CEU eTD Collection In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree ofMasterArts for thedegree oftherequirements In partialfulfillment URBAN EXPLORATION OF ABANDONED SPACES OFABANDONED URBAN EXPLORATION Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology Social and of Sociology Department THE SOCIAL LIFE OFRUINS: THE SOCIALLIFE Central European University Prof. DanielMonterescu Prof. VladNaumescu Budapest, Hungary IN BUDAPEST Kata Varsányi Submitted to Supervisors: 2011 By CEU eTD Collection and whose insight, support and enthusiasm would have deserved a better thesis. who took the time to talk tome, listen to me and goexploring with me, To all my explorer-minded friends, informants and professors, Acknowledgements i CEU eTD Collection questions concerning (self-) conscious urban citizenship (right to the city), patrimony, legality, and legality, patrimony, memory. city), social the to (right citizenship urban conscious (self-) concerning questions experience thecity its from new past and perspective.a The exploration of practice urban raises that have lost the original strategic function offer the possibility, the freedom and the anti-structure to visits‘tactics’ de short,in temporary Certeau-ian and assuch, to the these abandoned sense,spaces groups, the paper of all that argues types this broadly exploration understood urban can be as seen out todiscover hidden of spots the landscape.urban Contemporary Architecture Centre; andpeople who do not belong either to group but occasionally set their sharing city, walks""urban of the the and forums; on blogs withpublic the stories parts off-limits theHungarian organised by often and unseen the into venture regularly who explorers, through the above mentioned derelict spots, by means:different the practice of individual urban discourse. own their against / within it analyze to and motivation the interest such find to aims behind paper The nature. transitory totheir due precisely spaces abandoned the to with theurban revitalization processes, ethnographicallypresent butto groups the of people attracted being used.not Itdoes aspire contributeto to themultilayered and multidisciplinary research dealing functionshavenot but new one assigned been abandoneda i.e. architecturalto, sites after and before Abstract Based on interviews, participant observation, and the analysis of the online interfaces of the of interfaces online of the analysis the and observation, participant interviews, on Based I will observe methods and movements in BudapestThis paperon focuses transitory,the liminal of state urban buildingshavethat lost their that intend to rediscover the city at / ii CEU eTD Collection 5. Tactical answers:5. Tactical urban exploration 4. Strategic answers...... 21 3. Conceptual framework...... 9 2. Literature ...... 4 review 1. Introduction...... 1 Contents .Bbigah ...... 56 7. Bibliography 6. Conclusion...... 55 3.3. Urban exploration...... 16 3.2. Abandoned urban spaces...... 13 3.1. Budapest...... 10 5.3. Individual tactics...... 52 5.2...... 42 Urban Walks 5.1. Urbex...... 26 s ...... 26 iii CEU eTD Collection various means various of the that argue I be. may methods and motivations their different however them, unites what set out to explore the city, even beneath the seamless surface, through the scars. And this is language. massive, homogenous city like factories within forth defacedfashioned… bust houses,closed-down modernist, things, the leadbuildings mightalso suppressed, seemingly ustothe hidden.“These the sleepy, old- a collectivea “vanished leaning derelict Benjamin to downwardtime”, past: to (1999:416), writes Walter isprecipitous” street “Every and time. of space structures ordered cleanly areoutof the outofspace they time: and fabric”are spaciotemporal 2010:777); they (Dawdy in “tears the are edifices often like. The ruinous are what theessentials to is underneath, what skin city,the of of traces wounds, gapson urban the allowsurface that an get usto insight to term the“stigmatizing” about my initial reservation Despite cityscape. aestheticized or aesthetics, demolish simply them, ablind or turn They eyethem. to are also scars on sanitized purist,the them,re-use need to urgent feels the therefore them, make of sense cannot meaning. One donotfitbein.term. They defined.bestand out, Theycannotassigneda They cannot Mary Douglas’ of using place” out “matter Theyare planners. bycity especially landscape, bein scars often to considered urban ortenementintheinnercity)houses are outskirts, longerin use. These empty buildingsdecaying, (may bethey facilities industrial on the and human actions, were made were andactions, human Abandoned. Urban. Spaces. 1. Introduction scar Buildings, facilities in the city that once possessed functions, tohumansinBuildings, possessed facilities once the city wererelated that This paper focuses on people who are aware of and attracted to such buildings; tosuchbuildings; who andattracted are awareof who people on This paperfocuses , Ihave admitto itis appropriate. These abandoned buildings are indeed scars on the They (De Certeau: 1998:133, surprise. emphasis mine) urban exploration slips of the tongue anunknown, ofthe from slips unconscious, perhaps places , in, a broad sense, are all tactics, in a de Certeau-ian sense, , but no longer are. They are left empty: they are no 1 CEU eTD Collection Budapest. These are contrasted with the heterogeneous tactical methods in chapter 5, tacticalin methods with chapter These heterogeneous are contrasted the Budapest. in buildings derelict presence of the given to answers some strategic demonstrates 4 Chapter exploration, urban actsof tactical the presents that chapter core the Before respectively). tactics, de Certeau’s and liminality (Turner’s concepts theoretical basic the of applicability the showing and introducing also exploration’, ‘urban and spaces’ urban ‘abandoned terms the about sections is by followed the (Budapest) field of the is, contextualization the mainin expressed That concepts the three subtitle. paper bydefiningand onthe elaborating the of framework conceptual the and context the set I will 3 inchapter literature, relevant field) and via the materials they share on the internet (websites, blogs, forums). the to trips their themon (joining observation” “participant through gathered each category; make it habitable. they city, the of narratives new create They memory. of sites alternative to them transforming theyvisit, re-signify urbanBudapest-based spaces also the explorers paper arguesthat findingsits Based the on built in environment. the legacy with thethat historical reflected builds.” (Dunlopby how 2009)And it/its also citizens and abandonment, deal with through it what by as abandons it what by much as judged be can “Society changes. historical/social to testify that edifices abandoned the to responses astactical areseen transition the to guided buildings.the tours and organised examplethe of through ruin-gazers, occasional to self-awareness, degree of ahigh with tooff-limitsites blogstheir adventures create (“urbexers”), document and who the same destination,namely derelict in from Budapest: edifices individual explorers urban getto know, to signify and thus livein city.the willThree tracks be thatall presented have The structure of the present work will follow this outline. After a brief review of of the brief review After a outline. willfollow this work of present the The structure The were mainlydata interviewsobtainedin-depth from with one representative of The discussed subcases of urban exploration in the Hungarian capital 20 years after 2 CEU eTD Collection closes the paper, with suggestions to future research. to thepaper,with closes suggestions study the of limitations and conclusions the on A section initiatives. individual and walks; presenting analysing threesubcases: the organised and the urbex strict(in sense); urban 3 CEU eTD Collection persist far beyond their original persist farbeyondlife,butruins of theiruse original areadefining feature urban the inor in anunevenrhythm, succession, rapid andreappear may disappear, “They appear, alterations which more slowly – to thesebehind left edificesin testify, ever numbers. growing in The builtenvironment adapts to Dawdy2010:770). quoted of capitalism” as (Munn, in inherent productivity the “the destruction i.e. paradox rapid of Harvey), destruction’(Marx, fast changeswith “young emergencethe of ruins”,referring notion tothe of ‘creative all currents and coming powers from all corners ofreality.” (Wolff 1959: 266) effect. It is as though a segment of existence must collapse before it can become unresistant to –or, rather, imageinternal preservingleadcontrast toaunity external tension,andthis they of their of tension and the here present past andspirit, resolve nature andaccident, “purpose is negative and “beyond merely degrading”: what with decayanddecadence”, fascination “general the to more is there Simmel to according however, melancholy, and history about reflections evokes mere existence Their whole. and fragment presence, and absence nature, due to their nature, dual/ambiguous their between dialectic culturepast andpresent, and partly is ruins with fascination The forms. art various to inspiration giving period, romantic writings2010:2), on contemplation (the from of) abound, ruins Renaissancethe through the beby seduced beauty the ruinsof is is asinescapablean asitexperience old'” (Hell, Schönle The dereliction of builtfrequently environment the evokes urban image the Since “to of ruins. 2. Literaturereview Dawdy (2010) connects the modern experience of accelerating time, the frequent and accelerating frequent the themodern time, experience of Dawdy connects (2010) is What ruinsofmodernity? the case the with these are the intellectual equivalents of the equivalents ofthe UrbEx these aretheintellectualmovement” “… asurge ofinterest bybothartists andscholars in ruins... Dawdy 2010:770 4 CEU eTD Collection 2004) represent the 2004) of pointview, these essays like majority the works of on ruins (cf. Trigg 2006, Ginsberg Inhis bodies, 2011:379). dissecting from metaphorically (Garrett safe the distance” ruins lacking observers spectator, “gaze with apassivetheoretical objects of the atthese looked collection tothe contributors the feltthat reviewer the (2010:7), ruin” the beholder defines review on is was raised L.Garrett his pointimportant by Bradley that another after paper) present modernity’sfor self-awareness.” (2010:6) unstableas flexible semanticfunctions potential...a uniquely productivetrope ruin the and seems haveto its lostfunction meaningor in present,the while retaining a suggestive, it because precisely isaruin ruin “the buildings): urban functionless paper aboutabandoned, a justifiesan also,feature of the referring on (which, ruins of ruins underlying discussion to provoking: and The raiseimportant indeed by introduction questions they editors. are thought- the and is. multifaceted “uniquely complex term accordingthe Orbroad. Or, to ill-defined”, how ofshowing from different a widegeographical examples aspects range, through ruins the volume precisely entitled precisely volume the emerging fixation on itself”time (2010:762).Oneelementof intellectual this surge could be an “indexes it opinion her In revival’. ruin ‘the calls she which reflection, (multidisciplinary) Their it as hastriggeredlandscape”, critical (2010:762). Dawdy sees presence I shall return to this crucial feature of ruins (also extremely relevant regarding the However, Hell and Schönle give an explanation to the wide range of interpretations by interpretations range of wide the to explanation givean Schönle Hell and However, breakdown of utopia? (Hell, Schönle2010:6) nostalgiaruin? social More and broadly,practical its lost forhas rubble And, classifyas endof function? atthe other does still spectrum, the it because isruin a ruinalready the an building objectempty past; or a process?but and itend? whendoes Is awell-preserved ruin the start Where does ...or Does shamethe ruin evoke over it? Faith in future progress? The Ruins of Modernity Ruins of grand discourse Ruins of Modernity of Ruins . Although the introduction of that volume asserts that “the that asserts volume that of introduction the Although . exclusively; he misses “stories not about capital, empires, . The collection includes essays that focus on 5 CEU eTD Collection He contrasts this, personal form of memory with the externalized way of social remembering. experienced its through materiality left behind, involuntary where memory may be stimulated. be can “past” the memory”, where sites of “alternative (2005b) ruins considers Edensor that Itis(1998:107&106). places thesamereason for systemsaturates the with signification” that is‘itin same acrack the that time at acknowledging ofmeaning”, andleaks drifts, ellipses, by open torn and …punched of “theorder surface on cracks mentions Certeau fabric.the De architectural equivalents, according Dawdy to (2010: 768), who also refers to them as as outmoded commodities,used itbetheirwith regard to butruinscould understood in who Benjamin’s Walterterms vessels”, 2010a:9).They are “semiotic gone” (Armstrong long are referents “whose signifiers, as emptiness their of because ispossible forms material theruins/connected re-signification personal of this:engagement, tosensory also related uncanny andthesensual”2011: 379). (Garrett with the memory, encounters and …unexpected of ruinsplay asplaces representations; alternative and experiences different for place a as “ruination about talking works is tothese indebted paper a“spectral Present whoeven ethnography”. Armstrong, proposed both isthe of mainand DeSilvey homesteads abandoned interest experienced rural at and material with The observed transience advocating engagement sensory them (2007). personal narratives. is mainfocus Geographer industrial Edensor’s Tim on ruins too, (2010). 