Binz occupation
in Zürich, SwitzerlandCategory: Attraction
0 views 
0 shares 
0 comments
set bookmark!
Created/changed by:
System
Address details
Uetlibergstrasse 119, 8045 Zürich, Switzerland Print route »
Phone & WWW
Business hours
Info
The so-called Binz was an occupied factory building from 2006 to 2013 in the district of Wiedikon in Zurich.Urban squats are a widespread phenomenon. Occupancy without legal title – also defined as squatting – has always existed, but the Binz falls in the category of squats organized by or at least supported by a social movement, also described with the term political squatting. Political squatting offers not only a radical solution to the crisis of housing, it is also a collective experiment in communal living and directly connected to strategies of urban renewal. The Binz was not just an occupancy without legal title, it was a place where alternative forms of life were practiced and non-commercial culture was supported.From 2009 until 2013, the Binz-squatters were permanently negotiating the demolition date of the factory with the city government and organized different protests against the upcoming clearing.The protest with the biggest media response was also the last one. During the night of the 3rd of March 2013, a party at the Binz led to a non-permitted demonstration. During the party, the organizers asked the guests to take over the streets and continue the party in public space as a way of protesting against the upcoming clearing. The demonstration started as a peaceful demonstration with 2000 mainly young people accompanied by several self-constructed cars serving as mobile DJ stands, stages for live bands and mobile bars. The situation escalated quickly when the protesters confronted the police. During the following riots, several shops were plundered, road barricades were set up and large property damage arose while the police took action against the protesters with tear gas, rubber pellets and water guns. The material damage was estimated by the police to about one million Swiss Francs. Despite the dimension of the riots, nobody was arrested.End of May 2013, the Binz-occupants left the factory building voluntarily the day of the defined deadline. A majority of the occupants moved to another squatted factory in the district of Altstetten.
