In May 2025, a week-long placemaking series took place in the Meri-Toppila neighborhood of Oulu, Finland, transforming a former industrial area into a collaborative test ground for community engagement and industrial heritage activation through cultural events.

Together with students, neighbors, artists, and professionals, Fabula, in collaboration with partner organisations, facilitated the creation of a community-built pop-up park in the surroundings of Aalto Siilo — the first industrial building designed by Alvar and Aino Aalto.

The pop-up park was designed to revitalise the area and foster a new sense of belonging. Built with a focus on both human and non-human inhabitants, it became a lively space for neighbors, visitors, insects, and birds alike.

Participants co-created installations using reclaimed wood from Aalto Siilo’s interior demolition, transforming discarded materials into imaginative structures. The project was realised as part of the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture program, reflecting the values of the New European Bauhaus: sustainability, community, and creativity.

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