2005b,EdensorArmstrong (2005a, 2007),DeSilvey (2010)andGarrett himself(2006), histories and personalengagement for example in of works the High and Lewis (2007), local to centre”is (Garrett2011:priority to brought given 379). Such places margins onthe name history bodies production but dropping, wars,andthe of in andabout about places The mentionedabove “semantic instability ruins”the (Hell and is of Schönle 2010:6), Corporate Wasteland tells the story of North-American deindustrialization through deindustrialization North-American of story the tells tears in 6 CEU eTD Collection metro tunnels, rooftops, sometimes or still infiltratingto functioning which facilities too, are, (often off-limits) areas,i.e. not only into urban ruins (derelict edifices), but alsointo drains, normally unseen city’sinto the venture “urbexers”, Urban explorers, unaware) practitioners. practice a name and media anameandmedia practice presence 1990s by Toronto-based Jeff (mostly Chapman known as Ninjalicious)by who giving this to a these spaces,asopposed venturing to curiosity individual rarelydealswith literature – critical Budapest andde/industrialization. for the specific case of the paper will followin the next chapter, for example on the relation of contextualization essential an therefore North-American), and British (mostly background and heritage its takes pride thepatrimony, findings,classifyingthemaspartof in through which enter they industrial (lately) (2010:769), archeology forgotten” best“thought findwas we often what ruins of layers the by excavating that believes Dawdy While meaning”. of vacuity “potential it,by triggered ruins’ the differentanswers to presenttwo to now is repeated question by earlier.) to Garrett beenreferred hasalready attention) focusmarginal (of public /personal the to the (Bringing centre-periphery the evoke dynamics. http://www.infiltration.org/index.html 1 of epitome –the of disappearance” in theprocess paid tothose things that appear marginal,or discarded, orlost, or that have disappeared or are order to get at some of the real (really operative) processes in city life, attention should be Infiltration movement What Garrett was missing from of from papers the was missing Garrett What “Does the ruin evoke nostalgia for the past; or shame over it?” Hell it?” shame Hell Schönle’s and or past; over for the nostalgia ruin the evoke “Does A shift (similar to Benjamin’s look at the passages) is advocated by Pile (2005), “in by (2005), Pile is advocated passages) the at Benjamin’s look to (similar A shift industry : the zine about going places you are not supposed to go; also website, forums. website, also go; to supposed not are you places going about zine : the . Urban exploration is aninternational movement,founded in beginning of the . (Orange 2008) The literature reviewed so far used international reviewedsofarusedinternational examples . (Orange2008)Theliterature 1 created a worldwide dialogue among the (until then those Ruins ofModernity Ruins being ruins. This train of thoughts can were bodies in ruins 7 CEU eTD Collection in the past years, definitely not being as popular/widely accepted to refer to it as tourism. awareness public Hungarian in the spread to began and arrived explorer’ ‘urban term the see, weshall as example, For in Hungary. scene current reflect the not does reviewed literature the that remarkhereagain I haveto As earlier, background”. come“blue-collar from not a atthrough explorationspost/de-industrialized since to sites, the majority of urbexersthe does phenomenon ‘dark of tourism’ They highlight thesocial are (2007:42). traveled that distances “larger in the fitting experience, authentic of in search tourists as explorers urban about and urbexers. This theme also appears in appears also Thistheme andurbexers. “cultural tourists” comparing heritage sites ruins, and regard to with ‘authenticity’ of question bibliography by on andhe Delyserurban explorers. Onepaper refersfocuses to, (1999) onthe also provides a In this Garrett article explorationoffers (2010:1459). peopleand urban places to connections personal the to in addition life”, everyday of practices the about critically more that are “inviting us to shift our gaze in new directions, theaspects of urbex highlights exploration of investigator urban and apractitioner Garrett, to challenge convention L. andBradley to scenes). think clockpunk the (like temporalities past and in ruins interest increasing phenomenon signalsthat archaeological “the in turn” an popular culture (2010:767), flâneurs, kindred spirits toWalter Benjamin” findsand their movement acontemporary social “underground as urbexers Dawdy dubs Theoften-cited limited access. however,with Corporate Wasteland , where High and Lewis talk 8 CEU eTD Collection term urban exploration urban term case.Turner’s shall present and Thelast subchapter its applicability the theory the clarify to abandoned urbanspaces inphysical structures Budapest. built of abandonment the of presence the contextualise historically I will first Accordingly, mainfollowingin in threeideasexpressedthesubtitle(although order). the areversed subchapters, isthree section divided into principle here:this serve asaguideline/structuring time. The basic notions same at the in used paper, the concepts termsimportant and most the and introduce clarify are all referred to in order chapter one into combine them toto essential considered I framework, theoretical in the subtitle the of setting the to contextualization historical from of ranging items themiscellaneous includes paper, which therefore will concepts into which itis embedded and towhich it isindebted. and will the context caseof the focus specific This chapter paper,presenting the morethe on What Italkabout when Italkabout… framework 3. Conceptual and tactics. strategies between distinction theoretical deCerteau’s Michel on based a tactic, beconsidered Even though Even though organisation/contentthe of this might section appear haphazard, asit (the way it is understood in the paper), and show in what sense it can it sense in what show and paper), inthe is understood it way (the and explain why I opted for adjective why the introducing andexplain I opted liminal, Victor …the urban exploration ofabandonedspaces inBudapest Then, I will present the terms generally used to describe to used generally terms the present will I Then, 9 CEU eTD Collection zone was/is the task of urban planning, which was set in anew environment socio-economic was set urban zoneof planning, which was/isthetask transition in the or city inner the in either derelict became and condition function/ of change This means 13%of the territory of Budapest. suburbs. the and innercity the between stretching zone, transition in so-called the facilities) almost 68squarekilometers brownfieldsof (abandonedunderused,mostly or industrial railway-related or military industrial, zones of homogeneous partof city, creating the became interior functions. The substantial cut in these after the transition resulted in the (Kukely, Barta, Beluszky, Gy basicallyfocused localized atthe main inthemiddle industrial-quarters of 19 the lower-income of in areas,inhabitants leavingthose some edificesinpoor conditions,later derelict. concentration the in resulted also has transition the after suburbanization The of in process 1980s. initiatives the areas, triggering “block-rehabilitation” the inner decline city tothe of residential the contributed from 1970sfurther the decentralization (Csanádi, Csizmady, Kocsis, K Kocsis, (Csanádi, Csizmady, in Budapest formingintegrate areasattached the Greater 1950 to coincided intentions with the began be tackledto in 1960sbymeansthe building on housingof outskirts,the which estates socialistthe While housing urban extensive industrialization policy. problems was promoted, contributed policiesplanning that to existence liminal the these of areas. and changesstructure to intheurban regard with contextualization Budapest needshistorical in of case their the to given presence responses tactical spacesandthe Examining abandoned The spatial and social structure of Budapest is still largely influenced by of largelyis results influenced the of still Budapest structure The spatial and social 3.1. Budapest Dealing (giving with theseedifices/zones strategicwent answers to) that a through The areas that hosted large industrial production sites in Budapest until in large sites production 1990 were Budapestuntil hosted The industrial areas that Ę ri ri 2006: 59). Over time, and due to the urban sprawl, these sites Ę szeghy, Tomay tendency The towards szeghy,2010: 438). Tomay th century 10 CEU eTD Collection cases even the property-relations are to be settled. areto theproperty-relations cases even belong totoomany minor thathinder owners comprehensive renewal Inmany strategies. vast areas process privatization unplanned the due to that argue liminal spaces.Some – of be repurposed, be they repurposed, make upthe so-called(Kukely, rust-belt Beluszky, Barta, Gy yet arelarge to but changes, territories functional spontaneous arethrough rehabilitated, parts is far of from innercity revitalization the there completed. Nevertheless, too. dwellers, original the of integration the on lay emphasis that Project) Quarter and also 2005social realisedhowever,after (Magdolna were plans rehabilitation proposed 7 the in gentrification about brought frequently has segregation towards cities; and (iv) the Southern logistic zone. zones” (Pallai 2004:interventions in andpossible programs, neededdevelopment specified four strategic the 9) . (i) thelisted of city, the sections developmental problematicmostfocused on the It predecessors. inner city; (ii)The Concept “wasalready1998 Urban from conceptually itsDevelopment different the transition zone; (iii) the sector. into strengtheningprivate process, planning actors the the Northern twin (Csanádi,Csizmady,Kocsis,K havemarketof becomefactors the estates) real (urbanareas, of objects the power, planning of autonomous local while Also, governments. most the actorused important be to central the formation policy the to way gave making decision top-down Central, too. transition, the after The revitalization of the former industrial areas lacked comprehensive plans: some plans: comprehensive lacked areas industrial former the of revitalization The The “urban renewal” plans for the devalued inner city residential areas often tending often areas residential city inner devalued the for plans renewal” “urban The From 1991 onwards, differenturban policies andreform concepts wereformulated. Ę szeghy, Tomay 2010: 368), introducing 2010: szeghy,368), Tomay new and interests th and 8 Ę ri ri 2006: 58) th districts, 11 CEU eTD Collection with the loss of their original function and for lack of a new one. Beluszky,(Kukely, Gy Barta, 4 Eastern (K Eastern and Kelenföld) Csepel, Ferencváros, (outer Southern The residence. and services to emphasis it shifting Szentendrei a connectionshas inits shown change economic (Váciút, structure, út) differentiated: the northern zone contains the earliest industrial parts of the capital in the 3 the in capital the of parts industrial earliest the contains zone northern the differentiated: The map inFigure 1shows main brownfieldsthe of Budapest. Three areas be can Figure 1. (Source: Kukely, Barta, Beluszky, Gy th , 13 th , 15 Ę th bánya, Kispest) brownfields zones are slower in the re-structurisation process re-structurisation in the slower are zones brownfields Kispest) bánya, , 16 th districts (Óbuda, Angyalföld, Újpest). Due to good infrastructure, transport Duetogood Angyalföld, (Óbuda, Újpest). districts Ę ri andfacilitiesri largeleft2006: 62), decay with areasare to - Ę ri 2006) 12 rd , CEU eTD Collection ironically, wasteland considering asa positive agentfor urban sustainability). not coincidewhich term with preferred does Doron’s indicating (and supporting) best situation one the the in describes that my liminal opinion: – will present the most often used expressions in sociology and social anthropology, also andlistfollowingmentionedfrom mostly comes of that urban architecture planning.the In I above The discourses. therefore and disciplines, agents, of different crossroads/interest at the see,this asweshall However, space”. of type a certain of make sense areas, Wasteland... SLOAPs lands,voids, vacant white urbandeserts, vague, Zones, terrain Autonomous Rasa, Temporary Tabula spaces, smooth of uncertainty, spaces indeterminacy, of spaces zones, architectural post spaces, polite Man’s Lands, No spaces, nameless spaces, liminal free space, places, spaces,empty areas, ellipsis fields, DeadZones, derelict conceptual brown vacuums,Nevada, border blank space, his(2007)“…badlands, entitled of anarticle M.Doron these spaces, Gil of status indeterminate the upon aspects. Drawing different highlighting various each terms, First of fewall, on a words terminology.the Abandonedspaces arereferred urban toby 2 3.2. Abandoned urban spaces zone. transition in the and city inner inthe both explorers urban have on builtthe of lefttheir traces providingBudapest,environment “destinations” tothe transformation post-socialist the of dynamics the in more particular, or earlier, mentioned SLOAP stands for Space Left Over After Planning After Over Left Space for stands SLOAP In conclusion we can say that the effects of the “creative destruction” process destruction” the“creative of effects the saythat can we In conclusion The voidcannotbe earmarked …because toname it isto claim it insome way. 2 ”: a list that he calls “a desperate attempt by the discourse to dead zones (although he also applies it certain type of space certain typeof Daskalakis 2001:124 13 is CEU eTD Collection through restrictions,through moderations,direct visual, sanitation. can sonic and tactile stimuli The there experienced deprivation sensory the and order urban conventional the from different – materiality with newencounters 217), (2007: experiences” sensual “multiple andcontrasting view, their attributes of interstitial status of abandoned urban spaces, Ithink they might be classified as liminal. Inmy law, custom, convention and ceremonial” (Turner 1977:95).Considering the functionally by arrayed and assigned positions the between and “betwixt being ambiguous, necessarily has to leave the relatively stable state of state stable leave relatively to has the period that the “change”, the acquisition of knowledge takes place; therefore the ritual subject isIt in transitory this aggregation/re-incorporation). the before separation, the (after one rites liminalimportance the of middle phase highlighted the Gennep), passage (van of the from functions an examination the andstructures of of TurnerNdembu rituals, (1977) important, therefore I prefer using the term prefer using the I therefore important, dynamics. center-periphery tothe which contributes relations, these alter cantemporarily previousthe signifying chapter, urbanexplorers’attentionandtheir practices these inasituation edifices byacentre, on variousdefined As it levels.has mentioned been in would determine moral moral adjectives The wouldand social determine organization. asthelocation in peripheral school space people, Chicago them, presuppose conceptualised the sense in the spaces, Peripheral movements. and actions social mainstream of present, the of sites not are they as periphery, economic and social spatial, temporal, of mixture isnecessarily geographical and non-centrality. status their not a Rather, exclusively refer to As the British geographer, industrial Edensor stresses, for instance, ruins, canprovoke However, to my mind the in-betweenness of these abandoned spaces appears more appears spaces abandoned these of mymind in-betweenness to the However, Abandoned buildings are often referred to as to referred often are buildings Abandoned anti-structure appear on various levels. structure liminal and enter liminality, where the attributes are , the way Victor Turner used it. Stemming peripheral spaces of the city,which does peripheral or marginal set 14 CEU eTD Collection however, the loss of original function – possibly initiating a liminal phase. liminal a initiating – possibly function original of loss the however, 3 understanding own their narratives, present. Thesefreedom forgotten constructbuildings visitors the the to offer theirto own there objects the i.e.to material culture, of elements the to or site the meaning to prescribed buildings - since itis not directly related to the built environment itself. behave the addressedwhen discussing question the to transgression of therefore arestill