The disused classrooms of an Art School and the rooms of a clinic never actually opened have become a place where the stories of approximately 90 families are interwoven.

Two buildings – situated in the heart of Tor Marancia, in the XI° Section of Rome Council, and renamed “Casale de Merode” – transformed into a squat thanks to Coordination of Citizens against the Housing Crisis. The tenants converted the vast, abandoned spaces into modest apartments (each one about 15-20 sq.mts) in order to face the noticeable increasing of the housing emergency in Rome. The reasons why they are homeless are different. Some of them once had their own house and then they lost it: like Sonia who, after a disastrous marriage, found herself living on a camp-site. Others, like Nadia, after a period of time in a centre for abused women, had to find a roof for herself and her son. Along with them there are students, researchers, nannies, immigrants with various ethnic backgrounds who live in the most appalling conditions. But running a squat also requires commitment, presence and dedication to the cause: the internal organization, from cleaning the building to collecting funds for maintenance, is self-managed by the tenants through weekly assemblies that guarantee every single one of them the right to participate. All together, left alone with their own problems by institution but united by a collective need.

Sonia, a squatter in “Casale de Merode”. For the past 6 years the empty classrooms of the ex Art School and the rooms of a clinic that was never opened by the Roman Usl (Health Dept.) have become the living quarters of approximately 90 families. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Sonia, a squatter in “Casale de Merode”. For the past 6 years the empty classrooms of the ex Art School and the rooms of a clinic that was never opened by the Roman Usl (Health Dept.) have become the living quarters of approximately 90 families. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
An Argentinean woman with her two daughters who are some of the occupants at “Casale de Merode”. Many people coming from different ethnic backgrounds and nationalities live together in the squat in harmony. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
An Argentinean woman with her two daughters who are some of the occupants at “Casale de Merode”. Many people coming from different ethnic backgrounds and nationalities live together in the squat in harmony. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
The father of one of the occupants at “Casale de Merode” while visiting his son. For the past 6 years the empty classrooms of the ex Art School and the rooms of a clinic that was never opened by the Roman Usl (Health Dept.) have become the living quarters of approximately 90 families. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
The father of one of the occupants at “Casale de Merode” while visiting his son. For the past 6 years the empty classrooms of the ex Art School and the rooms of a clinic that was never opened by the Roman Usl (Health Dept.) have become the living quarters of approximately 90 families. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Daily life in one of the occupied apartments at “Casale de Merode”; a squat founded, thanks to the co-operation of the local citizens, to face the crisis of the lack of living quarters, a movement for the right to have a roof over one’s head. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Daily life in one of the occupied apartments at “Casale de Merode”; a squat founded, thanks to the co-operation of the local citizens, to face the crisis of the lack of living quarters, a movement for the right to have a roof over one’s head. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
View of the interior of the squat at “Casale de Merode”, made up from an ex Art School and a clinic that was never opened by the Roman Usl (Health Dept.), where approximately 90 families have lived for the past 6 years. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
View of the interior of the squat at “Casale de Merode”, made up from an ex Art School and a clinic that was never opened by the Roman Usl (Health Dept.), where approximately 90 families have lived for the past 6 years. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Nadia, one of the squatters at “Casale de Merode”. Once out of a centre for battered wives she had to find shelter for her son and herself. Therefore, she decided to squat and fight for her housing rights. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Nadia, one of the squatters at “Casale de Merode”. Once out of a centre for battered wives she had to find shelter for her son and herself. Therefore, she decided to squat and fight for her housing rights. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some women from the “Casale de Merode” talking through the night. Naturally, the occupation of a place takes commitment, attendance and dedication to the cause and moments of tension do arise sometimes. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some women from the “Casale de Merode” talking through the night. Naturally, the occupation of a place takes commitment, attendance and dedication to the cause and moments of tension do arise sometimes. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Marco, Nadia’s son, watches TV before falling asleep. After leaving the centre for battered wives with his mother Marco and Nadia lived for months in a tent, on a campsite, before joining the squatters at “Casale de Merode”. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Marco, Nadia’s son, watches TV before falling asleep. After leaving the centre for battered wives with his mother Marco and Nadia lived for months in a tent, on a campsite, before joining the squatters at “Casale de Merode”. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Sonia and Nadia, aunt and niece, in the large hall at “Casale de Merode”. After the tragic end of both their marriages and the loss of their previous homes they were forced to squat so as not to become vagrants. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Sonia and Nadia, aunt and niece, in the large hall at “Casale de Merode”. After the tragic end of both their marriages and the loss of their previous homes they were forced to squat so as not to become vagrants. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Marco, Nadia’s son, playing with a dog on the terrace at “Casale de Merode”. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Marco, Nadia’s son, playing with a dog on the terrace at “Casale de Merode”. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
