Leipzig, neo hippie utopia

On some buildings in the city, large banners « Wachterhaus » (supervised house), indicate partnerships between owners and squatters.

Accompanied by Coco, his inseparable black greyhound, Antonio spends entire days strolling the eastern neighborhoods in search of new spaces in which to create community houses.

Antonio meets one of the antennas of the city responsible for the rehabilitation of empty homes.

Young people of Leipzig visit abandoned buildings and evaluate the possibility of making community houses.

At the heart of the city, nearly 30,000 workers gardens. Antonio bought this little shack for 50 euros, rehabilitated the garden and made it a meeting place for his friends.

Antonio tries to mount a community project in an area of over 2500 m2.

Antonio, returned to the apartment he shares with his Spanish friends.

Antonio attempts to mount a community project in an area of over 2500 m2. Endless meetings are held to discuss the smallest details of life in a community that will share the twenty participants in the project. The profiles are diverse, young punks, mothers receiving social minima, artists …

At the heart of the city, nearly 30,000 workers gardens. Antonio bought this little shack for 50 euros, rehabilitated the garden and made it a meeting place for his friends.

The « house projects » regularly organize cultural events in their buildings, combining music, food, entertainment for children.

Antonio relaxes with his friend Suzy, who owns a little building in the city, where she created a community.

Suzie, 34, is the youngest owner of East Leipzig neighborhoods. Two years ago, she acquired the 5 floors and 800 square meters for 30,000 euros. « The city was about to demolish it. There are too many empty buildings here, the town does not know what to do. » From this huge space to be rehabilitated, she made a place of alternative life, a kind of communal utopia.

Suzie’s, residents participate in a meeting to discuss the basic rules of the community. Household, food, kitchen, common areas …

Rudy, Jesse and Mauritz go to an under construction building to retrieve the wood. It will be used to fuel the bonfires in the garden and wood stoves to heat the rooms during the winter. Suzie’s car is available only for journeys benefiting the whole community.

Laura is Spanish. She fled the crisis and the difficulties of her country. Waiting to break as an actress, she works as a maid at the other end of town.

Breakfast at Suzie’s.

Renovations Day at Suzie’s.

At Suzie, community residents participate in spring cleaning, facing the « hippie-jacuzzi » whose ingenious system of pipes through the wood fire heats water.

Rudy is a part-time worker. He wants a quiet life, away from capitalist life. Suzie’s Community is perfect for him.

resting at a lake, 10 minutes away from Suzie’s

In turn, community projects (house projects) organize shared kitchens. The inhabitants of a house cook and invite those who wish to come and share a simple dish, for a modest donation. Thus, every day or almost, it is possible to eat cheaply (2€ avrg) in the city.

In turn, community projects (house projects) organize shared kitchens. The inhabitants of a house cook and invite those who wish to come and share a simple dish, for a modest donation. Thus, every day or almost, it is possible to eat cheaply in the city.

Many abandoned buildings have been converted into bars, nightclubs, restaurants.

Conrad, in his thirties, lived in the street or in squats since he was 18. He now lives in a community of about 40 people in the western district of Leipzig. Beyond housing project, the community has also set up workshops for populations around, such as carpentry, repair shops / recycling of objects, concerts …

Conrad, in his thirties, lived in the street or in squats since he was 18. He now lives in a community of about 40 people in the western district of Leipzig. « I’ve been cold all my life, so I tattooed myself a wood stove on the thigh. »

Conrad, in his thirties, lived in the street or in squats since he was 18. He now lives in a community of about 40 people in the western district of Leipzig. This is the first time in years he feels at home somewhere and is not cold during winter.

Melissa, Australian, is a musical journalist. She regularly comes to Leipzig, both attracted by alternative life and its historical dimension. Indeed, the city is full of musical history. Bach, Wagner, Mendelssohn, Schumann lived there, composed and played. Around the canals that crisscross the city, some old factories were rehabilitated in homes, symbols of the ongoing gentrification.