present, legal constraints Nevertheless, exist. to itself) ceased represented power which (through function their that sense the in city, the of constraints “political” the 2007:217). usual (Edensor constraints” performative self-conscious “thefrom liberate body the and can also material with world, the newevoke engagement industrial in past post-industrial cities. heterochrony”in index (Dawdy2010: the sensethey that 777), modern “failure”of the Therefore 2010: 8). they be of seen could heterotopias “accidental suggestive antimodern as (Hell, of Schönle overlaying the “articulate temporalities” simply spontaneously, they rather but do, examples) (Foucault’s wayandlibraries as museums etatizing inthe time accumulate 2003 :7)with multiple inmeaning of incorporated layers and time donot them. Urban ruins Huyssen 2007: 834, Edensor palimpsests 2010:247, (Armstrong beto comparedgeneral, can is Itaccumulating (1967). time” according in whichin conceptthe keeping with to ruins, heterotopias (1996: 159). this regard, they are tools in what Lefebvre suggests, to “multiply the readings of the city” Of course it is related to the earlier mentioned “semantic instability” of the ruins, which also stems from, As we see, in these spaces of anti-structure there is no prescribed order, nor is nor there order, is noprescribed there anti-structure spacesof in these As wesee, from also but bodily the from exempt only not are however, spaces, urban Abandoned The anti-structural nature of abandoned buildings might evoke Foucault’s notion of . According to the fourth principle of “other spaces” they are sites “indefinitely 3 of the past/present of that particular piece of the city. In act of exploring these 15 CEU eTD Collection decided to use decidedindividuals term the urban explorerall included referring to to the inresearch, alonein or smaller groups and document their trips on blogsinternet-forums or directives. strategic eluding prescribed, photos-and-more/ 5 4 access limited with areas drainsandother rooftops, also city’s unseen including often usually and parts, andoff-limitbuildings, closed derelict but In the strict sense, as it has been referred to, urban exploration means the discovery of the tothe inhabitants/former workers, lifeto the of city, newof the insight gain and visitthem who people the regarding relevance, original one and are either to be assignedtheir lost a new (have one functions or to be in-between demolished) are buildings and abandoned can have contrary: socialis quite here point My relevant. socially not but functional are which spaces words, in other or etc.), highway, sites,which through whichwe passbutto we donotrelate lounge, (airport machine, ATM However, Iwouldfor argueagainst view,this Augé since (1995)non-places aretransitory belongand beof such, group the to could considered as they to while establishing a relationship with the environment, makes sense of the of makes sense environment, with the whilea relationshipestablishing the visits to these as inasmuch subchapter, following in the elaborated be will relevance social aforementioned From now on I will use the term ‘urbex’ to refer to urban exploration, urban to refer to ‘urbex’ term the use will I on now From http://weburbanist.com/2008/05/18/30-awesome-websites-for-adverturous-urban-explorers-urbex-forums- 3.3. Urban exploration Being abandoned, these spaces lack the original agents of agents theselacktheoriginal place-makingBeing spaces the process, abandoned, liminal areas by means of an past urban exploration , reinforcing/challenging collective social memory, all memory, social collective reinforcing/challenging , stormwater drains to rooftops; usually such areas are off-limits designed for public consumption, from mechanical rooms to urban http://www.infiltration.org/resources-infilspk.html (n.) the investigation of manmade structures not exploration can tactics becan considered exploration 4 strictu sensu. strictu . Urban explorers usually set off non-places in Augé’s term. 5 . However, I place. The 16 CEU eTD Collection 7 http://kek.org.hu/varosisetak/setak/aktualis/ of “most which and people city,where visible hidden the the parts those but exploring are or your world” at looking way new of of a whole “the experience emphasize generally knowing and experiencing it -even under the surface visible to all, at all times. organised by KÉK offer the experience of experience the offer by KÉK organised which might also be abstractedstill-present, toasense of consciousand to patrimony civic citizenship (or consciousness, to the notion past-but- almost-disappearing-but-still-existing,past-construction), the of attraction to the the of alternative and materiality mentioned (as for the above liberty anti-structure of the spaces: the is liminalthe of illegally. status (semi-) to theses itI assumedrive thatthe behind connected zones the at necrophilia” “urban this of curiosity or excitement sheer than buildings urban the spaceswithin city. these perceive how individuals these know to history, humanlives,andbygetting traces past with and of the abandonedspaces the by engage howurban of explorers observing understanding nature exploration/discovery, the in. a planned mannerbut take timethe tooccasionally explore of hidden city the parts livethey 6 of experience “the offer the public industrial buildings,abandoned towers, water facilities waiting reuse”,trips for that “functionless to trips oforganised I alsofocus onaseries so), call (who explorers themselves that is, in a much broader sense than the ordinary use. Besides Budapest-based urban http://urbanexplorers.net/ “Functionless public buildings, abandoned water towers, industrial facilities waiting for reuse: ; more forin than adventuresearch abandonedtrespassing attimes properties even Most urbexMost blogs includeand forums from testimonies their authors/members that I suppose I suppose therethat is more to urbanthe motivation inexplorers’ visiting derelict by motivation the about question answer research the to The paperseeks discovery” discovery 6 , and individuals who neither on a regular basis nor in to those interested and open towards architecture.” towards open and interested those to right tothe city ), belonging to the city by urban walks 7 , noticing dead 17 CEU eTD Collection proposed inproposed structures and a univocal system. I use clearcreate aim that to strategies the a tactic –contesting city, partof the and off-limits the terms are not promoted or even by then/there that official suppressed the discourse. the through in liminality, in changes, apparent: most become they when/where place/time at the observable/observed can be/are builtenvironment social and political processes.” a vital isof but constructional isolated cultural, economic, component task “Architecture no context: abroader imply of walks the atmosphere andthe manifesto KÉK the heritage), behind anidea interest such explainedby could besimply (architectural professional sites themotivation some of Although city. the to derelict organizes guidedtrips that Centre) Architecture KÉKpresentvia “urban of initiative walks” Contemporary the (Hungarian and deCerteau: length on explorer, whose images evoke and reinforce the already cited classics, Benjamin 10 9 8 wandermindlessly noticing … barely anything exceptwhat theyhave to” http://www.desolationue.com/about/ http://mirukim.com/statementNakedCitySpleen.php http://kek.org.hu/index.php?page=kialtvany It is for this reason that I consider the act of urban exploration, venturing into unseen into venturing exploration, urban of act the I consider that reason this for is It A more institutionalised form of engaging abandonedwith buildingsis in Budapest To sum inthe historical reflected phenomena To thatsocial and paperpresumes up, the collective memories and dreams reside. dreams and memories collective city, where the of subconscious the shipyards—form and hospitals, factories, catacombs, sewers, tunnels, stations, subway spaces—abandoned These forms. life miniscule with swarm which veins, and intestines its of layers inner organism.to feel Istarted not only city, skinof the also penetrate the but to the Exploring industrial made ruins andlook at structures me the city as one living The Practice of Everyday Life Practice of The 10 . There he argues that “the ordinary man” whom(to 9 tactics scars and . Even those elements can be found be can elements those Even . strategies as Michel de Certeau 8 . Let me quote at 18 CEU eTD Collection to them. Anew text /new texts are being written over the given one. (Berger 2007: 20) meaningnew but elements, space,inone possibility, a thegiven constructing using thegiven mentioned imperative Lefebvre-ian to“multiply readingsthe of city”the (1996:159). already the “follow” thus they understanding, my in and – system” the of “univocity the break 93& 34) Via theirways ofoperating, their creative spatial practices, theirtactics, these people 1998: Certeau (De move.” which they spacethrough written, andprefabricated constructed, cohere with the not sincethey do meaningless, are apparently that trajectories’ ‘indeterminate begins…. atwhich They of live…belowpractitioners trace visibility city the thresholds the of) seeing the whole, the the (fiction voyeuristic deedgives city:at the from this of top the a skyscraper looking down (illusion of a) transparent of example the with commences city” in the “Walking chapter, The andtactics. strategies text of the city. However,possibility “the ordinary to read. As it we see, spatial relations and practices are crucial when discussing used by those lacking the power and lackingused by power the the those hand, are other mean on the knowledge. of Tactics, power the thuscreated readable spaces and not only to look at it, look at himexteriority, the 1998:36);itsight”to grants possibility through (deCerteau the but by panoptic practice, asone’s appropriated a physical also place to observe, measure and And(1998: 37&38).is isolated will of strategies but notonly prerequisite the an and power, control it. The isdeterminedas strategy byjust of absence by organized the of power postulation power” the author also refers to this creative construction as art, namely,“the art of the 1998:xiii).The Certeau vocabulary syntax” (de and established an with individual sentences of “The construction resistance. waysof actual himhe creates upon forced of order the elements the using mechanisms of hebalancesthe power: of everyday creativity” “procedures the an Through butactive is producer. a isnotmerely book consumer, the passive dedicated) Urban space offers possibilities and barriers to the tactician walker – who actualizes proper locus own . This grants its owner the “mastery of “mastery places owner its the grants . This that would that provide autonomy and the weak ”: “a is tactic 19 CEU eTD Collection places urban (re)signified create two the of coincidence the how show to exploration), urban of inoperating ways of (tactics prescribed crack spaces)andonthe abandoned strategically the focuses This with paper crackin signification”. on the urbanfabricthe liminality (the of using the tools, “mechanisms of power” however, with the aim to turn them against it. as visits are.Mentioningdubbing sense) BradleyL.Garrett’s urban exploration (in of strict the urbex 1998:39),just astemporary (de Certeau them” ‘opportunities’the on anddepends of advantage it “takes a place), of establishment a strategy’s to as opposed time” of utilization “clever momentary on a (based by nature is A set. tactic heterogeneous elements this of exploration (used of is urban theact –so of operating ways arecreative space.Atactics signifying urban here as an umbrella term), which I aim to show by presenting different precisely byventuring hidden into the spaces, orwherenot oneis inscribed city, on the spatial the is order inasmuch itchallenges a exploration as tactic, city habitable. 11 spacesandmakethem the they re-signify 1998: xiv)They re-appropriate, Certeau (de production.” sociocultural of by techniques the spaceorganized re-appropriate of users which bymeans practices innumerable the constitute of “Theseoperating’ ‘ways Garrett’s blog Garrett’s place in Budapest. According to de Certeau (1998:106) “it is a crack in the system that saturates places saturates in (1998:106)is “it system acrack that de Certeau the According to This paper argues (and uses as a conceptual framework the notion the framework urban that) asaconceptual This argues(anduses paper hacking PlaceHacking. Explore Everything 11 mightalsonow: it berelevantsuggests remaining “framework”, within the at http://www.placehacking.co.uk supposed to go, thereby re- thereby go, to places , make the make , 20 CEU eTD Collection Budapest? 1998: 38)What have been / arethestrategic tore-signify actions buildingsderelict in (deCerteau: aredistributed.” in forces which places physical of anensemble of articulating capable discourses) (systems andtotalizing theoretical places elaborate property a proper) of Certeau. “Strategies arethey actions need placeswhich, throughthankssince signify – them to of them, make sense needto actors Strategic function. to assigned newly which the establishmentthey establish oftheir a beestate usedforplace constructing new edifices; they can beand a renovated reusedaccording to power, of power as we (thehave seen earlier with de (de Certeau: 37). (de Certeau: It hindersillegibility creates urbantext. the visibility the by of strategies – arebound which functional in-betweenness, their anti-structural ambiguous status, their beingindefinable to, or are objects of urban revitalization processes. areobjects of urban revitalization to, or ablindedifices derelict often eye pass unnoticed/ turned their(despite presence/abundance) spaces. abandoned tothese deals related thetactics paperthat of with the core the preceding their presence, to responses strategic some briefly present I will following, the In abandoned. stand still stood/ zone, transition the in and city inner inthe both edifices, numerous capital, Hungarian the in re-functionalisation spontaneous and fast relatively of transition wereexamples there the Although after Budapest. section about haveseen inthe we as changes, political-economical to adapt immediately not does environment Physical 4. Strategic answers As it hasbeen mentioned in introduction,the from urbanthe planning’s point of view Something has to be done withSomething has to bedone them. Something hastobe done with them. They can be demolished and their real their and be demolished can They Their 21 CEU eTD Collection the preservationof built heritage. to the “legal successor the Later station. transformer electrical former a building, the bought was City Councilthat init Budapest the 1998.It inopenedthis Hungary” when kind artistic/cultural re-functionalisation of brownfields facilities in Budapest, as it was “the first of maintaining andwas andintact, of theindustrial character the renovated halls repurposed, Two buildings2002). down, were butthemajority torn heritage protection) (under remained the for plans the transition, plant). After the propertylater electricity (ironworks, Ganz-factory former the of 3.6hectare-premises the at users” – rights and the municipalityprogrammes, being spacea “community meetingand a point of disciplinesdifferent and their regulations were settled following the now a “multifunctional leisurefor a“multifunctional activities” now area 15 14 intensive of 3-year framework the in programmes. projects and workshops interdisciplinary International, Century”. 