Blueprint Squat
When Blueprint closed in 2009 amid rumours of being refused a renewal on its late license, it hosted one last party. The following weekend, the back door was opened and an illegal rave marked the beginning of the Blueprint Squat. One man stayed behind after the party and started making the club his home, barricading the windows and cleaning up the courtyard. He was joined by another squatter and they created a living area in one downstairs bar. Upstairs (where these photographs are taken), the atmosphere held the strange desolation of a once loud, public area now empty and unused. Sunlight edged through broken ventilation shafts and fell on ripped ceiling coverings. The DJ booths and bars we had become so attached to over the past few years, but never stepped behind, were revealed as poorly built MDF constructions.
After 3 weeks, the squat was evicted. Police and bailiffs did not check to see if the building was empty, they simply boarded it up from the outside.
After 3 weeks, the squat was evicted. Police and bailiffs did not check to see if the building was empty, they simply boarded it up from the outside.
