit of our local and wider communities, so that we can learn, adapt and grow together, ultimately sharing solutions for our current ecological, economical and social challenges. Concrete results of this project are our intellectual outputs and the development of the The Origin of Spaces Toolbox as an outward facing learning platform to share our knowledge, methods, ideas and skills with others.

3. THEME INTRODUCTIONSExtract from the Resource Book (October 2015)

The following paragraphs are the introduction texts to each theme written by each team in the project.. In the initial research Resource Book each introduction is followed by the contents of each team’s production, roughly subdivided in five basic components : 1. Definitions, 2. Stories, 3. Cases, 4. People, 5. Places.

FOR DETAILED CONTENTS, VISIT : bit.do/oosEU-RB

LX FACTORY - LISBON - PORTUGAL

3.1. Multidisciplinary Coworking

LxFactory, a “factory of ideas and creativity”, is a private endeavour located in Alcantara Lisboa, owned by MainSide, a foresighted property developer specialised in (re)use and revitalisation. Transformed from a factory into a new space, where heritage lives alongside tech and creative start-ups, LxFactory has 25000 square metres, holds 200 companies, employing 1000 people and 100 coworkers, in multiple sectors ranging from culture, design, fashion and advertising to trade, technology and commerce, etc.However LxFactory is more than just joined up organisations and individual independent workers sharing space and collaborating, it is a community of projects, ideas, coworkers and visitors, within that space.Accordingly, LxFactory’s strategy is deliberately flexible. Dedicated project analysis enabling autonomy and self-organisation, allowing each project to adapt and manage the space to suit its specific concepts, are key elements. This provides a unique environment accommodating a wide range of needs and attracting many promising and talented projects, Ler Devagar, CoworkLisboa, Cantina, Wool, etc., which have become icons of a strong local grass-roots culture. Events such as the OPEN DAYS (Sunday’s LxMarket street market for handicraft, second hand and vintage), conferences such as OFFF, IGNITE, and numerous seminars, fashion exhibitions, music concerts and book launches etc., attract visitors and future projects whilst promoting networking and collaboration, and the international name of LxFactory.

Filipa Baptista

Research manager and coordinator for OOS, project coordinator at Mainside Investments SGPS Real Estate, professionally active as an architect for 12 years in Portugal and in the Netherlands, then served lunch to her current employer in an Indian restaurant, who was impressed with her skills and hired her. She has been working there for almost 10 years now.

Manuel Laranja

Research researcher for OOS, Senior Associated Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policies at the Lisboa School of Economics, has a PhD on Technology and Innovation Policy, an MBA, and a degree in engineering, worked for the Secretary of State of Economic Affairs and the Prime Ministers’ Office on Technology and Innovation, was a consultant for the EU, currently co-chair of the University of Lisboa “Network for Entrepreneurship and Knowledge Transfer”, and much much more.

Carlos Alcobia

Research researcher for OOS, currently a Doctoral candidate in Design at the Universidade de Lisboa and a junior researcher at the Artistic Studies Research Center (CIEBA), focused on the contributions of design capabilities as strategic resources for organizations, has an MA in Curatorial Studies and a BA in Economics, founder of a rural makerspace ‘Buinho’, passionate about design of co-creative environments.

ZAWP - BILBAO - SPAIN

3.2. Local Partnerships

ZAWP is a compelling story about the impact of planning in the public and private management of the urban wilderness of Bilbao. It is a train driver’s dream that has brought together a core of nine people interested in change and local impact, by regenerating former industrial spaces and thus creating opportunities for cultural life. Different synergies in Zorrotzaurre and La Ribera de Deusto have framed the current local partnerships and the public management of industrial heritage.As the urban plan advanced, ZAWP mutated locally, turning ZAWP into an atemporal form; from situated action to a modus operandi. This both changed and enabled a team of people and formulas to take action, whilst forging an urban transformation process. Art, music and business came together to revitalise an area that had long been forgotten yet which seems to be a treasure island for the future of Bilbao; the place to be active and creative within the city’s landscape.Economical sustainability and livelihoods are the challenge. Challenging local partnerships, collaborations beyond international boundaries, learning from activities which both succeed and fail. Private, public and isolated entrepreneur management are taken into account in order to regenerate the neighbourhood. Share your practice with us!

