The Unknown City: Contesting Architecture and Social Space

13.1 | Houses, Claremont Road, 1994.
The Claremont Road Situation
their own way. They might choose to do some barricading or might paint,
tunnel, play music, make lock-ons, 3 leaflet, sculpt, keep lookout, cook, relax,
or whatever else appealed at the time. And there was no hierarchy of
roles, no “right” thing to be doing. Collective meals were regularly provided,
but it is difficult to identify exactly how the supply was maintained.
Certain individuals seemed to just take it on themselves to cook, without
being asked and without expecting recognition. Occasionally the street
would attract unwelcome visitors who undermined collective efforts. These
would eventually be persuaded to move on, but again no specific individuals
appeared to be making the decisions; there was just a collective snapping
of tolerance. A minimal amount of planning went into ensuring that nonresident
activists would be attracted and find it easy to participate. Saturdays,
for example, tended to be for barricading and Sundays for partying.
Lacking any apparent internal authority, Claremont Road must
have appeared potentially volatile, and the authorities applied their force
with due caution. But they also, on occasion, betrayed a grudging respect
for the activists’ endeavors. It would have taken an extremely cold heart not
to be affected by Claremont Road. Among all the shambolic disorder of the
place there was a surprising sense of harmony, a unique balance of collective
purpose and individual expression. And the creative diversity of that expression
could be inspiring. These people were clearly enjoying fulfilling,
purposeful lives. And the apparent futility of it all added extra poignancy.
No one was under any delusion that this was going to last—the motorway
would, eventually, be built. Most of the houses had deteriorated well beyond