New venue for contemporary theatre and dance

In 2009, thanks of hard works of many young volunteers, S2, our new venue constructed from beer crates and straw bales was built and welcomes all visitors. Although we still have a lot to do to complete the venue, we are very happy to share this unique adventure of the realisation of S2. 

What you would need to make it yourself: roof (the concrete bridge Rondel), 3000 beer crates, 800 straw bales, 10 m3 of wood and 60 OSB boards, 120 railway sleepers, 1 old shipping container, 2 lorries of clay, 12,000 nails, 1 km of screw-bars, 3000 wood and metal screws and other joining components, 120 volunteers’ hands, 5000 volunteers’ hours over three months, 7000 €… and… no need of official permission:-)

None of us has previous experience with such construction methods before we started to build up the biggest straw bale building in Slovakia - and the first from beer crates. But work on the project has lead us and ongoing discussion, solved any questions and problems.

And why?
The project of S2 (2009) continues our activities of revitalization of the industrial land surrounding Stanica. In 2005 a group of young architects and designers achieved the reconstruction of the pedestrian underpass near Stanica and we started workshop named Living Under(ground). Since 2006 we have slowly created a community park under Rondel, summer stage and masterplan of the whole area. The construction of S2 has especially been designed to restore and give new purpose to unused space under the bridge. The second reason for building was lack of space for some dance and theatre performances and larger events and audiences at Stanica. The aim is also to show an alternative solution to public authorities investing money in huge national and municipal cultural venues that soon after have problems with program financing because they spend all for heating and maintenance. Mainly, it has been the enthusiasm and passion for this original idea of recycled, ecological, alternative architecture, that has pushed us to build it up. Together, have enjoyed this project hugely.

The opening night of the new venue was on 7th May 2009, to host the Trans Europe Halles Meeting - a network of independent culture centres. We were so happy to welcome our friends and collaborators from all over the Europe to the venue. Since then several events and summer festival have taken place in S2 and we hope that we will soon be able to complete the new venue with heating, air conditioning and technical equipment for the theatre… support us, if you can. Sponsors have offered both financial and material support. In May 2010 the company Smrečina Hofatex provided us with high-quality ecological insulation material with a wooden fibre base to complete the insulation of the floor and entrance, Reynaers Aluminium Systems and Alu-metal constructed the glass door-entrance, SRS Light Design donated 48-channels dimmers.

See also the article Experimental Parasite by Peter Szalay published in Arch magazine 10/2009.

Many thanks to all our volunteers and friends for their help, to Černá hora brewery for beer crates and courage of being the first supporter, Smrečina Hofatex for extra insulation, SRS Light Design for theatre light dimmers, Sezam for OSB boards, Reynaers for aluminium profiles and Alu-metal for the construction of glass doors, Divadelné centrum Martin for the shipping container, company Kebek Slovakia for joining components, Pemitrans for truck transport, Helios Slovakia for wooden boards and colors, Intenda Foundation, Kia Motors Slovakia and Pontis Foundation for financial support. Very special thanks to Michal Adamov for his universal help and assistance and to all the friends and family members who have cooked for us. And also big thanks to architects and experts - Janko Gašparovič, Dušan Voštenák, Lenka Voštenáková, Michal Sirotiak, Karol Gabriš, Michal Sládek, Martin Jančok, Pavol Uherčík, Michal Adamov, Tom Rijven, Bjorn Kierulf a Zuzana Kierulfová, Tom Rijven… and for our inspiration, to creators of crate buildings that we have never met - Wolfgang Winter a Berthold Hörbelt.