Ruth Mayoral López.

Project coordination. Spent much time on production and cultural management. Now she is more focused on the study of citizens movements and urban transformation through creation. Zawp’s manager in Bilbao. Love to learn from others. Peripheral vision, detailed and critical, analytical and synthetical skills, curious to learn, maintaining objectives, self-criticism, empathy, flexibility in action, humor.

Ane San Miguel Crespo

Toolbox manager and research researcher. Passionate about challenging mindsets and souls with a humanized approach to enrich the working athmospheres. Hosting milestone based in her attitude, fresh and natural. No pattern to filter. Creativity and expression are her tools and spread energy all over the working space a collateral matter. Knowledge management.

Ziortza Etxabe Ugarte

Research manager and toolbox researcher. Consultant, Team Coach, catalyst and trainer in entrepreneurship, creativity, leadership and innovation. But above all this, I consider myself an explorer of creative ideas. I am a social entrepreneur that take into account a positive return to society; I attempt to further broad social, cultural, and environmental goals and often associated with the voluntary sector.

DARWIN ECOSYSTEME - BORDEAUX - FRANCE

3.3. Ecological Transition

Darwin-Ecosystem in Bordeaux France, created in 2012, has the objective to practice a new way of working. The tenants’ association “Les Darwiniens”, as initiator, coordinator and partner of ‘The Origin of Spaces’, envisions sharing its collection of experiences on ecological transition, and its potential for creating a cohesive and resilient ecosystem. Among the various shared values in Darwin’s work, culture and leisure community, the objective of ecological transition is the most emblematic, and one that has attracted many committed members. However not every hub project has the same scale or means. Displaying ecological transition values is one thing, but implementing them is quite another. Can sharing a printer, separating waste, certified eco-renovation, even the online monitoring of resource consumption, as alternative eco-practices, be implemented at scale?Following 12 months of internal and external consultation, sessions with 12 pivotal initiators, and 30 representatives of eco-business and other sectors commenting on the project themes, Darwin’s ecological transition grew from a popular message to a measured mind-and-action-set. When asking ourselves how to create a Third Place that could change environmental habits on a daily basis, and wondering how to enrol peers to engage in new responsible ways of managing hybrid sites, the experiences of Darwin-Ecosystem provide valuable practical insights.

Mehdi Hazgui

International research coordinator for OOS, owner and manager of ‘Conseils & Etudes Sociologiques’ in Bègles, member of the tenants association ‘Les Darwiniens’, active group animator, conference moderator, sociologist, researcher and expert on citizenship and community sustainability, and a generous laugh ...

Christiaan Weiler

International and national research coordinator for OOS, founding architect of ‘cab42 architecture, strategy and design’ in Bordeaux, member of the tenants association ‘Les Darwiniens’, orients his design research and proposals towards technical and programmatic innovation to improve user engagement in the built environment, ... plays harmonica in an acoustic rock trio, wishes he could spend more time windsurfing but is happy to spend it with his family ...

Sylvain Barfety

International financial coordinator for OOS, director of economic development for ‘Evolution Ltd’ in Bordeaux, member of the tenants association ‘Les Darwiniens’, focusses his professional life on designing economic models of companies to make them more resilient and more responsible towards society and nature, involved in urban re-creation as a member of several non for profit organisations... spends much of his personal time with his family and his kite-surf gear.

Jean-Pierre Brossard

International planning coordinator for OOS, owner and manager of ‘Jean Pierre Brossard Consultant’ in Bordeaux, member of the tenants association ‘Les Darwiniens’, experienced consultant in EU funded collaboration projects for cultural and social action, ... has seen so much of the european landscape he’s become a bit of an expert on ecosystems...

Camille Sciare

International administrative coordinator for OOS, intern from the IFAID school in Bordeaux, member of the tenants association ‘Les Darwiniens’, has a background in Literature and project coordination, focusses on european partnerships and management of community life, interested in how to improve cooperation‚ does sport as soon as possible and would like to go around the world.