20th early 12 national some alwayswide-ranging evenwhich not is (professional social) andthough present, discussions, crossroad/crossfire urban institutions.heritage planner and the cultural status (being Duetotheir atthe of such different valuescomplemented by legalenvironmental concerns, questions,as well by as policiesthe of the and interests) economic interest by strong is determined therefore Their reuse/redevelopment zone). their future requires city of (transition the with sprawling the estates real valuable have become that outskirts dialogue and was shown on a map in chapterindustrial thefacilities, directconsequences andvisiblemost signs of deindustrialization. As it 3, in Budapest they occupy large territories on the former 13 PĦ In 2002 Millenáris Park was awarded the http://millenaris.hu/the-millenaris/about-us/our_mission/ http://kek.org.hu/uploads/Flash/konzerve.swf http://www.reworking-the-factory.org emlékek jegyében (3-day international conference about industrial facilities and/as protected heritage sites) heritage protected and/as facilities industrial about conference international (3-day jegyében emlékek Trafó - House of beof Trafó Arts- House cannotomittedwhenContemporary discussing Budapesthas numerous examples industrialof repurposed facilities. Millenárisis Park On the one hand, there are the so-called brownfields, abandoned or underused or abandoned brownfields, so-called the are there hand, one the On 12 and international and revitalization 13 - “Strategies to reevaluate the architectural and urban heritage ofthe heritage urban and architectural the to reevaluate -“Strategies initiatives of this kinddoexist. Europa Nostra - 3 napos nemzetközi konferencia sorozat az ipari épületek és épületek azipari sorozat konferencia nemzetközi 3 -napos of the area were conceived and realized (1999- andrealized area wereconceived the of (European Federation for Cultural Heritage) prize for prize Heritage) Cultural for Federation (European 14 , hosting educational and cultural 15 . 22 CEU eTD Collection 16 by the of appropriation the (even andarticulated present were both 1998:35, be emphasis will (deCerteau mine)The and power the institution) can isolated”. for the currenttimes” center appropriate arts equipped contemporary legendaryinto itmultifunctional, Artists'Club Young asuitable, …converted (FMK) well- is not related to affordable residence only to temporal still is related their toaffordable only residence presence activities, temporal not pastime to /studentification of Althougha neighbourhood. itcould be argued that theinflux youngof the and Corijn 2005, Lugosi, Bell, Lugosi 2010). reabsorption2002; Groth into (Chatterton to the urban order aresubject temporarily),they this(Lugosi, Lugosi Through buildings asthe process, (even2008). if arere-appropriated mind hospitality” of“guerilla in viathistype havingconsumers entity, they are entrepreneurs another point of view, theirfrom however, function, in with itsassigned originally aspace, contrast tactic, repurposing operators apply strategies, might be seen as a of such bars Thecreation as“trademarks”. building, apparent decay the of their aim is to have of make barswhich use the ofentertainment, spaces alternative into saved andtransformed control over the – maybe fabricated of prerequisite takingidea. power) establishing acreatively tactical over with subject as a soon as possible becomes that relationships manipulation) of power is(or “thecalculation A act one. strategic beginning,but permanent the institutionalizedis and use of space the definitely a strategic of the abandoned edifice; however,cultural use for the first time. It could my be argued then that itisstance a tactical answer to the presence on it is that it beginningthe building (abandoned of more 1990sthatputthe the forty years) than for to at itpoint: artisticlackswas a group history animportant French anarchist described Trafó of http://www.trafo.hu/statics/trafo_info This phenomenon can be associated with the first phase of gentrification, the artist- are down be torn to waiting houses downtown bars”: “ruin the with case is the Similar will and power (a business, an army, a city, a scientific might havebeen 16 place . However, the above the However, . , which is also a also is which , tactical in the 23 CEU eTD Collection (Rév8: Regeneration Program in Magdolna(Rév8: Project, 2007). –Józsefváros, Program Quarter Regeneration Budapest Project asin Quarter measures”, Magdolna the social,and technical “integrated cultural drastic changes,gentrification while latter,(Corvin-Szigony project), “social the issueslessrehabilitation” aiming residential triggering areas by newly constructed “revitalized” and areas aredemolished, to keep the original population as well, as a result of different types (Csanádi,types K Kocsis, Csizmady, rehabilitation” “soft and clearance”) (“slum “bulldozer-type” the both for examples provides Budapest buildings, informs urbanthe /often of projects. derelictrehabilitation residential regarding poor-condition the proposed were/arealso solutions strategic and comprehensive or the rediscovery of the edges of Budapest. thus the reputation of the quarter to be built and helping the sale of flats.” Polyák,left L. standing in the midst of a destroyed quarter, to fill the neighbourhood with meaning and visitors, enhancing 17 Szeg handfirst (Éber, not experience audience did an target era which the nostalgia to charming feeling”, a“retro create to aim They style. the setting when socialism of culture 2010:4),thecreativeBell, heavily spaces object upon the designers of draw Lugos these (Lugosi, of materiality. aesthetic” “deployment ruin Besides the through evoked ideology of level the on even and demolished; finally is space”) communal (“tamed edifice sheltering the when “move” often they because space, of level the on future; their of instability the audience target youth is well-off (yuppie-ification). the whose complexes housing built newly phase: second the of) (advertisement the to contributes to transitionality” (Éber, Szeg to transitionality” (Éber, references. cultural and political economic, its mind in bearing investigation, sociological appropriation, re-signification of abandoned tenementhouses, definitely lends itself for seen in re- caseasthe district), our 7th in 6th, the of Budapest (especially in centre the Cf. “The investorbehind the greatest city-rehabilitation project of Budapest, invited pubs into the only block These ruin bars could be called liminal spaces, since, by their nature, they by bars they beThese spaces,nature, since, are“linked their could ruin called liminal Although ever-growing, the phenomenon of ruin pubs is only sporadic, more extensive more sporadic, is only pubs ruin of phenomenon the ever-growing, Although Ę ) – on the level of level by ) –onis overshadowed the time, astheirof existence http://exindex.hu/index.php?l=en&page=3&id=358 Ę szeghy, Tomay 2010: 73). In case szeghy, Tomay2010:73). of larger former,the 17 The mushrooming of such bars ruin Urban spaces of periphery, Ę ). 24 CEU eTD Collection them that manifests in tactical visits to the spots. -andliminal oriented interest the towards state abandoned urbanbuildings; their transitional, existing traces of the past. As ithas been stated, this study aims toinvestigate the “present” of isinterest in moment actual the – which,of exclude does not course, for fascination the Their of tactics. in momentariness the “carpe diem”, of inthefashion anattitude demonstrate lots, future of they re-useor abandoned of Insteadof on the pondering them emphasized. wantwantnotappropriateto the not do space, urban to do they explorers, who features…? structure that even aims to be incorporated into structure without losing its defining ends up on the surface. Could suddenly The underground becomes culture. Subculture Periphery becomes centre. 2011). Turner’s concept of theAraújo-Alovjanovic (suchas –as on such placesshow “inventors” ethnographies original the standards of the to “fake”according andthus, trend-setters, become they tourist-landscape: in the integrated are centres art alternative bars, ruin example, For of mainstream. the part are finally institutionalized, Lugosi becoming (Lugosi, Bell,society 2010), are articulated” dominantsocial and cultural are challenged,discourses of alternative and discourses civil “where aplatform create which spaces, of theses temporary re-uses the how however, isinteresting, (Turner1977).It structure final future,to facing the headre-incorporation –but withliminal includeapartof nature a transition a anti-structure (Zukin 2010), phase, However, this paper is not about to expand further on that, rather on of practice the rather on that, on expand further to about not is paper this However, All the different cases of revitalization, gentrification mentioned in by mentioned section, this gentrification cases of All revitalization, different the liminoid explain the prolonged anti- use it, as one 25 CEU eTD Collection the address of the site, too. The name, as it shall exploration. urban be(re)presents he how discussed later, referspermanent, “introductory” sections of observe introduces blog,himself,the to howhe and to his obsession Prior to focusing on the(Self)Introduction. posts themselves, I interview,would his blog, and other sources that were published on / by him on the internet. like in-depth was obtained from personal an chapter presented andanalyzedin The this data to dwell on by newsportals. interviewedonline and stations, programmes radio of thealternative invited to (morefrequently in Hungary, movement the of “faces” (two) the of oris one he As such, Europe”. less) urban and onhisblog:adventures “almostdiscoveries the only urbex blog of Eastern his documents consciously and consistently Altomán, who someone urbexer, Budapest-based phenomenon, explorer urban the present will paper the of section This in respective subchapters. heterogeneity, three in their bepresented they shall therefore constructions, creative are assuch, acts exploration urban understood broadly and Tactics, exploration. urban tactical by action, of way and fabricby disruptions of disruptionsprescribed are(re)signified of the urban order the the buildings, urban abandoned ways the present to aims paper the of chapter core This answers:5. Tactical urban explorations The header includes his carefully chosen (or rather: coined) pseudonym, that makes rather:coined) that chosen The headerincludes pseudonym, hiscarefully (or up The firstinterface Altomán between and the ispublic hislaunched blog, in April 2010. 5.1. Urbex strictu sensu strictu , through a 26 CEU eTD Collection wikipedia entries). Returning to originalthe introductory sentences, theexpression “almost gives a brief termsof definition (bymeansurbex-related andof translated hyperlinked that a blog-post“Altomán 2010entitled from isdictionary” to September reader directed question – by clicking on “urbex”, which has yet to become a household word in Hungary, the this ponder upon leftto is Little time exploration? with two these urban equate one second introduces the theme of adventure you onlyurbexprefer, Thefirstof arevisitingsentence the Europe.” blog almost Eastern besides theyou if Or life. of soheat inthe farthem forget don’t I emphasizedthat so height, and adventure urban of mania topic of altitudes; does the Altomán’s “Here happeningsconnectedtomy following:the goes description Icollect istransmithis knowabout himselfinformation blogger important thatthe thinks site. to or includes depictions of semi-illegal activities is thought-provoking, and definitely unusual. for instance,high altitudes, the aretobereadabout “reports” type of visualize what to helps clear/ makes “where you are nickname, with the accordance itis in roof Although the perfect of city”,of a building. on the not supposed of header, blog’s featuresa the ofits surprisingly,sitting photo author, “on cross-legged top to go”, postingAll Areas: auser's guidetotheartofurbanexploration. a self-portrait of ideas of author andexpressions the the heincorporated “explored”, read, and that to a blogmere interest be and asthey or tofact dueto way same coincidence, thinking,share the the of that might which exploration, urban on discourse Altomán’s interweave Ninjalicious to references (“Inter-textual”go”. supposed to are not going you places zineabout the “Infiltration: movement: the of father the (Ninjalicious), Chapman Jeff by magazine legendary the familiar with the urban exploration sub-culture, this should immediately evoke movement). The subtitle reads “Reports from everywhere you shouldn’t”. For those slightly (and term theurbex of unaware he blog was the hestarted time the at heights: with Besides the header, it is the “About” column that is permanent and that was meantto and that columnis itis permanent “About” that header,the the Besides (Ninjalicious 2005))The rightside Infiltration Access 27 , CEU eTD Collection THREATENING” in the THREATENING” “LIFE- to INSANE word the changing message. However, explicitthe to contrary reaction The irony in Altomán’s makes also text its interpretation as ifambiguous, it suggesting a was 19 my photos, you are an idiot.” (alterbp, August 2010) have an unhealthy lack of respect (and/orillegal)for situations, inspired by danger,spontaneous ideasand without any of sort safety orequipment planning. I so obviously, if you choose to try 18 and repeat any of these things in credo the wrote Ninjalicious mentioned above the that however, interesting, is It message. home” issues blog( onurban a well-read Hungarian only”be needsto highlighted.Itused tobe “the oneand as such andwasonly” referredto on This isfrequently a such websites element of re-appearing In addition to an email address, the introduction of the blog also features a “warning”: Hungarian urbex”, sentence“almost” includes -hyperlinked totheblogAltomán that dubs “the half of other net-diary. onhis then the commentershis strongly Since own basing objected, arguments http://www.infiltration.org/ethics-nodisclaimer.html Forexample, the “other half of Hungarian urbex” writes: “Many of my photos were taken in life-threatening of urban exploration under the title at home. (http://www.infiltration.org/ethics-nodisclaimer.html) home. at enough. noSo, disclaimer.Not for your entertainment Please only.this dotry moments of my life while exploring, and I can't recommend the hobby of inwonder the spacesinhabit… everyday we I've had of some best the asense nurtures itAnd … adventures create their own encourages people to It explore toand own environment. instincts natural in play our encourages our that hobby mind-expanding athrilling, It's one. no hurts and fun free, is be on the safe side, but I can'tIt's quite tempting bring myself for tome do it...to throw Urban oneexploration of those disclaimers on this site too, just to INSANE, don’t you evenis thinkurbex about it!! Doing addresses. email unknown from strangers me by to sent