New Life: 6 Revitalized Spaces in Minsk

28.07.2023 - 20:17 / 34travel.me / Aliaksandra Murashka

New Life: 6 Revitalized Spaces in Minsk

Cultural programme

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The trend for revitalization, basically a reinterpretation of industrial urban territories, reached Minsk – luckily we have plenty of unrequired factory premises. Much to Minsk citizens delight, inhospitable factory pavilions come alive and turn into cultural centers and techno-clubs. Currently, we have two distinctive revitalized territories: Kastryčnickaja street and premises of “Horizont” factory within Kuibyšava street. Let’s take a walk on both.

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Kastryčnickaja street

The most lively Minsk street a while ago was a downward industrial city suburb. A new life started when in 2010 a first photo studio and an art-café were opened in one of the factory premises. Then here appeared bold and hectic Huligan Bar and Enzo Café opened its doors just across the street in the building of a former tannery “Bolshevik” – it all begun to whirl and Kastryčnickaja street turned into the veritable city phenomenon. And MZOR factory (Minsk Plant of October Revolution), by the way, keeps working up to now as if nothing had happened.

Also, the street art festival Vulica Brasil, for several years in a row has been gifting dull local walls with bright murals – it has greatly influenced the modern image of the street. By far, this year will bring some more new murals to the street – Vulica Brasil is coming back! So, make sure your camera is ready for new juicy shots.

ОК16

vulica Kastryčnickaja, 16

The cultural hub OK16 is an iconic example of revitalization. Three unoccupied MZOR premises gradually became one of the main urban spaces. On the outside – authentic red brick, industrial vibes, and the hum of the railroad, on the inside – brutal interior, severe columns and a bunch of artifacts from the previous life of the building. Steel dry kiln in the yard was turned into a musical stage, and a modeling department, where wooden models of machine tools were made before being cast in metal into an event room.

Now on the vast territory of 1500 square meters, we have holy raves, large-scale educational events, modern art exhibitions, conferences, movie-shows, theatre-residences, and awesome concerts.

What’s more, you may drop in Ruin Bar to have a few drinks with proletarian names, reminding of a former industrial power of the place.

ok16.by | Facebook | Instagram | VK

What else:read our interview with the head of OK16 about the concept «Minsk is (not) a new Berlin»

The backside of Kastryčnickaja

That’s a half-secret part of the street on the east-side on Svislač river, the part which is not-so-easy to find. Turn to the yard at the Kastryčnickaja 10b building, reach the student dormitory and turn to the left, when you’ll see black