Riot

This project is a tribute to the squats that once thrived along Spuistraat in Amsterdam, specifically the Tabakspanden, where I used to live. My home was a squat called Het Paard van Amstel, nestled between De Rattenbak and Het Midden-Oosten. These spaces were more than just buildings, they were hubs of creativity, resistance, and community.

On March 25, 2015, all of these squats were evicted in a large police operation, marking the end of over three decades of squatting culture in the area. I wanted to preserve a piece of that world, to let it live on in some form. Using Google Street View, I captured screenshots of the graffiti and atmosphere before it was gone. From there, I modeled the building I once called home and began recreating the environment in 3D.