A cultural and ecological incubator in a metal cathedral

The Art of Sustainability or The Art of well-living together !
How art can be a transversal link to question all aspects of the society and support a sustainable change?

This column is a showcase of talented initiatives and reflections about Art and Culture supporting the well-living in a society allowing to “meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” - Brundtland Commission on Environment and Development, 1987

A cultural and ecological incubator in a metal cathedral 

Last November, I had the chance to do a daytrip in Utrecht to discover some ‘broedplaatsen’ and its residents. After biking to our first meeting place, we discovered an impressive church surrounded by a land with strange constructions. This is where I fell in love with Metaal Kathedraal. Let me introduce you to this cultural and ecological centre!

Magical birth
Before becoming a cultural place for artists and creative entrepreneurs, Metaal Kathedraal was a church and then a metal factory. Can you imagine a roman catholic church built in 1857 reconverted in a sidecar production plant and then in a metal factory? It took 40 years for the firm Metak to move to a real factory and to leave the church. When looking for a rehearsal studio, Maureen Baas (theatre director) found this abandoned church in 2011. The building was neglected but the location, land and buildings were really too interesting not to try to get in and to share it! 
Maureen is an amazing woman, who is strong and enough obstinate to follow her dreams. She even sold her house to be able to buy the church. When you hear her speaking about Metaal Kathedraal, you just want to join in and share her passionate vision. With her partner Abel Tattje, they realized the project and made their dream come true. 

Sustainable principles for a better world
More than just a rehearsal studio, Metaal Kathedraal became a place to support artistic creation through studios, festivals, events, social-art program, lectures and other activities. From the beginning they wanted to be an incubator with a good relation with their environment. Social cohesion, cultural diversity, biodiversity, experimental economy, re-use resources and process orientated are their mantras to develop their project. Their vision is based on the fact that their work is in constant evolution by engaging in conversation with others and by processing experience and embrace the new. 
Several ecological projects have been explored since 2011. When you visit the place, you will be able to learn for example how to realise a biomeiler heat and compost project. The biomeiler uses only garden waste and a little help from nature to be able to heat a home or a greenhouse. Another initiative was also to build wetlands to filter water. What is really ingenious is how they mix art and ecology. First of all, the surrounding became an off-grid village of ateliers and studios for artist. Maybe you wonder what off-grid means? The term can refer to living in a self-sufficient manner without reliance on one or more public utilities. You can rent there a see container, hangar, wood/steel stall but also other places more beautfiul and unusual the ones than the others. Have a look to their website or go their directly! They are also supporting the art of Recylcing. Artists, industrial designers and experts worked together to create an artistic installation creates awareness about the use and reuse of waste and what you can do with it. Each visitor can follow the stream of all the waste made by the cultural center and see the use and reuse of materials. This project is open source so you can get the plan to build your own for your home and check your ecological behaviour.

Imagining a new well-living 
As a cultural organization, Metaal Kathedraal offered several activities for its neighbours as ecological workshops, children activities, artistic performances and great friendly dinner in an astonishing site. Through all those activities, they want to bring awareness about ecological issues and develop creativity among the inhabitants to grow a sweeter, finer and better world mixing art, culture and nature. Metaal Kathedraal doesn’t stop its action at its own outskirts and has purposed the inhabitants of Rhine Vliet to develop an Edible new district. The city of Utrecht is now building a new area with houses and facilitaties and thanks of the action of Maureen Baas, adopts an environmental plan to create a forest of fruit trees. Maureen says enthusiastically ‘It seemed fantastic that people and animals could live together in a natural habitat, where they can reap anywhere around edible plants, fruits, nuts and seeds.’

Metaal Kathedraal is a good example to show how we can build places linked with our values and taking care of our environment. If you want to learn more about this incredible place or go to one of their event, check their website: www.metaalkathedraal.nl

You will be hosted warmly (and get ecological warm) by its residents.