orstolenphotoshopped from here there internet. and The videoson the were myproducts of repressed vein sci-fi as photos The areeitherwriter. everythingImportant: written on sitethis of mere isproduct by-the fantasy, http://alterbp.blogspot.com/ disclaimer (1 June 2011), together with a post raising of with post awareness a June 2011),together (1 No Disclaimer ). http://urbanista.blog.hu 19 : 18 , with a central “do not try this at ), when one of the 28 CEU eTD Collection most deeply coded human feature”. This is the element “that takes youin What in. This you isthe element “thattakes human keeps feature”. mostcoded deeply important and “themost by heconsiders riskthat the was surpassed curiosity noticed being of unknown, the of Fear fear. overcame curiosity moment, that At 12-13. aged all friends, few a with building the into ventured he hesitation, of summers some After child. a as holidays his all where he atLakeBalaton spent house was an abandoned summer target whose curiosity”, this inwhole thing down my own heexplains,psychology”, me “and for theinitial push was Altománof belongsless“I themajority, building. morea derelict in sense.tracked to or this mostnew” people’s memories (2007:47), childhood include the intriguing yetterrifying sight nothing is interest “the that admit also Lewis and High explorers. urban of activity the behind Let’s go! urbexer… asan consciousness alongside goes of The “evolution” is bloghis with the that alsotraceable, gaining name). in the reflected (obsession elements personal differentiating, demonstrating meanwhile can be ininternational concluded thatthey thepatterns line community,are of the with political innuendo. its on elaborate not did and NSA, the at pun the highlighted merely author the it, about when urban politics on the of could However, asked already discussions exploration. open over self-introduction. The second subtitle of thetried to talkyou out of doingit, butstill youI beg to think!” blog became “Nationalshows responsibility the and his seriousness of “Surelywarning: it soundInsecurity”, would if strange I which possiblethe he dangers mightaspotencounter at exploredone lately thus(and publicized) It would not come as a surprise to learn that curiosity iswould factor ahugemotivating learn come It not curiosity asasurprise to that Having looked at Havinglooked ways the of of it Hungarian self-representation the blog,urbexer’s extension of section forthis the headerof calls alteration (May the 2011) A recent Whygo?goagain? 29 CEU eTD Collection of the explorer-minded visitors. explorer-minded the of targets the are they usually and – abandonment their since untouched basically left is etc.) sites, training estates, housing (barracks, edifices ofthe majority the nevertheless, days, these use in are airport, former ofthe tarmac by the security guards, making use of the visitors. Truth be told, parts of the vast territory, forexample the tickets to its visitors, Iwould refute this by saying that it is not astrategic decision, ratherthe tactics employed be that this argued a ticket (from guard)the whichwarns that you entering are sitethe your on own responsibility.Although could it 22 (Ninjalicious) 21 - if caught. as gardening”), maybe that would create a new category forsecuritythe guards too, could and serve excuseas an 20 elseno one is, else where noone where somewhere being of feeling the he meant By freedom freedom”. of and experience the is adrenalin.... Demonstrate Personal Accountability Beyond This Point’” This Beyond Accountability Personal Demonstrate understandthis that is simply a shorthand way saying ’LeavingZone:of Protected behalf of all urbanis on Ninjalicious away. asserts, lineof inthought that It keepingthis adventure-seekers explorers: “When we see a sign that says ’Danger: Do Not I’m planting,Enter’, in which room I want to commit suicide” we keepingare not aneye onhim’,butthey immediately ofwhatI’m think stealing, bomb what longer atmelook as earlier,noperson now people ‘here’s thesilly saying parents and the kid interested in the sites than he is afraid of getting caught. “Although I consider myself the same heis more that Altomán repeated he visits, gototheplaceswhy others the there, cannot whoarenot what himfrom differentiates those When asked about implied inhisdiscourse.) notions related areother, beseen,there shall asit however, ideasliberty, onhis of expressed let me, repeatedly, quote the quote me, repeatedly, let consider it asin. Toshow the integratedness of his attitude into the urban explorer worldview, is himself: heit “taking law, aviolation buthe the feeling” knows acrime,with of doesnot deeds, Altomán he admits has neverhad forconscience entering sucha guilty space and assumed liable for any accidents be to not responsibility”: of “evasion the by it explaining him, for is understandable however, A solution “betwixt and between”: an abandoned Soviet military base in Hungary is visitable upon purchasing “in my opinion, the hobby is no less of a personally assessed risk than smoking, driving or even riding abike” popular as not probably (“though phenomenon accepted an became exploration urban if that remarked Healso ruin of modernity No Disclaimer has beencommodified therefore (and de-authenticized) by act of the selling 21 on the premises, the owner nips the trouble in the bud, by bud, inthe trouble ownernipsthe the onthe premises, : “While it's true that some aspects of the hobby can 20 . The presence of security guards, 22 go. (That was all he explicitly he all was (That go. . Assuming responsibility for. Assuminghis responsibility 30 CEU eTD Collection 23 Nevertheless, curiosity on playfulness. and ones were infact above quoted the nature human cannotbe“the suppressed”. play instinct is restricted to children. Inhis view, more things stem from play than is generally believed, as act the of culture”playing of today’s where the “sadly mistaken side-effect play,objecting to of importance the underlines also Altomán, affirms who say yes,that”, weoften playground, life.” notonly thisidea in2008:71) However, (McRae does “Thisappear is our accounts: etic city… and actively dominates contemporary subverting work the consumption that urban the throughout participants amongst value use and interaction promote to potential the has and space urban with engages actively that play of form is a exploration “Urban triad: spatial topic, in a framework An andcomprehensivebeen master’s hasexhaustive thesis (McRae 2008) written on this set by Henri Lefebvre’s childhood” of be “arediscovery concepts of the to is productionconsidered often exploration Urban playing. of notion atthe arrive soon we associations, of space lineof and curiosity-fear-illegality described above than the rather word, firstby the set the itis not essential for the urbex-experience, which, for him, is an experience of liberty. but “addiction”, tothe mightcontribute that doseof adrenalin” “an extra cake”, the on cherry might.” be areworried thepowersthat harmful,they actually simplybecause but that anything doing for notinto trouble curfew:people get being after laws out against like are against trespassing behappen illegal, to it'snot importantconfuse to words‘illegal’ the and ‘immoral’. Laws Cf. Garrett’s video, It is not due to selection/editing, the only general statements Altomán uttered about uttered Altomán statements general only the selection/editing, to due is not It Returning the initial motivation to of “the is only it him for that believes Altomán illegality, of discussion the Concluding Trespass http://vimeo.com/22932154 23 where derelict spaces serve as playground for the explorers. childhood curiosity . , and moving , and along the path 31 CEU eTD Collection trips: “I’m a sharing person; I like to share the experience”. Besides his avowed preference for preference hisavowed like share “I’m experience”. Besides I trips: a sharing to the person; values it,is it “only a hobby, still”. Concerningthe company, he rarely alonegoes onplanned him when articulated, “well, I would go a lot more often, if I could”, but however much he them. Asanaverage,hegoesexploring 2weeks–a every figure1 or also once that surprised execute to thantime more abound: plans he has targets tips, socurrently numerous received he has well-read) therefore launched advertised, (and blog was Since the paida visit. them On mission. exploration-experience. of nature describesthe the that section in following the argument supportmore this Iwill presentto clues liminal space Turnerian the of anti-structure. of the these constraints all of spaces oneisfree(d) off-limit or abandoned, hidden, visiting While case. informant’s my in missions exploring aim for theurban reason theutmost and is of which liberty” experiencing –the “sense of by andwhich areviolently society. restricted underplayed traces form instinctive manifestation of itself of)a (possible these considers The movement ‘play’ is often differentiatetaken to adults from McRaechildren” 2008:37), by or (law).order of (“the absence expectations bysocial suppressed are however, which, features, human mightplay”.andbe, the creedemphasizes It inherently to then, concluded, that urbex these explore to designed “we're axiom, Ninjalicious’ with in parallel /are coincide they perfectly about whose target he heard by word of of mouth, he looked/sounded andas whose heardbyword target they about actions other are There we didso go”. go, it –wecould was there “we werethere, moment: thespurthe callswere decided on of missions,many ashe them, Headmitsthat and hotels. the top of the tallest building in Hungary, through abandoned railway stations, textile factories In my understanding these explicitly valued concepts inIn my are implicitly valued theseexplicitly understanding alsoconcepts present the Altomán’s blog presentsawide rangeof spaces hehas from explored: metro tunnels to When, where, with whom, what’s there? social order , of structure … as he is in the interesting , he , 32 CEU eTD Collection particular site, an abandoned train-maintenance hall inBudapest hall train-maintenance abandoned site, an particular one at consideration into taken be to need that dangers the about warns he in which post in is mentioned already sense me”. with the reflected of responsibility exploring together This each other... Maybe it’s just me who is so sentimental… but no one should die while 25 visit the spot: that is why he felt the need for raising awareness about the perils.facebook.com on Altomán of was multiplied from 15to 166. (1June 2011)of followers Large part of feedbackthe number Altomán the receivedalso expressed will to the of3; average the to compared post the to “likes” 1186 days as it usually attracts in half a year(Altomán’s personal communication). In numerical terms that means (http://hvg.hu/napi_merites/20110529_budapest_mav_temeto), itbroughtthat asmany to blogthe tworeaders in 24 good improved: photos” “itto take would begood the means conveying Heaccepts importanceas of photography of the least. the historian-minded photography, “a or bit as himself of those with obsessed history,all”, architecture classifying structure of the building,provides merelyon blog.the He history a uses gatherinformationas tool, to about the for example. he information the My frequently correct/complement – commenters necessary” “than research informant differentiatesthe “target”. It is also present three in Altomán’s case, even typesthough he admittedly doesof not do moreurbexers: exploration. for specific site the recommended a bit likegroups, one might explore solitarily too, as a “lone wolf who discovers himself this way… it’s meditation”,in set out itissmall to encouraged Although but practicality.widespread sentimentality, internationalthe urbex community,Altomán’s caring for fellow urbexersis not unique my informant assumes. He often of division goes withcrowds): “we push each other, provoke... so that no one chickens out”; it makes a spontaneous the of people,a team-exploration othernot he advantages (2-3 community, acknowledges people who might remind us of the criticism against urban explorers, by authors of by of authors the urban explorers,remind might against usof criticism the Photos from Altomán’s blog to be found in befound to blog Altomán’s from Photos The post about it was so popular, probably because it was featured on a huge news portal experience Most urbex narratives I have read include, to some urbex ahistorical to Ihavereadinclude, Most narratives of description extent, labour , to share on it he, to with his blog,the couldothers though thinksbe skills possible, “we possible, can pay moreattention to things… andmore attention to Appendix 1 Appendix . 25 . His tripartite classification, however, classification, . His tripartite 24 . Compared to the reports of Corporate 33 CEU eTD Collection [of edifices] by the surrounding lush bio-sarcophagus”. He often compares the exploration to exploration the compares often He bio-sarcophagus”. lush surrounding the by edifices] [of “mummification” of result the encounter you level, as another on is where decay present core, of the sites: sometimes feeling” “multi-layered about youwrites Altomán also layered temporality”. a contemplate us to have to find your way throughstrike As the visitors. (Hell, Barndt Schönle270)says2010: “ruinsinvite are that palimpsests the apparent putrefaction past(s) necessarily distant) of (not the spaces remnants thesederelict such In tosites. restricted to the related abandonedto buildings, despite the fact urbex, that his and is personal too, practice not experience islikefor “representative”explorer. urban the the space (its history,engage with to possibility the freedom andthe of (Turner 1977), pure potency formless state social memory)temporal, spatial, and alsoin social distances a new way. Let not only its “out visitors take of space andtime” is (indeed, urban ajourneyexploration usover now turn to what this liminal and the materiality era. The of anda passed materiality the 379) It is about past (history) the way they experience it now, in the present, through the space placescentre”marginsbodies (2011: to brought history on but andabout inplaces about the of “production aboutis the it not dilemma: answers this that from chapter an earlier argument never been acquainted before soclosely. before been acquainted never had they population, blue-collar a of the past-reality experience often They functioning. still were they if not, 27 26 beautiful photos perceive create grab them context, them historical as meretimeless of theirplaygrounds, out ruins, these abstract only urbexers Do is important. itraises question the however, more – andLewis could by statement2007: 55).This berefuted sayingthey never aspired that tobe (High feelings” and collage of observations impressionistic morean than a little are narratives Wasteland I refer to social distance as urban explorers (mostly(Barndt:275) time” middle-class youth) offrozen realm tend aesthetic to “the visit facilities into that theyDecontextualised would It is interesting to note that the most extensive descriptions on Altomán’s blog are , for example: they are “more interested in aesthetics than history… [their] history… than aesthetics in interested “more are they example: for , 26 of the inevitable decay in the circle of life…? In my opinion, it is Garret’s it opinion, my In life…? of circle the in decay inevitable the of anti-structural 27 ), but by its anti-structural liberty it creates the creates it liberty anti-structural its by but ), nature of the ruin, I would argue, does 34 CEU eTD Collection selected, organized, contextualized for the public, during an urbex-visit each step of each step public,duringthe the organized, for urbex-visit contextualized an selected, conventional representations of history in museums, or history books) events/ objects are memory / (e.g. “official”narrativesheritage.construction of Whileinthecase of past subvert oreven institutionally presented, “cosmeticized” picture it, the question understanding of component.” for is the beautylooking peoplesay are “I above the what hedeclares: wouldn't as if criticism to responding of decayconsumption. It's the thrill of getting topeek behind the scenes and see the realso situation”, and much for public designed not asauthentic, something “a of glimpse getting feeling of is a explores the beautyMore real of– authentic authenticity,– reality. Ninjalicious also claims that what draws him to the places he of which decay is a actual experience: the by is overcome fact historical this however, hall; atrain-maintenance as only station, visit above -which“deadthe to innever mentioned station” fact railway functioned as a 28 past of the andthe objects building research,the historical previous the of Regardless describe”. time). vs. subjective (objective too in urbex narratives other element recurring is a lasted exploration the long how tell beingto able not time: of theperception affects years ago definitely has a bizarre, voyeuristic frozen”.