Can Vies
Can Vies (also known as Centre Social Autogestionat Can Vies) is a building located in the Sants neighborhood of Barcelona, built in 1879. It has been squatted since 1997 when a group of youths occupied it and began using it as an autonomous social centre and infoshop. In late May 2014 riots broke out in a successful attempt to stop an eviction. The building was partially demolished and rebuilt by the local community.
Can Vies | |
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Centre Social Autogestionat Can Vies | |
General information | |
Location | Sants, Barcelona |
Country | Spain |
Coordinates | 41.3741°N 2.1346°E |
Completed | 1879 |
Owner | Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona |
Eviction attempt
In May 2014, negotiations took place between the owners of the building, Barcelona's public transport operator Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona and the squatters.[1]. After the negotiations failed, the building was evicted on May 26 and demolition works commenced.[2] As a result, Barcelona experienced riots and protests during the following nights. The protests also spread to the cities of Madrid, Mallorca and Valencia.[1] The government sent an additional 200 police officers to Barcelona to help in dealing with the protests.[3] In a successful attempt to stop the demolition, protesters built barricades and set the excavator on fire.[4]
Reconstruction
The building was resquatted and a community-based reconstruction program begun.[5] The local government announced on May 30 that the building would not be demolished.[6] Can Vies launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund the rebuilding costs, which were estimated at €70,000.[7] In the end, €90,000 was quickly raised.[5]
References
- "Thirty arrested as rioting continues at Can Vies building in Barcelona". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- "Squat demolition called off after four nights of rioting in Barcelona". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- "Gewalt bei Protesten gegen Räumung". die tageszeitung. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- "El desalojo de Can Vies: claves de la protesta que desató la violencia en Barcelona". 20minutos. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- Debelle dos Santos, G.; Dee, E.T.C. (2015). "Examining mainstream media discourses on the squatters' movements in Barcelona and London" (PDF). Interface. 7 (1): 117–143. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
- "Barcelona backs down over squat demolition". The Local. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- Rowberry, Ryan (2016). "Alleviating Barcelona's Public Housing Shortages Through Historic Properties". Georgia State University College of Law, Legal Studies Research Paper. 2016-9. SSRN 2756575.