Laboratorium
OVERVIEW
Co-working space & café housed in the printing house of the former oldest daily newspaper.
It is Housed in a Historic Printing Press
Laboratorium is located in the industrial hall of the former Nova Makedonija printing house. Nova Makedonija is the oldest daily newspaper in North Macedonia (founded in 1944). For decades, this space was filled with massive printing presses, the smell of ink, and the hustle of journalists and workers. Today, the industrial heritage of the building has been preserved, giving the venue a raw, authentic energy.
A Masterclass in Adaptive Reuse
Instead of tearing down the old industrial space or turning it into offices, the creators of Laboratorium utilized adaptive reuse. They kept the soaring ceilings, exposed concrete walls, metal pipes, and industrial gantries. It stands as a prime example of how Skopje’s rich mid-century modernist and industrial architecture can be repurposed for the 21st century.
It’s a Swiss Army Knife of Culture
Laboratorium is not just a bar or a nightclub; it is a multi-functional space that changes its identity depending on the time of day. It functions as:
- A Co-working Space & Café: During the day, it is filled with freelancers, digital nomads, and creatives drinking coffee and working.
- An Art Gallery: It regularly hosts exhibitions for contemporary Macedonian and international visual artists.
- A Concert Venue & Club: At night, it hosts everything from jazz quartets and indie rock bands to underground electronic music DJs.
- A Theater & Cinema: It is used for independent theater performances, film screenings, and poetry slams.
The Name is a Nod to Experimentation
The name Laboratorium (Laboratory) was chosen intentionally to signal that the space is a place for experimentation. The founders wanted to create a social laboratory where different subcultures, generations, and art forms could collide to create something new.
It is a Green Oasis in a Concrete City
Skopje can get very hot in the summer and suffers from air pollution in the winter. Laboratorium has integrated a massive amount of indoor greenery into its industrial design. The contrast between the cold, brutalist concrete and the lush, hanging green plants makes it feel like an indoor urban jungle, creating a relaxing microclimate inside.
A Launchpad for Young Macedonian Talent
While it hosts international acts, Laboratorium’s primary mission is to support the local creative ecosystem. It serves as a crucial platform for young, emerging Macedonian designers, musicians, actors, and artists who need a professional space to showcase their work without the bureaucratic red tape of state-run institutions.
It Hosts Unique Eco-Friendly and Vintage Markets
Regularly on weekends, Laboratorium transforms into a marketplace. It hosts vintage clothing pop-ups, vinyl record fairs, and organic food markets. It is a major promoter of sustainable living and zero-waste culture in Skopje.
AMENITIES
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- WIFI
- POWER
TAGS
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