Patio Maravillas was a multi-purpose
self-managed social centre which
occupied
' (Norwegian: ') is a Norwegian political thriller TV series that premiered on TV2 on 5 October 2015. Based on an original idea by Jo Nesbø, the series is co-created with Karianne Lund and Erik Skjoldbjærg. Season 2 premiered on 10 October ...
several spaces in central Madrid between 2007 and 2015.
First building (2007–2010)
![Patio Maravillas - 2009-12-10 - Antonio González Tajuelo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Patio_Maravillas_-_2009-12-10_-_Antonio_Gonz%C3%A1lez_Tajuelo.jpg)
Patio Maravillas started life in the summer of 2007, with the
squatting and fixing up of a building that was formerly a school and had been closed for 7 years, at 8 Acuerdo Street, in the
Malasaña district.
![PatioMaravillas 075](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/PatioMaravillas_075.jpg)
Its opening took place on 4, 5, 6 and 7 October, three months after it opened. Different activities were organized to involve people living in the neighbourhood. Its philosophy, both campaigning and respectful, allows participation by a large number of different groups and individuals that have joined one by one and made it their focal point. Everything is for free and done by volunteers.
There were several permanent activities such as:
*
Bicicritica bicycle repair workshop
* Video and documentary screenings (Cinema Maravillas)
*A
hacklab called Hackers Against the Machine Lab (HAMLAB). In honour of their inspirations
Isaac Asimov and
Luther Blissett
Luther Loide Blissett (born 1 February 1958) is a former professional footballer and manager who played for the England national team during the 1980s. Born in Jamaica, Blissett played as a striker, and is best known for his time at Watford, ...
all communications from the lab were signed Dr. Isaac Hacksimov.
*Cafeteria that served as a meeting point and cultural and social exchange
*Urban allotment on the roof
*Language classes
*Workshops
*Political and feminist discussion
*The "chikiasamblea" (children's activities and games room)
*Photography workshop (Foto Patio)
*Rights advice
There were also theatre, painting, music, audiovisual, and immigration groups, that met, rehearsed, and carried out their activities in the space. There were also special activities such as concerts, exhibitions, neighbourhood meetings, talks about health and consumer issues, and meetings of different groups. There have also been performances by groups and soloists including Grande Marlaska and
Amparanoia.
In 2009, an eviction attempt was thwarted by the number of people resisting.
Second building (2010–2015)
![Mural de MP5 en el Patio Maravillas (8584742665)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Mural_de_MP5_en_el_Patio_Maravillas_%288584742665%29.jpg)
Following a legal suit by the legal
owner
Ownership is the state or fact of legal possession and control over property, which may be any asset, tangible or intangible. Ownership can involve multiple rights, collectively referred to as title, which may be separated and held by different ...
, Acuerdo 8 was cleared by the
police
The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and th ...
on January 6, 2010.
On the same day, the Patio Maravillas community organized a peaceful
protest demonstration in the area of
Plaza del Dos de Mayo
The Plaza del Dos de Mayo is an urban square in Madrid, Spain. It is the neuralgic centre of the Malasaña area, within the administrative neighborhood of Universidad (Madrid), Universidad.
Its name remembers the Dos de Mayo Uprising in 1808 that ...
, summoning hundreds of people who were guided through the neighborhood until nearby Pez Street, where a group of activists had just entered a new long-abandoned building at number 21. One day after the clearing of Acuerdo, the fixing up of the building and resuming of the Patio activities in the new space were underway.
Patio Mariavillas came to have strong links with the
15-M Movement, supporting the protests at
Puerta del Sol
The Puerta del Sol (English: "Gate of the Sun") is a public square in Madrid, one of the best known and busiest places in the city. This is the centre ('' Km 0'') of the radial network of Spanish roads. The square also contains the famous clo ...
which was close nearby.
Pez 21 was evicted in June 2015, one day before the mayor of Madrid stepped down. Politicians from
Ahora Madrid
Ahora Madrid ( en, Madrid Now) was a citizen platform of popular unity, formed as an ''instrumental party without organic internal life'', in order to stand for the municipal elections of 2015 in the city of Madrid.
For this project, '' Gane ...
and
Podemos criticised the action. The former released a statement declaring that Madrid needed “to open and not close down citizen-run spaces. The city needs to listen to projects such as Patio Maravillas.”
Third building (2015–2015)
The same day as the eviction of Pez 21, a new building was squatted on 9 Divino Pastor Street. It was owned by Miguel Ángel Capriles López, cousin of Venezuelan opposition leader
Henrique Capriles
Henrique Capriles Radonski (; born 11 July 1972) is a Venezuelan politician and lawyer, who served as the 36th Governor of Miranda from 2008 to 2017.
Born in Caracas, he received a degree in law from the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, ...
. It had five floors and a basement.
On August 4, 2015, this building was evicted.
See also
*
Artivist Organizations
*
La Ingobernable
*
La Tabacalera de Lavapiés
References
External links
Patio Maravillas website archived from 2017
Madrid Bicicrítica Web site
{{Authority control
Culture in Madrid
Social centres
DIY culture
Squats in Spain
Buildings and structures in Embajadores neighborhood, Madrid
2007 establishments in Spain
2015 disestablishments in Spain