Metelkova
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Metelkova is a squat located in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The space was once the army barracks of various militaries since 1911. The space was squatted after the fall of Yugoslavia in 1993 when the Yugoslav Peoples Army left the country.
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[edit] History
Metelkova is the commonly referred-to name of the former “Fourth of July” Military Barracks, along Metelkova3 ulica (Street) in the centre of Ljubljana.
The Site is 12,500 m2; more than 1 hectare or approx. 3.1 Acres. Metelkova consists of 7 buildings, randomly placed:
- Hlev (stable)
- Garaze (garages)
- Zapori (prison)
- Hangar
- Pesaki (infantry)
- Lovci (hunters)
- Sola (school - formally for Military Police)
Metelkova lies in the Central District of Ljubljana. It is a 15 minute walk from France Prešeren trg (square), the very Heart and Centre of Ljubljana and only 5 minutes away from the bus and train Stations. When Metelkova was built it stood on the North-East fringe of the City - Now, 100 Years later, it stands on the North- East Fringe of the City Centre. Modern day Ljubljana has caught up to Metelkova, but it has not surrounded it.
[edit] Construction Between 1888 and 1988
The district where Metelkova stands, was known as Kravja dolina (Valley of the Cows). Pastures and fields filled this area above the Old Town, along the Ljubljanica river and its pastoral nature continued, even with the appearance of the railroad to the North. The Barracks were built on Friškovec, where public Executions were held and the original line of the old road runs up to the present entrance of Zapori (the prison).
The Barracks were commissioned by Vienna to meet the requirements of the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1882. Construction was complete by 1911.
In its 100 year history the Barracks have served Armies receiving their orders from Vienna, Belgrade, Rome, Berlin and never from Ljubljana itself. They stand witness to the history of Central and South-East Europe in the last 100 Years; the Century holding the blood of 2 World Wars amidst continuous militarization. They rose at a time of cultural and political awakening in Slovenia, along with a renewal of the Slovene language; their Military History ceased upon Establishment of an Independent Slovenia, just after serious violation of that awareness and renewal. Empty now, they watch the constant Movement of Slovenia’s Heritage between its own Sovereignty and its ties to the West and/ or to the other Slavic Nations; continuing on today in the face of European Union.
[edit] 1988 - 1991: Deconstruction
The 80's held a vital articulation and formation of new concepts of artistic, cultural and social creativity, without which it would have been impossible for the described process to have come into existence. In Slovenia a special status was given to alternative culture and/or subculture. It was more than mere fashion or trend; it simply meant a reconfiguration of social and artistic space.
The Movement for the Culture of Peace and Nonviolence and The Student Cultural Centre Association as the originators of the Project obtained more than 200 partner organizations for participation; thus Network for Metelkova was born and in September 1990 presented to the public. As the President of the Student Cultural Centre Association said, “the project Metelkova is a social, demilitarizing, cultural, political and town planning project. It is a project for the reconstruction of Ljubljana.”
Network for Metelkova was formally established on December 22nd 1990. Its public Message was “the project is doubtlessly a complex and exacting one. We have founded the association, Network for Metelkova in order to secure legal and equal status for everyone trying to acq uire the premises and have made organizational, economic and spatial schemes for the participants when the time comes to inhabit Metelkova.
[edit] 1991 - 1993: Performance
The Yugoslav Peoples Army left Slovenia in the fall of 1991, following Military intervention. All of a sudden, the Metelkova Barracks were empty, and the objective of Network for Metelkova infinitely realistic. A formal application for the Barracks was submitted to the State in November 1991 and in May 1992 a permanent permit15 for Supervision of the 7 Buildings of Metelkova was obtained.
While officially granting the public request, the City Council secretly planned to tear down the barracks and put a commercial business center in their place. Therefore, the city's activists, intellectuals and artists began to squat the building that is still a battlesite of the independent art and culture scene and the Ljubljana City Council today.
At first, the Metelkova barracks were run by a group of artists and activists that called themselves Network, or Action Committee for Metelkova. This Network demanded the restructuring of the city's social cultural life. The Network sought the political mobilisation of artists and, above all, future architectural and cultural innovations.
In 1993, the City Council cut Metelkova's water and electricity in an attempt to prevent the artists' cultural programs and to force the activists to leave the squat.
[edit] 1993: Exposure
The Members of Network for Metelkova and many supporters reacted to this Act of vandalism with a non-violant occupation of Metelkova.
From sept. 10th 1993 onwards, some 200 odd individuals occupied Metelkova, with an intense schedule of events and activities. Exhibitions, concerts and speaking engagements were held. Clubs and societies and cultural organizations established their own spaces. Metelkova had become a 'Happening' and all eyes in Slovenia focused on it.
After the 1st week of occupation the city disconnected the electrical service and then shut off the water supply. In the cold, and in the dark, Metelkova was completely cut off from the city.
[edit] 1995: Reconciliation
Metelkova had been spontaneously “squatted” as a reaction to the City Councils attempt to demolish it. However, given the years of planning and focus given to Metelkova up to September 1993, it is incorrect to label Metelkova simply as a squat.
Only after local elections in late 1994 resulted in a new City Council, were RETINA and Metelkovci able to procure a Protocol in March 1995, recognizing their authority and legal status regarding Metelkova, with the agreement all court cases be dropped.
[edit] Sources
- "Metelkova" and Other Projects in Ljubljana: Actions in Zones of Indifference by Marina Gržinić
- 100 Years of Metelkova
