Hal52 is a makerspace that demonstrates how two old industrial warehouse buildings can be transformed into a new hub within the soon-to-be-renovated Hjulmager District in Aalborg. The project is based on the principle of Urban Mining, where materials from nearby buildings scheduled for demolition are catalogued in a material atlas and reused for new purposes.
The existing structures serve as a shell in which a diverse layer of workshops is integrated. The result is a semi-public makerspace that fosters creativity while acting as a catalyst for new communities within the district and across Aalborg. At the same time, emissions and energy consumption are reduced through the reuse of building materials and optimization of the existing building envelope.
Different material combinations from the material atlas were explored through several atmospheric studies to create dynamic, inviting workshop walls while integrating noise-reducing elements for heavy activities. This process led to the use of panels as the primary wall component, as they are flexible, adaptable, and easily replaceable if damaged.
The building envelope has been thermally optimized using Kingspan insulation, allowing the existing walls to remain largely unchanged and preserving both the cultural heritage and industrial character of the structure. The large window section of the façade is composed of two layers of reused windows, inspired by the passive-heating principles of the Fortochka window. This approach enables the incorporation of outdated windows without sacrificing thermal performance, while creating a dynamic, patchwork-like appearance appropriate for a creative makerspace.