External view of the squat at “Casale de Merode”. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
External view of the squat at “Casale de Merode”. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some of the women from the squat at “Casale de Merode” go out to protest. When occupants are absent more than three times in a month for either a protest gathering or, an assembly organised by the citizens co-operative, they risk losing their quarters. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some of the women from the squat at “Casale de Merode” go out to protest. When occupants are absent more than three times in a month for either a protest gathering or, an assembly organised by the citizens co-operative, they risk losing their quarters. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Sonia and Nadia, aunt and niece, occupants of the squat at “Casale de Merode”, together with other collective participants at a meeting promoted by the citizens co-operative to face the crisis of the lack of living quarters, a movement for the right to have a roof over one’s head. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Sonia and Nadia, aunt and niece, occupants of the squat at “Casale de Merode”, together with other collective participants at a meeting promoted by the citizens co-operative to face the crisis of the lack of living quarters, a movement for the right to have a roof over one’s head. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Nadia, squatter at “Casale de Merode”. Once out of a centre for battered wives, when she was left on her death-bed after a beating from her husband, had to find shelter for her son and herself. Therefore, she decided to squat and fight for her housing rights. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Nadia, squatter at “Casale de Merode”. Once out of a centre for battered wives, when she was left on her death-bed after a beating from her husband, had to find shelter for her son and herself. Therefore, she decided to squat and fight for her housing rights. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
A moment for recreation inside one of the apartments in “Casale de Merode”. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
A moment for recreation inside one of the apartments in “Casale de Merode”. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
A moment of tenderness between an ex-resident of “Casale de Merode” and Nadia. The two friends have shared times of hardships and joy, fighting side by side for their housing rights. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
A moment of tenderness between an ex-resident of “Casale de Merode” and Nadia. The two friends have shared times of hardships and joy, fighting side by side for their housing rights. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Night-time view of an ex- Art School on the outskirts of Rome. For the past 6 years the building has been occupied by approximately 90 families and re-named “Casale de Merode”, from the same name as the road where it is situated. Rome, Italy 2009.
Night-time view of an ex- Art School on the outskirts of Rome. For the past 6 years the building has been occupied by approximately 90 families and re-named “Casale de Merode”, from the same name as the road where it is situated. Rome, Italy 2009.
A birthday party with South Americans and other residents from the squat at “Casale de Merode”. Many people coming from different ethnic backgrounds and nationalities live together in the squat in harmony. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
A birthday party with South Americans and other residents from the squat at “Casale de Merode”. Many people coming from different ethnic backgrounds and nationalities live together in the squat in harmony. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Two youths inside one of the apartments at the squat “Casale de Merode”. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Two youths inside one of the apartments at the squat “Casale de Merode”. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Family photos in Sonia’s apartment, one of the residents who occupy “Casale de Merode”. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Family photos in Sonia’s apartment, one of the residents who occupy “Casale de Merode”. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Night-time view of a clinic that was never opened by the Roman Usl (Health Dept.) For the past 6 years the building has been occupied by approximately 90 families and re-named “Casale de Merode”, from the same name as the road where it stands. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Night-time view of a clinic that was never opened by the Roman Usl (Health Dept.) For the past 6 years the building has been occupied by approximately 90 families and re-named “Casale de Merode”, from the same name as the road where it stands. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Two girls from Equador inside their apartment at the squat “Casale de Merode”. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Two girls from Equador inside their apartment at the squat “Casale de Merode”. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Marco, an adolescent who lives in the squat at “Casale de Merode”. Once out of a centre for battered wives with his mother, Nadia, when she was left on her death-bed after a beating from her husband, now lives in the squat at Tor Marancia, in the XI Council of Rome. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
Marco, an adolescent who lives in the squat at “Casale de Merode”. Once out of a centre for battered wives with his mother, Nadia, when she was left on her death-bed after a beating from her husband, now lives in the squat at Tor Marancia, in the XI Council of Rome. Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
A view from above of the communal areas of a squat, founded 6 years ago in the outskirts of Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli
A view from above of the communal areas of a squat, founded 6 years ago in the outskirts of Rome, Italy 2009. © Matteo Bastianelli

LIVING QUARTERS (2009)