We are highly concerned and cannot understand why the existence of the Collective Sottotetto in the Via Compagnoni quarter continues to be threatened. We feel that a project that combines collective artistic and political activism with everyday life with a focus on basic needs, such as a place to live, must be supported, not repressed! We must resist the planned privatization of previously affordable and social living space in this traditional working-class area!
There are several good reasons to support Collettivo Sottotetto, as it is an extremely necessary project in the city: The empty flats that the collective has occupied and renovated on their own initiative--for which the residents pay a symbolic rent--provide the residents with a very significant basis for creating a life in dignity. The creation of such living spaces is a concrete, creative, and constructive response to the effects of neoliberalism and the relentless precarisation of every aspect of our daily lives.
This project does not assume that the right to living space means that people have to live closed off from one other within their own four walls; instead, it means filling an entire quarter with life, building social relationships, and forming a community-minded environment to live in.
In addition to being used as living space, the previously empty flats in the quarter also house an art project called Habitat and a museum for modern art, M.A.C.R.E., which are both art projects that seek to resolve the classic divide between everyday life and art.
From an international point of view, it can safely be said that there are not many projects comparable to this one. Therefore, endangering Collettivo Sottotetto also means endangering a perhaps influential model project that is actively "working" on creating another world. For this reason, we cannot declare our solidarity with this project without also acknowledging that we are indeed also affected by its removal.
This project is a small ray of light that cast on Italy that shows it in a very different way in contrast to images of the last few months that have been increasingly racist, intolerant, and militaristic.
We therefore demand:
No more evictions
The preservation of the historic working-class neighbourhood Via Compagnoni
Official acknowledgement by the city council of the project and squatted buildings/flats of the Collettivo Sottotetto in the Compagnoni quarter.
International Alliance of Inhabitants (IAI), Global Network of Associations for the Right of Housing. Habitat Network Germany, movement for social and ecological housing
Project Reclaiming Spaces, International Network for the Right of Housing and the public Urban Spaces
Andreas Wirz, Architect, ETH Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology),co-founder of the Project Kraftwerk1. (Switzerland)
Denise Notter, INURA (International Network of Urban Research and Action), Hamburg (Germany)
Richard Wolff, ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) and Coordinator of INURA Zürich (International Network for Urban Research and Action), Switzerland
Grundrisse, journal for leftist theory and practice, Vienna(Austria)
Eipcp – European Institute for Progressive Cultural Politics
Hausprojekt AGaThe e.V. (part of the syndicate of tenant houses), Kassel (Germany)
EKH, social and cultural center, Vienna(Austria)
Europäisches BürgerInnenforum (European Civil Forum, antiracist projects)
Mathias Durchfeld, organizer of the Anti-racist Soccer World Cup, Berlin/Reggio Emilia
dérive. Zeitschrift für Stadtforschung (urbanistic journal), Vienna(Austria)
Adam Kästel, artist, Stockholm(Sweden)
Mag. Michael Rudolph, trade union secretary, Kassel(Germany)
Gabriele Gerbasits, general manager of IG Kultur Österreich (national advocacy group and umbrella organization of independent cultural initiatives in Austria)
Petra Barz, Dock Europe (European education and mobility), Hamburg (Germany)
Dr. Fady Barcha, philosopher, Zurich (Switzerland)
Dario Azzellini, political scientist, documentary film-maker, translator, Berlin/Mexico City
Martina Koegl, Institut für Stadt- und Baugeschichte, Technische Universität Graz (Austria)
Housing project Ligsalz8, Munich(Germany)
Tina Leisch, writer, film and theater maker, Vienna(Austria)
Petter Lehto, artist, Stockholm (Sweden)
Mag. Martin Birker, philosopher,Vienna (Austria)
Tomas Auran, No one is illegal, Stockholm (Sweden)
Dr. Karl Reiter, university lecturer, Institute of Philosophy/University of Vienna (Austria)
Jonathan Lewald, artist, Stockholm (Sweden)
Bernd Hüttner, Regional Staff of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Bremen (Germany)
Mag.a Klara Weiss, Political Scientist, Domestic Abuse Intervention Centre Vienna (Austria)
Dr. Ute Lehrer, Associate Professor, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, Toronto (Canada)
Dr. Klaus Neundlinger, Philosopher, Vienna (Austria)
FelS, Open Berlin Group, Fields of Work in: Social Themes, Antifascism, Antiracism, International Themes, Berlin (Germany)
Jasmina Jankovich, Translater, Vienna (Austria)
Dr. Bob Colenutt, teaches at the University of Northhampton (United Kingdom)
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Rudolph Bauer, University of Bremen (Germany)
Erika Doucette, Cultural Activist, Vienna (Austria)
Housing Project fs115, Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg (Germany)
Dr. Heidi Niederkofler, Historian and Coach, Vienna (Austria)
Gender Group DGB Youth (German Federation of Trade Unions), Bremen (Germany)
Kurt Holzinger, Editor of the Review ‚Versorgerin’ of the ‘Stadtwerkstatt’ (Independent Cultural Center) Linz (Austria)
FAU Hamburg, Anarchosyndicalist Union Federation, Hamburg (Germany)
Daniela Swarowsky, Artist and Cultural Activist, Member of Stichting NAC, Rotterdam (Netherlands)
Dr. Jens Kastner, Sociologist and Art Historian, Vienna (Austria)
Archive of Social Movements, Bremen (Germany)
Dr. Helga Amesberger, Social Scientist, Vienna (Austria)
Arranca, Political Review, Berlin (Germany)
Georg Böhm, Student, Vienna (Austria)
Infoladen Bremen, Left Bookshop and Venue, Bremen (Germany)
Witten Tenants Asociation, Witten/Ruhr, Germany
Mag. Bernhard Weidinger, teaches at the Institute for International Development, University of Vienna (Austria)
City Commune “Alla Hopp“ (Bonbonfabrik), alternative Housing Project, Bremen (Germany)
City List of the Greens, Erlangen (Germany)
Queer Wagonplace „Schwarzer Kanal“, Berlin (Germany)
Reggio Emilia, an open city?
