our journey

2018 The beginning of a collective journey

The story of Estação Cooperativa began with a temporary artistic intervention in the abandoned railway buildings of Casa Branca. What started as a cultural initiative soon evolved into a collective reflection on the future of the village, revealing the potential of public heritage as a common good and laying the foundations for a long-term regeneration process.

2019 Listening to the territory

The first participatory projects brought together residents, artists and local organisations to document memories, collect stories and imagine new futures for Casa Branca. Listening to the community became the foundation for everything that followed.

2020 Building a shared vision

Despite the pandemic, the network of citizens and organisations continued to grow. Meetings moved online, a working group was established and the first long-term proposal for the rehabilitation of the former railway neighbourhood was submitted.

2021 From movement to cooperative

Following the acceptance of the railway heritage sub-concession proposal, Estação Cooperativa was officially established as a cultural cooperative. The year marked the beginning of an ambitious long-term project centred on community participation, culture and territorial regeneration.

events and activities 2021 ︎︎︎

2022 Opening to Europe

2022 marked the beginning of Estação Cooperativa's international collaborations. New partnerships, festivals, exhibitions, design-build workshops and the first BASEhabitat Design-Build Studio established Casa Branca as a place for experimentation, learning and cultural exchange.

events and activities 2022 ︎︎︎

2023 Building a place

As rehabilitation works progressed, Estação Cooperativa expanded its programme of artistic residencies, educational initiatives and international collaborations. The transformation of the first railway building into the future Terras de Ferro Centre became a visible symbol of the cooperative's long-term commitment.

events and activities 2023 ︎︎︎

2024 From regeneration to international recognition

The opening of the Terras de Ferro Centre marked a turning point in Estação Cooperativa's journey. Alongside a growing programme of international residencies, conferences and research projects, Casa Branca began to be recognised as a platform for artistic creation, placemaking and community-led regeneration.

events and activities 2024 ︎︎︎

2025/2026 Scaling up transformation

The launch of Emergency Cord, one of the flagship projects of Évora_27 – European Capital of Culture, opened a new chapter in the cooperative's history. Combining public art, participatory landscape design and environmental regeneration, the project strengthened Estação Cooperativa's role as an international laboratory for collaborative territorial transformation, while continuing its work in heritage rehabilitation, artistic residencies and community building.

events and activities 2025 ︎︎︎

Looking ahead

What began as a temporary artistic intervention has become a long-term collective project. The next chapters will continue to be written with the community, through culture, collaboration and care for the territory.

Estação Cooperativa continues to imagine Casa Branca as a living laboratory where heritage, culture, ecology and community shape new models for rural regeneration. The journey is still unfolding.