granted temporary use, but only in threemonth leased increments. This was a wild, dream-come-true time, but serious questions of economic ~ ·survival had to be immediately ad-. dressed. Studies and inventories were done on the deteriorated lot; and uses were considered for .the long neglected structures. Above: 1 Organization and Info Central, 2 UFO I & II Historic Cinemas and Film Cafe, 3 NUSZ, Neighborhood And Self-help Center, 4 Family Services, 5 ¥ovement & Dance Studio, 6 Rain Water Cistern & Treatment Pond, Groups formed to create provisional spaces for housing, a Dojo, and the Treffpunkt Cafe [meeting place cafe]. This followed the Cafe Theory of Squatting, which stresses the value ofari informal meeting place for squatters and friends from the "outside world." Such cafes develop the necessary political constituency, bring in a little cash, and satisfy basic needs to ·sodalize and celebrate. 7 Natural Foods Store, 8 Organic Whole Grain Bakery•.9 Workshops & Garage; wood, ceramics, metal and machine repair, 10 Recycling Station, 11 Studios in Film Bunker, 12 Pojo - Training Room for Aikido, Karate, Tai Chi, etc., 13 Summer Bar, 14 Garden Terraces;.15 Exhibition Space, Getting through the first winter looked difficult, since the heating system and many buildings needed rehabilitation. But the.uFA financed the repairs with no government support, using instead 16 Grand Theatre, 17 Open Air Theatre, 18 Free School,.19 Children's Farm, 20 Solar UFA Housing, 2J. Cafe ble, 22 International Guest House, 23 Mime Studio, 24 Dance Studio, 25 Music, Film & Video. Studios. Page 10 RAIN Summer 1994 Volume XIV, Number 4 proceeds from cultural presentations,·donations, credit from the Berliner Netzwerk (a community co-op bank), private loans and countless hours of sweat equity..Even the Berlin Free School, a significant project involved in the occupa- · tion, was able to organize its space in time for the Fall 1979 school season. - Competitive thinking and traditional gender work divisions were set aside in favor of learning from each . other. People developed their own interests and strengths, yet maintained a readiness to cooperate. Even their economics are based on ~ c.ommon money system, and the community provides work for all its residents, as well as nearly 40 others. UFA people say the community works on Top, the .UFA grounds in Berlin today, after 15 years offJ:iendly occupation. The UFA Fabrik collective now has a 35-year lease from the city. Middle, outside the Neighborhood Family Service Center. Left, kids from the UFA Free School ride some ponies from the village children's farm. There are several of 1 these innovative farms in Berlin, run by children with adults as non-authoritarian assistants. The freeschoolers are riding past solar retrofitted community hqusing. The innovative conservation measures at UFA, which inclade energy co-generation and building greening (most clearly seen on the roofofthe cafe on pages 8 and 9), serve as inspiring, active models to residents of the surrounding city.
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