ROJC - PULA - CROATIA

3.4. Participatory Governance

Imagine a huge military building of 16,739 square meters with endless, gloomy hallways where, historically, militants, officers and war refugees lived and worked. The building was named after Second World War hero Karlo Rojc but abandoned in the late 1990’s. Due to the simple fact that no one switched off the electricity and water supply, different artists, activists and associations began to occupy the building, thereby inhaling and inspiring new creative energies. Today, the Community Centre Rojc is a particular “place of civil society,” an alternative urban culture centre situated in a small town called Pula, Croatia, in the north of the Mediterranean southern Europe. Rojc hosts 111 associations with very different activities: culture and art, sport and recreation, children and youth, ethnic minorities, psycho-social work, etc. Together with the City of Pula, which is the legal owner of the building, mentioned associations are managing the Center on the basis of the public-citizen participation model in order to develop more productive forms of co-existence, co-management and co-production. Associations networking, intensive communication and innovative approach in joint decision-making encourages them to create dynamic, hybrid organisational and management model that will be even more effective and professional. Values of this participatory governance model are strengthening participative democracy, good governance and trust building.

Irena BurbaResearch manager for OOS project from Rojc Alliance in Pula, Croatia. Working for the non-governmental organisation “Green Istria” in the field of environmental protection, encouraging public participation in decision making processes, and raising public awareness on environmental democracy. Plays an active role in Rojc Alliance. Irena likes camping, reading and juggling.

Ana !u"i#Research and Toolbox researcher for OOS, Rojc Alliance external expert. Has 10 years of professional experience working in the non-governmental sector, primarily in the field of civil society development and youth issues. Currently is working as an independent consultant supporting different organizations in writing, implementing and evaluating EU funded projects. Likes to swim and run in her free time.

CAPTURE & LEWISHAM - LONDON - UNITED KINGDOM

3.5. Social Entrepreneurship

Being a social entrepreneur is hard to define as there is no precise global definition, although there is a lot of history in the UK, where the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) was founded by Michael Young in 1997. The term was first used in the literature of social change during the 1960’s and 1970’s. It means taking entrepreneurial methods including risk taking, learning from mistakes, self-confidence, determination, the ability to adapt and above all a passion for solving problems, then using them to solve social problems. These key traits are used to create businesses that measure performance not in terms of profit and return, but in creating businesses that measure their success by their positive impact on society.Much social entrepreneurship developed in response to Strategic Regeneration. In Deptford London, post-1992, there was a local response built around cultural and ecological activists in Deptford Creekside where many abandoned industrial sites and offices were taken over by artists, and even the SSE. One such cultural response was Capture Arts who act as cultural brokers and have acted in pop-up spaces allowing social and cultural entrepreneurs to operate. Despite much intermittent local practice, no strategic approach to developing spaces for social entrepreneurs has emerged.

Deborah Astell

Research manager for OOS. Creative Thinking Trainer and European Project Manager. Director and Project Development Manager at Capture, an innovative not for profit social enterprise based in Lewisham, London that has been working in participatory practice, arts and culture, creative thinking and innovation, organisational change management and the development of participant-led co created projects since 1997.

Fred Garnett

Research researcher for OOS, Founder member of Learner-Generated Contexts Research Group at the London Knowledge Lab, where he is a Visiting Research Associate. He has worked on social and digital inclusion projects using Digital Media since 1997 when he was part of the LB Lewisham Citizen Connects team.

Hatty Uwanogho

Research researcher for OOS. Project manager for Capture Projects, a vibrant social enterprise based in Lewisham as well as being a freelance web designer and social network facilitator and manager. Extensive knowledge of digital platforms and new media and specialises in using social media networks for marketing and community engagement.

Paul Chapman

Project manager for OOS, European projects manager for the London Borough of Lewisham. Paul has over 13 years experience of managing and participating in a wide variety of European funded projects and networks with the aim of improving Lewisham Borough. Paul sings in a covers band, enjoys watching sport and supports the mighty Tottenham Hotspur.

Paul Hadfield

Research manager for OOS. Enterprise Development Manager for the London Borough of Lewisham since 2001, over 25 years experience in urban regeneration in local government, NGOs and the private sector contexts, leading on the development of three new coworking centres opening in Lewisham in 2016, interested in language and multiculturalism. Interested in jazz, tennis, cycling and rights of immigrants and refugees.

The Origin of Spaces Project is co-funded with support from the EU’s Erasmus+ LifeLong Learning Fund. Project Number : 2014-1-FR01-KA204-008725