"It all began in 1970 when a group of citizens knocked down the fence at the corner of Prinsessegade and Refshalevej close to the Grey Hall. They wanted a playground for their kids and something green to look at.
The same year an exhibition took place at Charlottenborg called "Noget for Noget" (Give and Take), where all sorts of hippies, freaks and people into macrobiotics showed themselves off, sold their goods and exhibited their art, including theatre, pictures, and happenings. An alternative newspaper called Hovedbladet (Head Magazine) was published in connection with the exhibition.
One of the articles discussed the abandoned military barrack in Badsmandsstraedes kaserne and put forward thousands of possible ideas for their use, not least as homes for the numerous young people who were unable to find accommodation elsewhere. However, the squatters movement and the alternative forces "The New Society" summer camp in Thy also needed a place for them to be able to realize their dreams.
The article resulted in a massive immigration of people form all sections of society, who came to create an alternative life based on communal living and freedom. This was the birth of Christiania." -www.christiania.org
I also quickly found out that Christiania is known for selling a particular green product out in the open. We did not partake, but it was pretty amazing to see so much of it out on tables, and SO many people having a little puff with their lunch. The place over all was pretty cool though, and I'd really like to do an art project with my kids back home on the making of houses with found objects. Especially after being in India where the slums are also made with found objects, it's interesting to see what a little money, or lack there of, can accomplish when building a home.
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