Freehouse
Thanks to the Annet and Mariska from Jeanne Works for a behind the scenes introduction to the Freehouse project.
Aggressive design approach
A belated thank you for Denis from REFUNC for the energetic and exciting tour of his studio, warehouse and collection of wonderful things. Good to see some hands on energy at first sight.
Derelict London
Paul Talling’s mesmerising website….
John Betjeman would have been proud of him”
Whats On in London
1000 shops a week are closing ….
Just came across the Dan Thompsons work with the EMPTY SHOPS NETWORK, who will be speaking at the ‘TRANSFORMING SPACES‘ conference – Arts Use of empty shops and other disused spaces – at firstsite gallery in Colchester
The Interim just got extended
De Tussentuin is a small community garden on an empty plot of land which is awaiting development by a self organised housing co-operation. Negotiations seem to take longer then anticipated which means a bit more time for the garden to linger on.
The garden seems to be organised like an allotment with some communal facilities and spaces. Allotments in britain are normally quite private and enclosed spaces but this one tries to be both public with private plots.
If you speak dutch check their website -> www.detussentuin.eu
The Danger Game
CAUTION 01. Working with vacancy means balancing on a precipice between the social domain and the economic. Every professional practice surrounding vacancy is directly linked to the tax benefits for home owners and for owners of empty buildings …
from:
The danger game / caution
on vacancy
by Aetzel Griffioen
Petcha Kutcha text from Aetzel Griffioen – download full PDF version here.
Where did the town centre go?
Thanks to Marjan van Gerwen for introducing Gebruikdelegeruimte to us. The municipality of Delft asked to create a participatory project for four public areas in the new design of the railway zone which will lie empty for the up to 15 years before development commences. Effectively for 15 years Delft will not have a formal town centre. Residence or interested teams and individuals were asked to submit ideas for projects to take place in one of the four zones. Around 50 ideas made it into the final round and into a little booklet. Negotiations between the teams will now start and those who join forces and go forward will have to raise their own money. Among the ideas the catchy ‘TERRORIST IN RESIDENCE’ proposal – a zone in the town centre dedicated to those who want to let of steam.
See also Doris Denekamps blog entries on ANARCHITECTURE – Active City
We Blijven
We Blijven / We Stay (poster on the window)
thanks to Agnes and Lily (3rd and 4th from left) from the Ria Collective (Rotterdammers in action for affordable housing) for introducing us to the local residents in the Oude Westen of Rotterdam and organising a Sunday afternoon meeting and walk about.
Thanks also to Jan, (back right) a local resident and historian for opening his doors to us and the one of his kind neighbour. The story was similar to many we heard on our visits. Large scale master plans that aim to change the physical make up of an area while pushing out existing communities, reducing the number of affordable houses and increasing the number of privately owned homes. With the profit going to private investors and pushing a low income community out of the town centres.
Jans story was interesting. He moved into the area as a squatter in the 70′s when similar plans were underway. Finally the squatters were given their rights to become legal tenants. Now again they are under threat as housing politics are changing once again.
See also the Right to the City EU website
Robert Neuwirth on our “shadow cities”
Thanks to Agnes from the RIA collective for pointing out this to us. Squatting and temporary use are naturally very linked. Squatting rights in the UK and Holland are being curtailed while today 1 in every 6 people on this planet is a squatter and in 2030, it’s likely to be 1 in every 4 people on this planet.
Also check the SQUATTER CITY BLOG again via Agnes.