S.H.A.T. (SQUATTER'S HOUSING AGAINST THREATS)
by Declan Slonim
Squatter’s Housing Against Threats or S.H.A.T. is a squatted building on Ormside street that provides spaces for the creation of art alongside the provision of housing, classes, workshops, food, studio spaces, and space for community organizing. In south Bermondsey a group of squatters have gained control of 78-94 Ormside street mid demolition. With access to cranes, excavators, and other tools on site the squatters have autonomy over how the architecture on site develops. The squatters cut away through concrete floors and walls to make way for center courtyards and new entrances to the building. Using this discarded material to make new walls and blockades to defend against threats to the community being harbored within the building. The site sits within a decaying industrial part of London. Forgotten plots of land being replaced with problematic student accommodation schemes and high rises. These new developments slowly begin to erode the culture of south Bermondsey.
Stop motion animation depicting the various changes 78-94 Ormside street undergoes as squatters take control of the building and expand vertically.
