Can Masdeu

Can Masdeu (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈkam məzˈðew]) is a squatted social centre, residence and community garden in the Collserola Park on the outskirts of Barcelona.

An international group of activists spent over a year searching in Barcelona for the best location to occupy and in December 2001 they moved onto the abandoned hospital.

The squatters used a number of techniques to retain control of the space including, significantly, locking themselves to various precarious perches outside the building.

Most of these cases have been lost by the community, but it continues to occupy the site, in part because the hospital that owns the facility does not have the financial capacity to renovate the structure.

Further complicating the hospital's plans to provide a suitable reason for improving the Can Masdeu site is the fact that immediately next to it there is another larger abandoned institutional building, which could more easily be used than the more dilapidated older facility.

These neighbors initially came from the Nou Barris district, but increasingly locals involved with these community gardens who move to nearby locations continue to come to this site and maintain their plots.

For most Sundays from late September to early June, there are public workshops offered in the social centre, the PIC, or Punt d'Interracció de Collserola.

[4] The Social Centre and the 'Rurbar', a cafe serving local and organic meals and drinks, is open most Sundays from noon until evening.

Community participation includes bi-weekly meetings, organic gardening, housework, and two collective meals per day, and each member contributes 100 euros/month to general costs.

Many members work outside of the house, though there are cottage industries such as beer, floor chairs, herbal remedies, or organic catering.

The working languages of the house are Catalan and Spanish, but as it is an international group, English, Italian, French, Basque, and Esperanto are also spoken.

Two squatters balance on a "death plank" to resist the police eviction
Members of the Barcelona band Gadjo playing at the Can Masdeu Calçotada - Spring 2007
The Community Gardeners share duties, resources, and have parties together with live-in members of the community
Solar energy is used to the maximum
Lunch and dinner are communal.