The best ideas often spring from necessity. In the warehouse at the Tejares scrapyard, at number 11 on this street in Triana, an interesting project centered on wood took shape. The demolition of the scrapyard forced this small group of artisans to seek another space where they could bring their vision to life. That is how T11 came to be established in this magical corner that they have taken it upon themselves to restore: the former Hat Factory of Seville.
Today, this 19th-century building is filled with the scent of sawdust and collective creativity, as it houses a variety of projects, among which the one we are discussing stands out.
T11 redefines the concept of a workshop and envisions its two warehouses as a creative space “by and for woodcrafts.”
So, wandering through the ancient factory means coming face-to-face with a handful of carpenters hard at work, though they also have a coworking space and a multipurpose room, open for classes or screenings.
An ecosystem against gentrification in the former Hat Factory of Seville
Far from being a dilapidated space—even though there is enough room for other projects to find a home here— the factory on Heliotropo Street evokes the memory of what it once was and a future yet to be written, hopefully, in this very location.
After ceasing its original activity, this space has avoided gentrification by becoming a diverse cultural ecosystem open to the neighborhood.
Under its high ceilings and industrial windows, visual artists, Sevilla Swing Dance, and the T11 collective coexist.
This coexistence generates a constant flow of ideas where the city’s industrial past embraces new forms of sustainable production.
“The spatial and management model is what makes it possible for a primary industry like woodworking to thrive in the heart of Seville’s historic center, despite the real estate pressure stemming from touristification.”
T11, a shared workspace: the artisan’s haven
T11 functions as a shared facility, a woodworking workshop spanning just over 300 square meters with space for stationary machinery for cooperative use and workbenches for individuals.
Shared resources for various carpentry and cabinetmaking projects, woodcarvers, restorers, designers, and more find their refuge and workspace here.
At the same time, they offer an annual Furniture Design and Manufacturing Course for those who want to delve deeper into woodworking.
As they note on their website , “from the sketch and technical design to the actual manufacture of the furniture. It is the place where sawdust and industrial design go hand in hand.”
What makes T11 a benchmark is not just what they produce, but how they organize themselves. The project arose from the need for independent professionals to access high-level infrastructure without the prohibitive costs of a private individual workshop.
Caring for shared resources, managing and maintaining the machinery, ensuring safety and cleanliness through collective decision-making; promoting the circular economy, reusing materials, and collaborating on cross-cutting projects are some of the key principles of T11.
Artisan resilience in the historic center
By setting up shop in the Old Hat Factory, this collective of artisans has achieved something of a pipe dream in big cities: keeping material production in the historic center.
One wonders, given the fate of their neighboring corralones, whether they will be allowed to remain in the Hat Factory. Here, in the heart of the city, where they champion time and craftsmanship, reminding us that Seville can also be a bastion of craftsmanship in heritage buildings, as part of a legacy that belongs to the city.
