TEH: BUILDING A CULTURAL REGENERATION PROJECT FOR EUROPE
Rebuilding To Last Book is here
Presenting TEH: Building a Cultural Regeneration Project for Europe: a book born from two years of research and hands-on exploration through the Rebuilding to Last project. This guide speaks to everyone involved in reimagining the role of cultural spaces within their communities. We’ve listened to grassroots centres navigating the shift toward sustainable practices—learning from their struggles, especially around limited resources, and celebrating their creativity in action. Made up of four distinct publications, the book combines in-depth expertise on ecological renovations with practical strategies and approaches, supporting cultural spaces in growing in sync with their communities, nature, and the wider movement for a sustainable future.
Download the four publications and start reading.
Explore Here(RE)BUILDING TO LAST - Part 1
As the environmental crisis gains attention, we’re forced to confront the consequences of years of unchecked consumption and human impact. This growing awareness has us questioning how our cities are shaped. We need a fresh take on traditional architecture—one that nurtures a culture of care, focusing on maintaining, repairing, and revitalizing urban spaces and the communities within them. While the European Commission kicked off the New European Bauhaus Initiative in 2021, Trans Europe Halles members have been reimagining abandoned spaces since 1983. With four decades of grassroots experimentation, our members have developed practical expertise and strategies that architects and urbanists can use to tackle the climate crisis head-on.
TEH: UNRAVELLING A TACIT KNOWLEDGE - Part 2
Publication #2 offers a collection of practical strategies developed through the TEH network, sharing lessons learned from grassroots cultural regeneration efforts. This publication opens up a dialogue about cultural renewal. With insights from around 60 interviews, it highlights 24 strategies that are meant to be accessible and shareable, featuring brief descriptions, interviews with those involved, diagrams, striking visuals, and timelines. It's all about making cultural regeneration knowledge available to everyone invested in building a sustainable future.
COMMUNITY PLACE MAKING AND CO-DESIGN - Part 3
Imagine if our cities welcomed forests, wetlands, and all the creatures we usually push away. Instead of looking back to nature, let’s invite it back into our urban spaces, creating hidden gardens where all lives can connect. These ideas came to life in three cultural centers: Institut for X (Aarhus, DK), where water guided our initiatives; Stanica (Zilina, SK), where a once-abandoned railway station became a community space; and Communitism (Athens, EL) claiming the reuse of neglected spaces against gentrification. Alongside local groups and participants, these projects sparked a sense of coexistence and helped build vibrant, inclusive spaces.
ROADMAP & TOOLKIT - Part 4
This toolkit is a guide for rethinking cultural spaces. Developed by Julie’s Bicycle and Université de Liège, it serves as a practical and inspiring roadmap to help cultural spaces across Europe reimagine their role in sustainable transformation. Tailored for non-governmental cultural centers, it starts with open-ended reflections to spark imagination and connect with what’s important in your community. Through hands-on exercises, it encourages exploration of your environment from fresh perspectives. You’ll find practical approaches for planning and prioritizing projects, helping to create a clear path forward for today and the future. Ultimately, this toolkit supports a vision for building inclusive, vibrant spaces that truly resonate with the communities they serve.
Roadmap & Toolkit Translated versions
We joined forces with the Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura (OEI) to translate the part #4 in Castellano and Portuguese.
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