In the early 1990s Helen & Hard and a group of artists began using the vacant brewery at Lervigsveien in Stavanger. This sparked a multi-year transformation of the brewery into a vibrant cultural center. The process was marked by a heterogeneous, bottom-up approach driven by idealistic artists and passionate volunteers.
The brewery’s existing structure, a mix of buildings from various eras, was ideal for diverse and synergistic programming. Key goals included the set up of a café with a rooftop terrace between the main stages, and the mapping of potential independent spaces for various uses. A public route was established to connect the complex’s most interesting areas.
Operating on a shoestring budget, the project focused on essential upgrades – removing outdated elements, recycling existing materials, and installing necessary infrastructure like ventilation and plumbing.
The “Tou Fadder” initiative involved local and international contributors in hands-on design and construction. School classes designed the café ceiling from leftover yarn, youth painted the toilet floor, kindergarteners laid the terrace, and young architects designed the small garden and furnitures.
The transformation deeply rooted Tou in the local community, creating a rich, participatory experience and ownership. In 2009, Stavanger kommune acquired Tou Scene and continued its transformation.
Unfortunately, the project’s spirit of reuse and collaboration was replaced by a standard building process, leading to uninspired architecture today.