“timeWalking haspractically inside furniture, left among newspapers the clothes, feel to where it. and This neglected, abruptly were that travel homes) (even spaces entering inwhen timetime-travel, (historically) also In aninterview with Dylan Trigg. lend themselves to be to themselves lend 100% authentic material. Reality show. authentic Reality material. 100% andsincewere dumped then heredecadesago, has touched them.only time the make-up,noThese gutting! of inthemuseums. No cosmeticized preparations any than real more were they although - real not were they that afraid We went there, looked at the trains, and even touched them, as if we were The experience ofbeing inthis rather:time-less explicitly (or spaces istimed) “hard to 28 Experiencing the Experiencing experienced http://side-effects.blogspot.com/2005/08/ninjalicious-1973-2005.html authentic . Let me quote at length Altomán’s narrative about his atlength narrative Altomán’s about me . Let quote qualities of the of things qualities past might shade our might 35 CEU eTD Collection andeffects this what awakening had. from see approaching it he sideof figureto how itsthe emblematic “gained consciousness” in Hungary, such, as phenomenon urbex the to turn to like now would I experience, “We are notalone!!” liminal status that facilitates the construction of new narratives of the past. regulatory ofmemory discourse usingabandonedpolitics, spaces, urban and ruins their Garret: think” feel whatto youto how tell to one them (“no these urban ruins(with freedom linkedmateriality),the andinterpret anti-structural the to sensory the through that engagement Iwould with remains (Huyssen argue 1995). personal (Jedlowski 2001: 29).Although institutionsmemory, are there needthe rememberof to of recall” faculty human the …exteriorize instruments technical more sophisticated urban amnesia fight to step conscious) necessarily even be a(not might This explorer. the is up to process exploration therefore can be seen as the de Certeau-ian de the as beseen can therefore exploration strategies way the the than 2005b): other (Edensor otherwise” articulated and experienced, practised can engagement be sites called“alternative may“wherememory”,of be remembering and personalizing it. six waysimagining, of past: questioning,experiencing the reconstructing, sensing reading, Whichever is the way,memory to(2010)establishes “forgotten places”,in Harris examining the wayurbexersrelate the spaces that create While of narratives city. their own the of shape theirpastandconstruct the understanding the platform for such an Following the description (and analysis) of Following analysis)of explorer the description nature the urban the (and of determine how memory is to be spatialized, inscribed upon space. The act of of inscribedurban act be isspace. The memory how upon spatialized, to determine , result of tendencythe by highlighted social memory scholars in “everwhich Who arewe? Place Hacking tactics vis-à-vis the ), urban explorers strategic 36 , CEU eTD Collection 30 29 did it name influential he things of askedone And most blogsthe urban-related spreadthe word. to shouldn’t be!! Altomans of the world, unite!” In his joy us, aswhatwe dois you, mostly we arethere,above you, under illegal, but everywhere at we the discovery and at being able to alone!”“You rarelyhear“We entitledof not he writes, are 2010post September enthusiastic childlike- the In spaces. abandoned and heights urban with obsession his with one only the not he is that recognition” fantastic “the arrive at to internet-research athorough initiated he so suspicious, him made him to recommended youtube-videos were that Two shortly.” thing this refer to whole be ableto “altomán”to word coined the why I things,other that’s formulating whatthis hobby/characteristic ofmine is, whatthisis blog all etc.about, Among problems had always “I’ve later: months only exploration” “urban term the with acquainted in gaining entry, etc. ( These numbers are increasing.) When asked about the demographic the When asked about increasing.) (Thesenumbers are in entry, etc. gaining group the of interested so-calledwhothe are in supporters, active it, tips onspots give joinhim;is and occasionally people who onthefield; there awiderof circle 10-20 actively are who explorers, urban fellow 10 about with touch in been has he then, Since good!” “great, Ibroughtyouits name, guys,from now on me,contact let’s itdo together, ‘cause it’s also doing but knowit this, Ididn’t hasaname”. Myinformant washappyhearing this: exploration. urban been especiallyeventful in sense, this apparentlyaturningin point public-awarenessthe of with namethis is considered tobe interesting. Thetime of writing this thesis, May has 2011 inintroduced this(radiocafé he showthat 98.6,tilos Hungary rádio), phenomenon all which (index.hu, blog.hu, hg.hu, hvg.hu),interviewed he was in of programmes radio stations “I know about a place.. someone could have a look…” a have could someone place.. a about know “I http://urbanista.blog.hu/2010/10/19/urbex_tiltott_kalandok_budapesten 29 As it hasbeenmentioned earlier, Altomán hisstarted blog in April 2010 butgot He has received many comments and private messages, large part of “I’m of large messages,which says, part and He hasmany private comments received : since October Altomán’s blog was featured on often-visited Hungarian featuredonoften-visitedHungarian Altomán’s: since October blogwebsites was 30 , help , 37 CEU eTD Collection Earth is be motivation “noshared”. Besidesthismain hebeingdone to of posting, hypocrite”, we doon “everything has that asit Hebelieves, beenseen, mightalso beinterested”. “others for form the a blog since can of systematically.Heopted his adventures documentauthor According Altomán, to blog the for waslaunched personal reasons: sothat absent-mindedthe chapter by this now “diary”,Iam analyzing from to observeitreturning perspective. this blogs of Altomán halves Hungarianand (“the alterbp two of urbex”). Although the I started require self-awareness?) “affiliation”. actual their of unaware practitioners numerous leave says). AsIseeit, this was step openingan eye (and door) one, which nevertheless still will local Altomán one starting(by ablog,“just discovering the name– right atthe time”, he (High and Lewis 2007:43)–Hungary hasjoined also this by dialogue, setting upits own a worldwide dialogue havingisNinjalicious term, andthus starting with coined the credited interest. common he a shares with whom finds people also and easily more resources to is sufficient. inemails communication being, for thetime that headmits However, efficiently. more trips ideas, organizing of exchange Altomán is also consideringlaunching aforum as an online for center discussions and thirty” and (High 2007:42).Following Lewis original, the example, North-American and fifteen of ages the between youth middle-class white, “mainly of consists that population between 15 and 35,with a medianof years.24 This to corresponds internationalthe urbexer- is members agerange the active the of sample” Hungarian 10-member representative the from logically,even are “from gardening, not setting,an Urbexers, urban skateboarding”. and i.e. it: “stratum-hobby”, not of “it’s population the only a small practices percentage Altomán community”, phenomenon ofasa the described features this “urbex-related In lack of a central forum, the visible hubs of the Hungarian urban explorer-life are the are explorer-life urban Hungarian the of hubs visible the forum, acentral of lack In Havingname a for the activity means you about can it:talk myinformant access gets (Does being an urbexer (Does beingan 38 CEU eTD Collection prolongation of liminality would result in a liminoid status, in Turner’s terminology, which I which terminology, in Turner’s status, liminoid in a result would liminality of prolongation a (Such actions. their of nature tactical the keep also they was This way. permanent any in spaces these use to want not do they squatters, not are explorers urban that underline to is crucial it – temporary therefore istransitory, liminality However, etc.). past, the narratives of interpret and construct to materiality/past, engage with discover,to play,(to to social whichnorms, prescribedorder), peoplegrants thesense liberty of – on various levels of constraints the (outside in of are a state they anti-structure functions, they are between urban ruins they into.venture to live and engage with city the within the city are made possible by liminalitythe of the tactics claim their urbanthat spaces.I in nature of abandoned focusing exploration the on the compliment. collage[s] of observationsby andeven personal, ifexhaustive, nature, wereclassified assimple“impressionistic they and feelings”, I would areindeed had His you reports you been in willall there”. think reported a way that such take High and and photo-documented Lewis’be amply will plans executed all that question no is critical “There reader: the remark as a experienceyear, the discussing itself – inaDecember2010post for next plans the hecalms the of sharing the means he sharing By earlier). discussed as well-being, physical their as aware of the responsibility towards his readers (even regardingit. Fullstop.”Both interviewthe implied and posts the the priority of formerthe drive: he is the quality of photos, as well of part also me.It’s That’s that. Idid “Yes, comments: complimenting he appreciates admits Abandoned urban spaces can be considered liminal sense,because inliminal be the Turner-ian spacescan considered Abandoned urban In this chapter I attempted to present the urbex movement, via the Hungarian epitome, Hungarian the via movement, urbex the present to attempted I chapter this In accomplished Mission . What’s it all about? 39 CEU eTD Collection then? then? (Garret: hacking exploration similarto of Areurban tactics the (Morrisan official 2004:678). order” to of ‘resistance’ are “instances system,the they overthrow aspire donot to ingeneral Tactics smash the state, just to ignore its advice on a subjectit doesn't really know much about.” seek to We fighters. don't generally aren't urban explorers “but saysNinjalicious, citizens”, for the fight reclaim thecity, to missions seen as be theymight Their tactics performed emerge”(Dawdy 2010:777). formscan new social citizenship” “tearsthe 1999): they (Holston in fabric through are atspaciotemporal the which of the city are the epitome of innovation spaces renewal, urbexersliminal tactician and in reading creativity.this In the of pure potential, as canbe seen of a source “polluted” the “otherness” MaryDouglas the according(1966): to the possibility or polluted, taboo considered criticised, of isoften of borders categories beingon potential; social change, of “insurgent that isthat many presenton levels. If being andbeingmeans urban it conscious about having an of a growing“conscious andstrengthening urban-ness”urban (Altomán) (or conscious-ness?) maybe manifestations of are simply show system? Or they weaknesses the in the Breaking to colonization – tofurther loaded amplify ideologically the term their appropriation, meanstheir of them photo a taking whether of spaces; these state this transitory freezes/prolongs/contradicts actoftemporary, the observehow photographing bewould to paper, of outsidescope present the aspect, (Aninteresting andrenovated reused. demolished/are latercollapse/are buildings these or nature: sooner liminal, transitory nature one cannotspend there as much time as wished, and on the other, precisely due to their off-limits their to due hand, one the on temporarily: only But space. the embody signify, they visits tothese spaces. Theymake them appropriateplaces, them,but only i.e.temporarily – often repeated, though short, it Urbexerspay earlier.) to as Ireferred problematic find highly Liminality,in-betweenness is perceived by as Turner experiencethe of unrealized Place Hacking ), I repeat the question, now in a slightly different context. different slightly in a now question, the repeat I ), right tothecity explorer –“since cities should befor . ) 40 CEU eTD Collection of emotional and memorial successfully with theirsurroundings.” bond stronger a develop to seem do really Explorers them. about care to start thus and places way peopleismeans“Certainlyintimate get achieving it. agood going exploring of with to http://side-effects.blogspot.com/2005/08/ninjalicious-1973-2005.html 31 embodied spatial experience of the city as a Dylan Trigg interview withNinalicious at temporarily inhabited those sites of material history and constructed assemblages history constructed material and of sites those inhabited 31 attachments Or,as Bradley writesGarret on his explorer-experience,“I .” ( Place Hacking lived space , then urban exploration definitely is a is definitely exploration urban then , ; emphasis mine) ; emphasis 41 CEU eTD Collection 33 MA https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFNZQ2dJR0R1QnQteHdfa0NKd3RYMHc6 found in before/after the trips, besides general impressions. Itwas filled out by 42 informants. The questionnaire is to be 32 resultsthe of a questionnairefilled out by participants of lastthe walkin May 2011 on “participant and observation” on itscurator/organizer/manager, with aninterview based on of exploration urban this subcase present Iwill ‘granddiscourse’. the besides visited sites the organizer’sinner motivation,it also, and lays emphasison personal the (hi)stories related to awareness of initiative the might ofKÉK appear tobean highly(raising institutionalized program official, the built heritage), firstabandonedindustrial facilities,Although hospitals,‘urbanglance etc. closed walks’ at to it guided organized and discover with Budapest: engage and to solution tactical on another is only partly steps This frameout of subchapter the urban of strictly focus the understood exploration, to so: it stems from and depends on the the opening of the KÉK-headquarter, in September 2006. In cooperation with Cultural the inwith In cooperation 2006. September KÉK-headquarter, openingthe the of into. In fact, it was one of the initial ideas, as the first walk was organised three months after public” general the and professionals multidisciplinary among innovation and awareness education, beaiming an“independent to cultural open to all,centre, architectural whichpromotes History. conferences. Itis this wide range of activities that international and symposia, series, lecture debates, film clubs, workshops, exhibitions, into centredrawing of the public attention viavarious means: architecture environment, The The 10-item online questionnaire inquired about previous experience, motivationand focus of attention http://kek.org.hu/index.php?page=a_kek_celjai 33 The Hungarian Contemporary Architecture Centre Centre (KÉK) founded in2006, Architecture was The Contemporary Hungarian 5.2. Urban Walks Appendix 4 Appendix Howcome? . Since then it has promoted it city,hasthe its built. Since dialoguethe and thenpromoted culture our about , or at: Városi Séták(UrbanWalks) is incorporated 32 . 