Codename 2.2
A new social centre has been opened in London for the Days of Action For Squats and Autonomous Spaces. Currently nicknamed 'two point two' (as in rampart 2.2) the new building is an exact illustration of the concepts embodied in the graphic designed for the call out. On one side sits the new squat and on the other side loom huge tower blocks and cranes. On the open land between yellow bulldozers sit menacingly as the wave of advancing development threatens to engulf not only the little squat but also the homes, business and culture of the local community around it.
The owners have deliberately left the building empty for at least five years after seeking being refused permission to demolish the building for redevelopment of the site. Instead of using using, renting or selling the building, the owners have instead have left it with smashed windows and a bloody great hole torn out of the roof. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the owners are simply waiting for the building to fall into disrepair so they can justify demolition to the planning authority. As if that wasn't bad enough they've removed the stairs, pulled up floorboards, cut out the water pipes and smashed all the toilets in an attempt to ensure no pesky squatters took up residence to look after the building.
Despite all the state of the building we decided it was worth squatting anyway, partly due to the symbolic value of occupying and renovating a building that the owners are leaving empty while they wait for it to fall apart, but also because it has most of the attributes we wanted and is very conveniently located.
In the two weeks since we started the occupation, all the missing floor boards have been replaced, two flights of stairs rebuilt, new water pipes laid to the toilets and kitchen, two new toilets installed and cisterns plumbed in, the hole in roof repaired, some of the many smashed windows patched up or replaced, etc. We've also installed sinks and rigged up electricity via a large bank of batteries and an invertor.
The plan is to launch the social centre for the decentralised days of action for squats and autonomous spaces over the weekend of the 11th to 13th April. The space will host an art exhibition, a squatters estate agents, skill sharing workshops and discussions along with films and a cafe.
Long term (if such a term can mean anything in relation to squat projects in London), we intend to explore how far permaculture design and low impact technologies can practically be implemented in a squatted environment. In practice this will hopefully mean things like rain water harvesting and grey water toilet flushing; dry compost toilets; pedal powered washing machine; pedal powered sound system; wind and solar electricity supplemented when necessary by a waste veg oil powered generator; low power thin client computer suite; draught proofing, secondary double glazing and insulation; recycling and composting schemes; and herbs, salads and more grown in the garden.