Reimagining industrial space as infrastructure for connection

An architecture of connection

Social Factory explores a simple but urgent question: what if architecture could help tackle loneliness? 

Developed by ACT in collaboration with Social Factory CLG, the project reimagines an underused industrial building in Limerick as a new form of civic infrastructure designed around social connection, wellbeing, creativity and opportunity. Rather than viewing loneliness as solely a health or social issue, Social Factory recognises it as a spatial challenge, one that can be influenced by the environments we create and the opportunities they provide for people to meet, participate and belong.  

The project responds to two growing challenges facing communities across Europe: rising levels of loneliness and poor mental wellbeing, particularly among young people, and the increasing number of vacant or underused industrial buildings within our towns and cities. By bringing these two issues together, Social Factory proposes a new model for regeneration that transforms existing spaces into places of connection, creativity and collective life.  

Designing for Belonging

Research increasingly identifies social connection as one of the most important determinants of health and wellbeing. Young people, particularly those between the ages of 12 and 16, are among those most vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation. At the same time, evidence from initiatives such as Iceland's Plant Youth model demonstrates the importance of shared activities, peer networks and accessible social spaces in supporting wellbeing and resilience. Social Factory emerged from a belief that architecture can help create the conditions for these connections to occur. 

Rather than designing around individual functions, the project is organised around relationships between people, activities and spaces. The focus is not simply on what happens within the building, but on the encounters, conversations and interactions that happen between programmes. Shared courtyards, circulation routes, seating areas and informal gathering spaces become just as important as the rooms themselves. The result is an environment designed to encourage participation, reduce isolation and create opportunities for belonging in everyday life.  

A City Within a Building

Social Factory treats the building as a miniature city. Drawing inspiration from the spaces that have historically supported community life, parks, squares, village streets and gardens, the project is organised into four interconnected districts that each contribute to a broader social ecosystem.

The Park provides spaces for movement, play and recreation, including climbing facilities, skateboarding, fitness and family activities. 

The Square acts as the civic heart of the project, hosting markets, performances, events, food and informal gathering. 

The Village supports creativity, learning and enterprise through studios, coworking spaces, audio-visual facilities, library environments and business support spaces. 

The Garden offers quieter environments for wellbeing, reflection and making, including therapy spaces, wellness studios, creative workshops and indoor planting.  

Together, these districts create a diverse and layered environment where people of different ages, backgrounds and interests can encounter one another through shared experiences and everyday activity. 

The Space Between

The project is founded on a simple observation: the most meaningful social interactions often happen in the spaces between destinations. In successful towns and cities, chance encounters occur on streets, in parks, market squares and shared public spaces. Social Factory applies this urban logic within a single building. Circulation routes become social streets, courtyards become public squares, and shared seating creates places to pause, observe and connect. Rather than treating movement spaces as purely functional, the design transforms them into opportunities for interaction, discovery and community life. Visitors move between active and quieter spaces, creating a sequence of experiences that supports social connection, creativity and wellbeing.

Adaptive Reuse as Regeneration

At the heart of Social Factory is the transformation of an existing industrial building. 

Rather than constructing new infrastructure, the project demonstrates how existing buildings can be adapted to meet contemporary social challenges. This approach reduces embodied carbon, extends the life of existing structures and supports more sustainable patterns of development.  

The retained industrial character provides a robust framework for change. Existing structural elements are celebrated rather than concealed, while natural materials, planting, reused furniture and vibrant colour interventions create warm, welcoming environments that reflect the character of different activities throughout the building.  

In this way, the project connects Limerick's industrial heritage with a more inclusive and socially connected future. 

A Place for Everyone

Social Factory is designed as an inclusive and accessible environment that welcomes people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. 

While particular attention is given to the wellbeing of young people, the project is intentionally intergenerational. Families, residents, makers, artists, entrepreneurs, community groups, market traders and visitors all share the same environment, creating opportunities for exchange and interaction that might not otherwise occur.  

The combination of recreation, culture, enterprise, wellbeing and community activity creates a destination that supports participation rather than consumption, encouraging people not simply to visit, but to contribute and belong.

A New Civic Infrastructure

Social Factory reflects a growing recognition that communities need new forms of infrastructure to support social wellbeing. Historically, parks, libraries, community halls and public squares played an important role in bringing people together. Today, many communities face increasing social fragmentation, declining public spaces and rising levels of loneliness. Social Factory proposes a contemporary response: a hybrid civic destination that combines recreation, culture, enterprise, wellbeing and community under one roof. 

While rooted in Limerick, the project's ambition extends beyond a single building. It explores a scalable and replicable model for post-industrial cities across Europe, demonstrating how adaptive reuse can support climate action, strengthen communities and create new opportunities for connection. 

Ultimately, Social Factory is founded on a simple belief: architecture can create the conditions for belonging. Through design, participation and shared experience, underused buildings can become powerful catalysts for healthier, more connected and more resilient communities. 

"Social Factory is founded on a simple belief: that architecture can create the conditions for belonging. By transforming an underused industrial building into a miniature city of parks, squares, gardens and creative spaces, the project demonstrates how adaptive reuse can tackle social isolation, strengthen communities, and create a new model of civic infrastructure for post-industrial cities across Europe." - Inna Stryzhak, Project Leader