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| Can Masdeu | |
|---|---|
| Name | Can Masdeu |
| Caption | View of Can Masdeu gardens and terraces |
| Location | Collserola Natural Park, near Horta-Guinardó, Barcelona |
| Established | 2001 (squatted 2001–present) |
| Designation | Squatted social centre, eco-community |
Can Masdeu is an autonomous social centre and eco-community located in the hills of Collserola Natural Park on the outskirts of Barcelona, near the Horta-Guinardó district. Founded after an occupation in 2001, the site combines elements of squatting activism, urban agriculture, ecological construction, and grassroots social organisation, drawing attention from movements such as Landless Workers' Movement (MST), Via Campesina, and local collectives. The project has intersected with wider debates involving Spanish Constitution of 1978, Municipality of Barcelona, and conservation policies of the Parc de Collserola Natural Park.
The building originally served as a 19th-century rural farmhouse connected to the agrarian landscape of Catalonia and the historical influence of families tied to estates near Vallès and the medieval legacy of Barcelona. During the 20th century the property experienced ownership and use changes amid events like the Spanish Civil War and the industrial expansion affecting Catalonia and Barcelona Province. In 2001 a collective related to the anti-globalisation milieu and activists linked to Alter-globalisation, Zapatista Army of National Liberation, and European squatting networks occupied the property, sparking legal and political disputes with the Ajuntament de Barcelona and landowners. The occupation resonated with campaigns such as Right to the City and drew solidarity from groups including Amnesty International regional chapters, local trade unions like the Comisiones Obreras, and cultural figures connected to Catalan independence movement circles. Over subsequent years the residents negotiated with institutions such as the Provincial Deputation of Barcelona and engaged in legal actions tied to Spanish property law and environmental regulations. International media coverage referenced organisations like Greenpeace and academic interest from scholars of social movements and commons studies.
The farmhouse complex retains traditional elements found in rural Catalonia architecture, including stone masonry, tiled roofs, and terraced agriculture shaped by historical land use patterns linked to the region around Montserrat and the Llobregat basin. Adaptive reuse and sustainable interventions were implemented following principles from movements connected to Permaculture pioneers and ecological designers influenced by projects like Ecovillage Network of the Americas and architecture discourses from figures who studied vernacular Mediterranean typologies. The site features communal living spaces, shared kitchens, photovoltaic panels akin to technologies promoted by European Union renewable initiatives, rainwater harvesting systems informed by practices in Andalusia and Basque Country, and composting toilets reflecting standards seen in eco-communities studied alongside Findhorn and Auroville. Circulation within the complex uses terraced paths and staircases reminiscent of hilltop hamlets near Tarragona and Girona.
Gardening and ecological restoration at the site draw on techniques from permaculture networks, agroecology principles advocated by Via Campesina, and urban gardening movements in Barcelona such as Huertos urbanos. The cultivated terraces host fruit trees commonly found in Mediterranean agroforestry associated with Costa Brava orchards and species promoted by botanical research from institutions like the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Universitat de Barcelona herbarium collaborations. Soil management incorporates composting methods similar to those taught by Rodale Institute-influenced courses and local workshops connected to Agroecology Spain groups. Biodiversity initiatives aim to enhance pollinator habitats in line with conservation work by SEO/BirdLife and regional projects coordinated by the Generalitat de Catalunya's environmental departments. Water-wise practices reflect strategies used across the Iberian Peninsula to cope with Mediterranean climates, echoing studies from University of Valencia and Autonomous University of Barcelona researchers.
Residents run educational programs, workshops, and skillshares linked to networks such as Critical Mass-adjacent cycling advocacy, Transition Towns-inspired resilience training, and food sovereignty campaigns resonating with Slow Food chapters and Cooperativa Integral Catalana. Activities have included open days with organisations like Barcelona en Comú, collaborations with local schools from Horta-Guinardó and outreach to asylum-seeker support groups tied to Red Cross and municipal social services. Governance is practiced via assemblies reflecting horizontalist methods seen in the 15-M Movement and related to deliberative models studied in participatory budgeting cases from Porto Alegre. The community engages in solidarity networks with regional squats, collectivised spaces, and cooperatives connected to sectors represented in the Confederación General del Trabajo and international solidarity campaigns involving groups like Supporto Legale.
Can Masdeu hosts concerts, film screenings, art exhibitions, and political assemblies that have featured collaborations with collectives from Raval, performers associated with Barcelona's indie and flamenco scenes, and film programmers linked to festivals such as Sitges Film Festival and local independent cinemas. Workshops range from herbalism and natural building to bicycle repair influenced by repair cafe movements originating in Amsterdam and community arts models from institutions like the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona and MACBA dialogues. The venue has been a meeting place for international activists from networks including European Social Forum and artists affiliated with collectives operating across Madrid, Paris, and Berlin, contributing to a cultural programme that intersects with the broader creative ecosystems of Catalonia and the Mediterranean.
Category:Buildings and structures in Barcelona Category:Squats in Spain Category:Eco-villages