42 CEU eTD Collection are to be found at the program’s website: program’s atthe befound to are planned and ofprevious anddestinations dates All concrete’. of ‘exposed applicability the on focus Other KÉK-walkswander invite us“walls “peep among mysterious past”,to of under to the same. the not is probably adventures these of nature the however, – too experience urbex the partof is important thrill an for adventure, public”. search The “culture-adventure-seeker the The operation hall plantgrantis a power a “spine-chilling saidof experience to of space” to architecture.” andto interested open 38 overview of the visited sites. 37 36 2007. - December centre cultural as re-functionalised Factory Scenery Theatrical 35 http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/heritage/EHD/Presentation_en.asp theme. aspecific to according year, each weekend one for public” the to closed normally 34 farfrom that isnot vocabulary the –apparently “expedition” word the feature DaysHeritage program reappearing for reuse–the industrial facilities waiting towers, abandoned water public buildings, “Functionless us: informs website The program’s set objectives? explicitly Whatare the facilities industrial functioning season of first initiated The thus visited. were towers water two and its renovation) before mill a (right to) referred stations of metroline four, which is beingcurrently constructed some and reconstruction, under/after synagogues Castle Hill, footBazár at of the the Várkert then, organized visitsseason started in April 2010 in havethe recently closed mental asylum in Lipótmez been paid to a former init secondthe 2009.Following alongSeptember and arrangement process organizing paper factory,suspendedyears for –until KG power plant, a church, the These last trips were integral parts of a program series organized by KÉK ( His initials are to be used throughout the paper. Dreher Brewery – October2006, Kelenföld Powerplant -December2006, Törley winery – June 2007, former This programme in within an international framework that consists of “opening up historical buildings http://kek.org.hu/varosisetak/setak/aktualis/ What connects these various sites? What is behind sites? What thediscourse the thesevarious connects What Urban Walks 34 Urban Walks , as a pre-session to a conference on industrial heritage (that I already organized by KÉK of byKÉK experience offer the organized 36 35 , an active then-volunteer for KÉK had the idea to resuscitate ideato for KÉKhadthe then-volunteer , anactive . Afterwards, due to personal reasons, the program was http://kek.org.hu/varosisetak/setak/aktualis/ consisted of 5 trips in 15 months, toformer or partly still 38 (emphasis mine) The invitations to each to often trip Theinvitations mine) (emphasis 37 Betontavasz . ,together with ahistorical ) during the spring with spring the ) during discovery Ę (OPNI). Since Urban Walks exploration UrbanWalks to those to 43 ? . CEU eTD Collection phenomenon of urgepeoplethat tojoin visitsabandoned to too. Nevertheless, spaces, when examining the motivatedwithout participantswork, I will the not mainfactors presentthe expeditions would since However, trajectory. its determines that motivation KG’s mostly is it mission, their an organization fully backs the revitalized program that fitsMotivation their agenda and corresponds to beremains answered. to of representation social and political processes.” of economic, cultural, a vital component but task isolated constructional is no “architecture manifesto, centre’s inthe stated is it as phenomena, mentioned above the all provokes, host, be explained by fact itis that the “taken for granted” itby KÉK:isbuilt the environment that start by observing it. organizerthe is that tobehighlighted, himbeingTherefore theagent behind Ishall event. the 39 differ. Having no or little reference to the architectural discoveries in case of the achieve means them to nature and eventhoughtheir the of paper, the in section the previous Walks promotion implies and discovery,with duringengagement adventure, past the the aswe but, haveis definitely seen, of experience.the part Summing language up,the of objective, the regarding indiscourse urbex the (necessarily)explicitis not past the towards layers” find“whatdeeper life of a building, to waslike out -such oriented once” interest an http://kek.org.hu/index.php?page=kialtvany , in derelict edifices, echoing the main themes of the urban exploration-type presented of main urban exploration-type the themes the echoing edifices, in , derelict Having observed the language (and the related notions) of the public(ized) self- thepublic(ized) of notions) related the (and language the observed Having From the interview with the curator of the curator the interview with From the . Whose? Urban Walks Urban Walks Urban as a creative way operation,of as a 39 , the question of motivation behind such an initiative still Walks itbecame clear that although KÉK as tactic , itis the motivation of Walks Urban could 44 CEU eTD Collection consciousness about the hidden values, directing attention towards edifices: derelictthese attention towards thehidden values, consciousness about directing raising about conscious also is KG however, hand, other the On experience. first-hand on but blogs/forums,for except notrelying only andon photos narratives toconvey sensations,the of practice urbexers’ the to is similar possibilitylarger for enter groups to buildings otherwise closed to thepublic. myit In reading, the as heprovides discovery” of andthe“experience share adventure the he to aims least)transmitting this (at twofoldby Onthe onehand, experience. organizing and KGvalues, feels decaying show them a“mission”to as to others well, for precisely city”. fabricthe of the “saturate and edifices haunt whichthese about, (2005b) writes Edensor mundane of space” “ghost “spirit of the place” that KGmentioned as an element that attracts visitors might be in fact the The visible”. the of identities invisible the indicate demonstratives there… longer isno what can be seen What designates “theabsences. presencesof diverse aboutplaces: (1998:108) what excavatingknow and “deeperthe to getting layers environment,of our of city”,know our to inviting amost relevantperson asfor a each guide walk. Hevaluesdiscovery in the sense of by tothesebuilding, stories” of connected “human theimportance the why he underlines related to knowing and feeling that “something wasfunctioning here that nolonger is”, that is the past era in which “charm down to the of puts which hepartly “aura” spaces,their the of atmosphere interesting” it was built” thatcondition. is tangible even theirvalues, of poor artistic regardless of isarchitectural, discovery edifices their the in decay. On theBut other to derelict these drawshim,futurepersonally architect, program the a asawhole.series What hand,beyond it is the visible, observable elements, he talks about “the strange, was Besides experiencing these haunted spaces himself and getting to know their know hidden himself and to getting spaces haunted experiencing these Besides KG’s motives the concerning there – through what observing –through there Walks sharing is are twofold, different for particular trips and for still there. It might evoke de Certeau’s lines might deCerteau’s evoke It still there. their missions with larger audiences on audiences larger with missions their Urban Walks 45 CEU eTD Collection think of going theses places”, shows that these that shows places”, goingthink theses of together with suchopinions as “these trips areinteresting preciselybecause Iwould never conscious explorer-mindedness lack of one half,andthe it of in 50%.This the other fact, and curiosity the shows hand one the on this, Obviously, interest. of destinations/areas either individually or in frame of the of frame in or individually either hidden inspaces. Whenaskedlist to parts/spots Budapest they that likewould explore to interestingnote that to only one respondenthighlighted aspecial in interest abandoned, curiosity were in the secondandarchitecture interest mostismotivations. popular It meansvisit reasons; not among listed the “by answersite” the Icouldthe (61%) other participants joining the happened by themselves. ...Urban isexploration good”. them “thecompetitors: best would beif even havethese didn’t tobe organized, they just 19 forlet, example the to accepted” besocially “itwon’t indirectly:even future, theireffect on 40 Walks to restricted isnot public the theeyeof toopen and experience places the to both venturing into apartly abandonedrenovated His publicbath in Budapest). senseof“mission” and urbex (i.e. in curiosity his “previous once his manifested inherentthat experience” hefact finds he tospots that organizes exciting, the above, described walks interestpersonal upwasitis take not onlyhis byhis for contradicted KG of sake, course ironically. remarks It might he that organization of face and challenges the effort” the take KG]to [for inspiration making them He mentioned the examples of the alterative city tours of BeyondBudapest or ImagineBudapest. or of BeyondBudapest tours city alterative ofthe examples the Hementioned th -century buildings of the Várkert, “rot”. This sense of , he acknowledges other initiatives with to some extent similar aims extent some to with initiatives other he acknowledges , After lookinglet organizer’smotivation, atthe ideas usnowturn tothe behind the visible . He believes that making people notice their present state couldhave an state making their present notice people that . Hebelieves Walks. According to the results of the questionnaire most people most of results the questionnaire the According to Walks, Walks half marked informants the of specific still need to bestill need toorganized,reflecting on responsibility 40 serves as“good serves , not considering not , Urban 46 CEU eTD Collection an abandoned railway station inBudapest. 41 relatedother online andis some thousandat subscribers, organization, reachingpublicized 3 monthsfactfind person. The up to the proper the tothat issuing apermit. being in This usually results 4-5 projects organized inparallel, asitcan take liminal status of these abandoned buildings: finding the owner,or responsiblethose for destination which isdo challengingwith most decided,the alsohas period starts, to the “walking with more open eyes”, from from press,ideas exploring. for aregathered hethe destinations The worth finds or by word of mouth, as in the caseWalks of urbexers. Once the destinations: “it’s arean extra”. otherwise He wanted tonot continue visitable. the trend Organization setIt by isthe anfirst important season of the feature foralso to the possibility of (even individual)KG urban exploration, in the broad assense of the word. well, when heritage but architectural deteriorating tothe be aneye-opener UrbanWalkswillnotonly the selectingmaybe – before buildings similar explored/visited have to admitted informants of the fourth the KG’s wish mentioned in lastparagraph,the however, awareness is being raised. Only one program, information is sent out prior to each contestorder. the to ifnot even the considering idea the of it,situation”. this factsupports AsIsee a “itclear-cut creates organization: is rejected mere curiosity usually of on grounds enter to authorization since requesting in terms, important practical isKÉK of Or the permit is sold fora price, as seenfor instance, in the case of the previously mentioned military base, or in 2006, featuring in 2006, industrial urban butfacilities, including also otherpublic buildings As we have seen the main motivating factor forgo is participants places As wehave motivatingfactor to which seen themain to Advertising, raising awareness of walksthe isthemselves vital.As a KÉK-branded . How?Who? Walks a tactic, inasmuch as it uses the institutional asitinasmuch in tools way, institutional a creative a tactic, uses the 41 , as opposed , asopposed professionalto the backed interest by an expedition via the electronic newsletter of the Urban Walks is under the auspices 47 CEU eTD Collection “being simply there – vital a guide of is presence needed”. considersthe is He some coordination fallsapart... all not enough”, someonebalance…it’s not good if whowe always move as a group [following the isguide], noris it goodif it able to talk about theafter informative guiding.Whilehe appreciates both, he says“wefind need to a the place is a “bigdifferentsimilarinterest extents) (to from too:individual participants the explorations during/ values.its Heexpectsandlearning architectural/historical discovering about andobserves of site, place”,while also “spirit the the exploring space for double: KGexperiencing the was Experience -knowledge. eversince. elevated andbeen hasrelatively registrations), the higheststates Based datathe curator necessary.these that making on visiting group, pre-registration level would takein permitsthe “as many liketo frequently limitas but possible”, sizethe of the of interest media of types was in offriendswas evenly sources anddifferent between distributed 60% other the newsletter, case of the first walk to OPNI (almost 200 pre- active participationof residents/owners/employees and was widely advertised on TV, radio and on the internet.residential buildings of capital the in April 2011.The event and that offered public guided walks several inof edifices the centenary relied on the the celebrated that KÉK and by OSA project joint a programme, “Budapest100” 42 know about the myto factrespondents got third only that to the of one in of intellectual Thisunder-representation this ones. random bearchitects sample might due exception almostwithout having range, though (91%), onawide architect