Introduction
The Space
Hijackers are a group of Anarchitects which was set up at the beginning
of 1999.
Our group is dedicated to battling
the constant oppressive encroachment onto public spaces of institutions,
corporations and urban planners. We oppose the way that public space
is being eroded and replaced by corporate profit making space.
We oppose the way that users of
space are being put under increasing scrutiny and control by those who
own or run it. Be this via CCTV installed to monitor us, or architectural
elements designed to control our moods.
We oppose the blanding out and destruction
of local culture in the name of global economic progress. Newer and
Bigger is not always better, it is usually both impersonal and imposing.
Through
our various actions we attempt to raise awareness of issues within spaces
and change how these spaces are used and percieved in the future. We
intend to destroy heirarchies within spaces and claim back public ownership.
Our projects act as another voice within space, and become engrained
upon the places we Hijack.
Our aim is to change the way that
ownership and usage of space is percieved, to put users of space in
a more level position. We want to have a say in how we all exist within
public space, on where and how we meet. We are fed up with being treated
like criminal cattle by the institutions and corporations that decide
on the shape and content of our environment.
The Space Hijackers in no way want
to become leaders of some kind of resistance movement, our actions detailed
on this site should act as a catalyst for others. If we can, you can.
However we want to expand our membership in order to create a forum
for discussion and development of these ideas. Our agents area is a
space where interested parties can meet in a non heriarchical manner
and help each other in their quests.
Our first
major event was the hijacking of a Circle
line carriage on London Underground . Since then we have expanded
our operations to include everything from building miniature "City farms" all over the square
mile through to producing "Experimental
Pedestrian Schemes" in Brixton, and the production and design
of Hijacker Equipment.
The
Space Hijackers Manifesto