In the Perspective of a Grass-Root Initiative

Mads Peter Laursen, Institut for (X), Aarhus, Denmark

Photo: Institute for (X)

Text: Malin Zimm
Research: Angelica Åkerman

Table of Contents – Perspectives on Place-Based Architecture

Introduction
In the Perspective of An Architecture Office
Sören Nielsen, Denmark
In the Perspective of An Innovation Program for Local Authorities
Malin Kock Hansen & Oda Ellensdatter Solberg, Norway
In the Perspective of Policymaking on an Urban and National Level
Borghildur Sölvey Sturludottir, Iceland
In the Perspective of A Regional Support Structure
Caroline Bergmann, Sweden
In the Perspective of Tools for Knowledge
Arne Høi, Denmark

In the Perspective of A Grass-Root Initiative
Mads Peter Laursen, Denmark

In the Perspective of A Universal Local Resource
Arja Renell, Finland
In the Perspective of The Educator
Marwa Dabaieh, Sweden
Summary: In the Global Future Perspective

Roundtable

On the 14th December 2023 a roundtable was held with the contributing experts to this article, discussing the topic further.

Read the summary »

The “x” in Institute for (X) may be read as something undefined, but perhaps the understanding of “x” as in “x marks the spot” is more appropriate.

A growing cultural grassroots platform

The Institute for (X) is a cultural and educational platform founded in 2009, as an independent and non-profit cultural association. The initiative emerged from citizen initiatives in a central area in Aarhus, where designers, musicians, artists, entrepreneurs, and craftsmen work side by side. The area houses workshops and office spaces created by about 90 projects, 50 companies, and 35 associations, engaging around 400 members. As a platform, the Institute for (X)’s purpose is to facilitate cultural and creative grassroots initiatives in Aarhus and contribute to creating a more inclusive city, with a particular focus on social environments. (X) also actively collaborates with the Aarhus municipality to promote the city’s overall development, and the city's Architecture School moved there as neighbors a few years ago, fostering significant exchange.

How to make a long-lasting place

Mads Peter Laursen is one of the initiators, who along with his founding friends have a long history of creating various types of spaces and places for culture in Denmark. When they moved from Aarhus to Copenhagen in the early 2000s, the capital city was abundant with abandoned harbor and industrial structures, in which they saw a significant potential for self-organized cultural activities. Over time, they created several platforms where they had the opportunity to test various forms of organization – from collaboration with the municipality to a completely anarchist approach. After their third attempt was shut down by the police, the group realized that what they wanted to create was, for economic and bureaucratic reasons, not compatible in Copenhagen. They moved back to Aarhus, which is a city with a strong tradition of grassroots’ activity. Wise from experience, they set up three criteria in their search for a new more long-lasting location. Firstly, the land should be owned by the municipality, secondly there should be no plan for the area, and thirdly, there should be a building they could take care of and accommodate with activities. The place they found was an old railway yard that had been vacant for several years, with an old tollhouse among several surrounding buildings, which became the starting point for their dreams and ideas of an expanded cultural platform.

The importance of timing and trust

Timing and moment for the start of (X) were crucial, Mads Peter Laursen explains. He refers to the early 2000s as “The golden age of possibilities” – this was before all municipal land was sold, privatized, or planned in Denmark and when a young group of people could get the ears, and finally handshakes, of municipality officers. Another contributing factor 25 years ago was the global economy. Many urban development projects were interrupted or stalled in the wake of the financial crisis in 2009. Aarhus, like many places and municipalities, chose to focus urban development to one area – the Docklands. Because of this focus, the municipality left other areas and properties untouched for regular urban development for some time. After negotiations with the municipality, the (X) initiative obtained a running lease on the site. Initially, it was short contracts, but over time, as they gained trust, they now have a ten-year rent-free agreement with the municipality. With a smile, Mads Peter shares his experience on using the right terminology – we refer to it as a cost-neutral agreement – as soon as you say free, everyone shuts their ears.

Today, (X) actively plays on the synergies between politics, business, and culture in Aarhus. The 400 members are organized with a board of nine people sitting in an annexed house in the middle of the area. Their quarterly meetings ensure the power of the members, in (X) nothing happens that is not based upon the will of the community. All tenants pay rent per square meter. Mads Peter advise is to set the rent low enough to be reasonable, but high enough to be responsible and caring for the space.

Everyone wants “cultural glitter and values to new construction projects”, as Mads puts it, “but the real key is nurturing the grass-root perspective, in order to harvest strong communities who make place for new unestablished creativity.”

The multidimensional values of (X)

As the municipality's economy has recovered over time, the (X) site area has changed. When the municipality has developed new plans, several of (X)'s buildings have been demolished to make way for the city's project. Over time, the new architecture school, more housing, and a garage has been added to the original site. When asked about the dangers of gentrification, Mads Peter is fully aware of the creation of value that (X) contributes with, as he puts it – their activities have generated much more multidimensional values for the municipality. Because of this, (X) still has a strong negotiating position with the municipality, and it seems that the plans being made by the municipality in many ways take the (X) perspective into account. For example, the area planned around the (X) site has a border of day activity building as sound barrier to the residential areas beyond, that way the lively activities on the (X) area can be compatible with its future surroundings, while offering culture, music, and food to the coming residents.

To make place for grass-root perspectives

Nowadays, Institute for (X) is a well-known among cultural practitioners and real estate business, and people attempt to achieve similar places. However, Mads Peter Laursen points out that a place like (X) cannot be copied, not only because of the lucky coincidence of timing or because of the amount of stamina it takes to carry through the ideas – but for the attitude in general in contemporary society. Everyone wants “cultural glitter and values to new construction projects”, as Mads puts it, “but the real key is nurturing the grass-root perspective, in order to harvest strong communities who make place for new unestablished creativity.”

As a way of supporting (X), Mads Peter and his colleagues continuously work on further developing (X) through several applications and collaborations. The same day I was there, they had just received money from Realdania for the further management of the properties and the site's history. In short, culturally vibrant places like (X) does not grow out of thin air.

Info

Name/Case: Institut for (X)
Where: Aarhus, Denmark
Who: Mads Peter Laursen, CEO
Finance: Mix of public funding and member organization
When: 2009–ongoing
Level/Scale: association

Place-based architecture: