Areas
Durations of Autonomy: Stabilizing Takeover
Phase 02: THE SECOND GROUND
During the 52 Street Occupy movement of Phase 01, organizations like Philly for REAL and POP, manage to build enough political support, gather resources and make alliances with other grassroots organizations in the city to develop a more stable form of autonomy. The coalition of organizations built structures above streets, on rooftops, and between buildings to set up a new ground for commons, autonomous zones that connect already commonized architectures of the neighborhood. The architecture provides neighbors an elevated ground for programs that can yield their goals of self-determination such as classrooms, workspaces, markets, and living units. In order to encourage the neighbor’s self-sufficiency in the autonomous zones, farms are spread over the city on previously vacant lots and commonized buildings’ rooftops. People plant, harvest, and serve food around the farm where architectures aggregate. Another element of the project includes spaces open to programmatic interpretation, these exist within the structure to provide flexibility in facilitating temporary activities like performance space, outdoor classrooms, etc.