THE CITY AS A METAPHOR
MEC is programmed as a ”city within the city” with streets, squares and public programmes in the lower level, where informal interaction, temporary communities and unexpected meetings occur. The stairs function as informal meeting places, not only leading users and visitors through the building – but actively exposing the activities occurring in MEC. The programming and transparent glazed parti-tions make visible the activities occurring within the building, giving inspiration and invitation.
THE KNOWLEDGE CITY
MEC is placed on the university islet – housed partially within one of the harbours large industrial buildings and partially within new premises, which reach out into the intimate harbour space, where a dry dock forms the centre in a new semi-public space. The building is an example of the initiatives, implemented in recent years in Malmö, supporting the transformation from industrial city to knowledge city – strategies JUUL FROST Architects formulated in 2000 through four Q-books.
NEW WAYS OF WORKING
The Building is developed in close co-operation with its users. The result is a newly developed frame-work for ”new ways of working”, recognised through co-operation, synergy and knowledge sharing. MEC creates synergy between the associated businesses and in relation to Västra Hamnen districts other research, working and teaching environments, functioning in practice as a knowledge hub, bind-ing the district together in a diverse campus environment. MEC is a meeting place, which supports new collaborative forms, synergy and knowledge sharing through a focus on exchange and visualisa-tion, and is already so successful, that the possibilities for expansion are being investigated.
MEC officially opened in June 2012, today over 450 people within the media industry work here daily. Media Evolution City houses small and large media firms and its aim is to achieve innovation, business development, match making and skills development within the media industry.
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