History of Ongéan

In July 2000 3 arches were rented for a private studio space, by artist Adam Ge-Saelis. He was homeless and living in a van and needed a space to build furniture and write after a difficult time.
He still lived in the van for a while while he converted the derelict arches into useable work space.
Over the next few years he took more of the empty derelict arches and converted them into art studios and music rooms using rubbish and dumped waste he found locally.
Free space was offered to art colleges for student shows and slowly the building became a working entity. Filled with artists, musicians, writers, film makers and more.
After 26 years and more than 600 artists the space is an Ecosystem of linked projects. All created by Adam and built and designed using 99% reclaimed materials and using a slow architecture philosophy.
A small urban farm project is ever expanding and a larger gallery is about to open. With this comes a theatre and performance space and a the launch of some environmental projects.
This can all be seen on site, and a map and listing of where different materials came from will show the immense task of the project and 26 years of the life of the curator and artist.
Some of his building designs can be viewed and explored as well as some of his sculptures and future projects.