Presentation at Helsinki University 26.9.2014

1. Squatting and Urban Culture
Vesa Peipinen
Kaupunkikulttuuri ja uudet toimijat
University of Helsinki 26.9.2014

3. Squatting Europe Kollective
research and activist network focusing on
the squatters’ movement in European cities
urban squatting
SqEK Research Agenda
legal, urban, socio-cultural and political
contexts
different cycles of mobilisation
interactions between squatters, authorities,
owners and other social organizations
database, seminars, publications

8. The Logic of Urban Squatting
1 Deprivation-based squatting: homelessness, 1945-48
2 Squatting as an alternative housing strategy
3 Entrepreneurial squatting: social and cultural centres, free
spaces, breeding places
4 Conservational squatting: tactic used in the preservation of a
cityscape or landscape
5 Political squatting: anti-systemic politics and who identify
themselves with revolutionary or ‘autonomous’ ideas
Hans Pruijt (2013) The Logic of Urban Squatting.

9. Whose city? Whose culture?
Manuel Castells (1983): The City and the Grassroots
”if we are able to understand how people build cities, we are able
to build cities for people”
Lewis Mumford (1938): The Culture of the City
Henri Lefebvre The Production of Space (1991): city as an
”ouevre”, ”right to the city”
Hille Koskela (2012): Pelkokerroin, ”whose city?”

10. Istandsetzen (renovate)
Besetzen (occupy)
= instandbesetzen
(constructive squatting)

11. Friedrichshain Berlin

12. Rote Flora Hamburg

13. Rote Fabrik Zürich

14. Rote Fabrik

15. Rote Fabrik

16. L´Ateneu Popular N ou Barris

21. Zürich

25. Readings
Nussbaumer, Martina & Schwarz, Werner Michael 2012. Besetzt! - Kampf um
Freiräume seit den 70ern. Wien Museum. Czernin Verlag
Pruijt, Hans 2013. The Logic of Urban Squatting. International Journal of
Urban and Regional Research. Volume 37.1 January 2013, 19-45.
Squatting Europe Kollektive 2013. Squatting in Europe. Radical Spaces,
Urban Struggles. Minor Compositions.
Cattaneo, Claudio & Martinez, Miquel A. 2013. The Squatters Movement in
Europe. Commons and Autonomy as Alternatives to Capitalism. Squatting
Europe Kollektive. PlutoPress.
Van der Steen, Bart & Katzeff, Ask & Van Hoogenhuizje, Leendert 2013. The
City is Ours. Squatting and Autonomous Movements in Europe from 1970s
to the Present. PM Press.