Munich has a new major interim use project. After the Ruffinihaus at Rindermarkt After causing quite a stir last year, the Alte Akademie on Kaufingerstraße is now being transformed into a melting pot for creatives and cultural workers for a total of five months. The so-called "SP CE" has now celebrated its opening.
1,300 square meters in the heart of the city, plus the Schmuckhof, an outdoor space for creative work—so much space is rarely granted to Munich's creative scene in the city center. From January to the end of May, creatives and cultural workers now have the opportunity to make Kaufingerstraße their professional home—at least those whose submitted concepts were successful in the selection process.
Motto: Collaborative work
The project was technically supported by Competence team for the cultural and creative industries of the City of Munich Accordingly, care was taken to ensure that all 11 sub-sectors of the cultural and creative industries—music, books, film, broadcasting, performing arts, fine arts, architecture, design, press, advertising, and software/games—are represented in the SP CE. This was also the case in the Ruffinihaus. However, while the focus of this interim use was on making the creative scene more visible to the outside world, the time at the Alte Akademie will be dedicated to "collaborative work."
And some of the projects presented at the opening, representing all participating creatives and cultural professionals, were also looking forward to a possible collaboration. Among them was the young Munich publishing house Sorry Press and that Architectural office Kollektiv A. And startups are also represented in the SP CE, because Flyla, Higgs and Umi.systems from the LMU EC will relocate their offices to Kaufingerstraße in the next five months. Incidentally, there is no rent to pay; all tenants only cover their own utility costs.
Open Thursdays planned
The SP CE will not only be available to tenants, but will also be open to the public every third Thursday of the month (first date: January 24). Readings, meetups, and similar events will also be held. More detailed information can be found on the website, which will go live soon.
Renovation work will follow the interim use project starting in summer 2019. The Old Academy, owned by the Austrian real estate company Signa, is to be transformed into a mix of residential and office space, restaurants, and retail.
