larisa blazic

EVICTED (Life is but a dream)

A number of projects in recent years have examined the problems of the inner cities, of urban deprivation and urban crisis. The
present work attempts to add a new dimension to that body of work providing additional look at abandoned buildings, empty spaces
as opportunities for creation of new public spaces. Inspired by cycles of occupations by and evictions of social centres from various
vacant buildings in London, it focuses on alternative uses of abandoned buildings, how they can be beneficial for the local communi-
ties and facilitate open cultural and other expression, a stark contrast to what often becomes of them.
Public space is not-for-profit space, not by accident but by design. Public space is free at the point of use. Public space is shared
space. And public space is independent space. But what public space should consist of and where its boundaries should be set –
these are lively and disputed questions, not least because they often involve trade-offs. This project asks can abandoned buildings
bring a world of possibility and chance for those who want to create public spaces and negotiate their content and ways of use in
contemporary urban society.