Santa Croce 59: From squatted building to new ways of living

This study deals with the analysis of Spin Time Labs occupation as a manifesto of the housing problem in Italy and specifically in the city of Rome. As a result, it is legitimate to question how this “Informal City” was formed: a reality parallel to the institution and what didn’t work out in the fundamental State-Citizen bond regarding the right to a home.

The scope of this research, is to find a replicable living model, through which this form of squatting can be stabilized in a state of legality and build a solution to the problem of public housing and Caat (Centri Assistenza Abitativa Temporanea, Temorary Hosuing Assistance Center). The latter being, an alternative solution to the uncontrolled expansion of the suburbs trough satellite towns with no services, a solution that allows the State to use the public assets today abandoned or squatted. This new living model is based on European and extra European realities where living has gained an entirely new meaning compared to the Italian traditionalistic view. These realities had a strong impact on the design choices, but an even bigger impact has had the relationship instaurated with the squatters, the study of their way of living and how they adapt to an aseptic and non functional space and how they converted it in their own home. So it was important in this research field to develop an ever-increasing dialogue with the inhabitants of the building as they were the first to start the transformation. The model fully involves occupants so that they can see the need for a home as a need that goes beyond pure physical construction, understandanding its cultural and social implications, and appreciates the possibility of improving the quality of life and the opportunity for requalifying even of themselves, as well as of the building. The research is included in a multidisciplinary graduate laboratory, with 6 other students studying the problem in other ways and a pool of professor and teaching assistants studying the theme.