Youth Factory – Merida, Spain

Something for the youths out there to focus on instead of looting. Check out this Youth Factory in Spain. Its an example of what can be done if a regional government works with the community and local designers to meet the needs of youth. It was designed by Madrid-based Selgascano Architects, a partnership between husband and wife, José Selgas and Lucía Cano. Using recycled furniture, inexpensive building materials and temporary solutions, the designers were definitely not looking to build a monument to architecture; they were much more interested in affordable ordinariness and practical possibilities. Factoría Joven helps attract the restless, unemployed street youth off the streets and provides them with a place to skateboard, hip-hop dance, climb rocks, create graffiti — whatever they would otherwise do in much more sinister surroundings. There are also a computer lab and a dance studio, both 800-square-meters in size. Meeting rooms and spaces for theatre, video and music are all included.

Images taken from http://www.thecoolhunter.co.uk/

RAG – graphics