occupations the results of the survey, is hemostly This profession confirmed participants, expectation by the of expects “civilians”. according to which address intend fields,information toAlthoughKGhaspeopleno from other too. aboutthe the vast majority is it Whileinterfaces. KÉK’sis main focus from they credo that architecture, theirobvious was not (studying to be) an It to behas admitted that many respondents were familiarized withKÉK through thesuccessful As we have seen earlier the most attracting features of a visit to an urban visit abandoned features to a of most attracting the have earlier As we seen 42 . Regarding the average number of participants, KG estimates 60-80.He KG estimates of number participants, average . Regarding the And / or? Walks from the KÉK- 48 CEU eTD Collection info history), ‘to you?” Besides ‘fun’, ‘entertainment’, ‘social event’, the expressions “Whatdo question the to answers inthe articulated wasalso tendency This thepersonalnarratives. with to regards was 70% which ratio 5), ascale of (marks 4-5on Around 80%considered the historical andinformation architectural fairly highly important or participants, andover the sensory, haspriority explorative space. with engagement the information factual (both and personal memory-based) is valued highly among the videoinstallations. or form concerts space” in of the short onthis reflects see how an artist is interesting to “It layer. providinganew too, history” isbelieves“cultural for KG. this the occasionally walksand“thethat reason It events color” space”, of the history tothe “adds itself walkthe actof the state, present the of understanding to the edifices insetting. (Also,different according to my informant, there are always participants ways.) who were also in specific spacio-temporal related narration that themselves, walkandthe guide’s basedonthe Similarly tofor participants the signifying theplace tothe actof 1998:107)contribute (de Certeau the way relics” “verbal the thesethat believe I nostalgia, and loss people’s other stories experience only present the of the pastAlthough itmight through be arguedthat these narratives personal visitorsthe of of past the shade the 43 1998: 106),adding official tothe discoursewhat on place the was (deCerteau: “local authorities” practices”, “signifying tell, they are The stories a hospital). site in some way, tobe “an organic part of the place” (director of a paper factory, nurses from personal relation the building. KG carefully chooses guides, if possible, to be attached to the andtheir about its history and architecture, talk about to place: the To talkplus”. about Local vs. histories history production. Cf.Garrett 2011:379. ’ were recurring elements, such as phrases concerning the ’ were such phrases concerning recurringelements, as Based on the results of the survey it can be stated that guide’s presence, as a source of source as a guide’s presence, that be stated can it survey the of results the Based on know more about the city’, ‘being city’, the about more informed ’, ‘gatheringbackground interesting knowledge (re)discovery Urban Walks supposed (related toart/ to mean (of the mean to 49 43 . CEU eTD Collection that might notbe repeated. These are unique events; there is no guarantee that a permit will be achievemeansitsitsfor aim, tobut momentariness: advantageofopportunities also it takes of the urban fabric. I argueestablishing)narratives different linked tothem, exploring thus and signifying these segments for its tactical nature (alsonormally know buildings andgetting notvisitable derelictCerteau-ian entering to tactic, not only due to its creative use of official space” the with interact people“how show here”,that not who those were speak to “which photographs create to is aim his however, sell”, “that photos take to easy is relatively it environments of the eventparticipating in was trip the Inaninformalphotography. interview the official photographer seriesmarked questionnairethe as “artistic for purposes” also 2individuals’ applicable, motivation (whosemoment’ and take photos, mostly for aims of documentation. One third of those who filled out works‘capture my important considered(fairly/highly)itAlmost tothe of 75% respondents are posted on the website) told me that in these 45 44 curator. of aim the itis– as them (awareness-raising) about the becomevisible, signified, and relevant toawide audience that can further transmit do buildings centre-periphery. derelict These visible”becomes –evokingconcepts critical the imprint of an era”, while hisbestdescribed yet another one characterized informant Another them.”my make “Iof place through (urban)city space: appropriates the tourshe that acquired there) isit (andtheinformation walks viathese expressedthat explicitly as events “when invisible neighborhood/ hidden,forgotten a buildings) or ‘ Photos of the questionnaire. in the answers as mentioned are terms Both However, an However, This section of This section the of paperpresented the 45 . Urban Walks Urban Walks Urban Walk taken by the official photographer are to be found in befound to are photographer official by the taken experience (to the Rákosi bunker) as finding an “invisible findingan bunker)as the Rákosi (to experience is not only an intellectual but also a “visual experience” a “visual also but intellectual an only not is fresh look Urban Walks on built heritage’. One respondent One heritage’. built on initiative, understood as a de initiative, understood Appendix 2 . knowledge 50 44 . CEU eTD Collection we wanted to”, exploring the space. exploringto”, the we wanted wherever went we building… in the wander just and us, of three in the go could we before, best memories connected to connected memories best Also, to counterbalance the priorities given, let me finish this section by referring to KG’s but by the setting, environment in which they were heard, i.e. they are part of i.e. inbut heard,of arepartby setting,environment whichthey were the they the buildings behindnot onlysignified and objectsleft through are heard stories aboutthem the during thevisits. Inmy however, the opinion, of discovery experience information spatial toasensory, compared to moregiving emphasis business-like activity does – neither northe to, organizer could want he. a into be transformed to is not it destinations: andfixed fixeddates with commercialized, etc. For the time deteriorate issuedan hinders building’sthe condition does not again,that to extent that visits, being, this prevents this tactic to be taken over by strategies. Or to be The results of a questionnaire showed a tendency among the participants towards Urban Walks – “it’s the OPNI, no doubt. Not the Not doubt. no OPNI, the “it’s empty “ semiotic vessels semiotic ” of the ruinous Walk experience itself, but 51 . CEU eTD Collection tactics, they are strongly connected tothe connected strongly are they tactics, individual mostly Being bedescribed. will one chosen a not some, all; not here, mentioned Urban Walks, toincludeimportant others in paper,mentioningthe them samethe at levelas urbex and the it Iconsider of haveHowever, already. been two which described forms, realized invarious asa can be here,tactic understood exploration, Urban circumstances. andthe their creator it aims to present. neither inlength,nor depth; despite precisely because and heterogeneity of the of group the notThis aspire does providechapter to anethnography-analysis asthe – chapters previous it – only that Ididn’t /don’t call it anything…. So ithas a name?!” Being unaware nameof of received, as I have already referred to, werehe testimonies: comments the of majority “I vast also the used to do blogosphere, / have Hungarian been the in doing phenomenon the “What's inaname?” hidden parts of theirever city – without havingheard of term the urban exploration.) sharingindividuals portals, whogo on walks bythemselves todiscover unknown and often inpeople interested spaces, urban entitledderelict albums ‘abandonment’on different photo- especially course of the research, asurprisinglyhave the encountered during numberlarge I of reasons. different for city the exploring individuals numerous relevant: be to thought is importance “sociological” joint papertheir this For present turn. a easily psychological take Tactics are defined as “creative ways of operation”: their forms vary theirforms on vary “creative Tactics aredefined ways depending as of operation”: After Altomán gained consciousness as an urban explorer, and spread the word about and by years ago, topic two the eversince Ibecamefascinated note: (On apersonal 5.3. Individual tactics to emphasize the variegation of the whole set. Some practices will be will practices Some set. thewhole of variegation the emphasize to tactician’s personality; therefore an analysis might analysis an therefore personality; 52 CEU eTD Collection seen in the previous chapter such artistic motivations can to such set someone motivations seen in artistic chapter previous the individual,M, mentioned photography as of part inhis art briefthe introduction– aswehave One countryside. in the also but Budapest, in mostly spaces abandoned of explorations photo-sharing sites on internetthe with the label “abandoned”. These often testify to thorough Photos, footprints. Unlike many others. “couldn’t capture wholethe thing”; he prefers sharing his with discoveries in others speech. be duringA defined, “madesenseof”. “solved”, photos never takes his sincehe walks, to have spaces that indefinite,ambiguous they are areobstacles, buildings closed abandoned, transparency: he would like to like hewould transparency: for need his about conscious been) always has is (and He city. the neighborhood, the map to intention with the inBudapest, walks long takes heoften However, that”. time for the neither in the strict, nor in the broad sense in which itis has been used in the paper. exploration, urban for a criterion not is it –although exploration urban with identifying legally”, the Cultural to referring DaysHeritage frightened Programme. Illegality manyfrom less andalso, a lot butextremely, awideraudience, with “I’m this inpracticing acomment, makingit clearidentify that she doesn’t Altomán’s identity,with urban him explorer to wrote aboutquestions, definition the too, of itandcomprises. the range activities blogger, One raises It consciousness. itraises importantly,most but practices, the of re-evaluation cause might anewdiscourse, to access gives of activity an such however, name, Learning the read the –they produce. text practicingthey cannot reflexivity are not especially) (walkers, actionthe bears novalue judgment, deCerteau (1998: 93)also most states that city dwellers In Hungary, as in many other countries, one can easily find pictures uploadedto easilyfindpictures one can in countries, many In as other Hungary, A isanother tactician who does not consider himself an urban explorer: “I don’t have don’t “I explorer: urban an himself consider not does who know the place, as that would grant him security. The explore . Two of his 53 CEU eTD Collection 47 46 explorations andfrequent,(geographically sometimes evenrepeated Budapest,too), and within accomplished!” be have to that missions etc. stations, bases, military facilities, industrial buildings, “mymainderelict abandoned, topic, with remark: namedthe folders are “missions”, convey the experience of experience convey the Some photos of his are to be found in found be to are his of photos Some http://indafoto.hu/michaud/missions 47 . Although the narratives behind them are not expressed verbally, the photos the verbally, expressed not are them behind narratives the Although . 46 M’s of 521photos extremelyabandonmentdemonstrate wide-ranging exploration Appendix 3. . 54 CEU eTD Collection spaces become visible/ remembered, again. remembered, spaces become visible/ concentrate onand worthwhileinvisible/forgotten to visualsby these the urban analyze which itis separately, Asmentioned, inmore thought group also depth. study each presented forcity, example), yielding better possibly even understanding it. of Further research could theoretical aswell frameworks oncenter/periphery,(focusing to the governmentality, right different motivations: to experience, toknow about and to know the city, respectively. explorersinhabit peripheral spaces and allvisit of city,the temporally abandoned though with the of participants and organizer the builtthe Altomán,of community; the Hungarian representing Budapest. environment urbex of ways operating. prescribed strategically by sites, contesting offered these heterogeneous group I referred to as to Ireferred group heterogeneous turning themin the sensefill to “semioticthe vessels”of these derelict buildings individually, thereby into alternative also liberty constraints, of nature offers anti-structural their in of city: the is fabric the a crack places liminality The urban oftheruins shape understandings abandonedpast. inthecity, spaces of of memory. re-signify acts these and arguedthat urban exploration of tactics different This paperobserved Through6. Conclusion their different tactics it is the I am aware of the fact that the phenomenon could have been observed in other in observed been have could phenomenon the that fact the of aware am I in transformation of post-socialist traces tothe presented were answers tactical Three urban explorers urban Urban Walks program, and occasional-individual program, and that take theopportunity/possibility take that And know And know the place the for time first We shall notcease exploration from Will be to arrive where we started And theend allof ourexploring T.S. Eliot 55 . CEU eTD Collection Berger, V.2008. Desilvey,“Observed C.2006. Decay: Telling Stories with Mutable Things.” Delyser, D.1999. “Authenticity on the ground: engaging the past in a California ghost town.” Benjamin, W.1999. Doron, G.M. 2007. “…badlands, blank space, border vacuums, brown fields, conceptual M. 1998. De Certeau, Dawdy, S.L. 2010. “Clockpunk Anthropology and the Ruins of Modernity”. Csanádi G., Csizmady A., Kocsis J.B., K Armstrong, J. 2010b. “On the Possibility of Spectral Ethnography.” Augé, M.1995. J. Armstrong, 2010a. “Everyday Afterlife.” Altomán’s blog. 7. Bibliography Chatterton, P. 2002. “‘Squatting is still legal, necessary and free’: A brief intervention in the http://www.tarsadalomkutatas.hu/kkk.php?TPUBL-A-828/kotojelek2007/TPUBL-A- Press. Társadalom. Verso. London: Nevada, DeadZones …” field: afree journal for 1:1, architecture. 10-23. Material Culture NovemberMaterial Culture 828.pdf Critical Methodologies corporate city.” corporate Annals of the Annals of Association of AmericanGeographers Anthropology (retrieved 10April 2011) Non http://altoman.blog.hu/ A cselekvésm Budapest:Sík Kiadó. The ArcadesProject - Places 51: 6, 761-793 The PracticeofEverydayLife Antipode : Introduction to an Anthropology ofSupermodernity ; 10; 243-250. Ħ vészete , 34:1, 1-7. 11:3, . . Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Ę 318-338. szeghy L., Tomay K. 2010. Cultural Studies:iFirst article . Minneapolis :University of Minnesota 89:4,602–632. Cultural Studies<=> Város. Tervez , 1-21. Journal of Current . Ę . 56 CEU eTD Collection Foucault, M.1967. Edensor, T.2007.“Sensing the Ruin.” Ginsberg, R. 2004.Ginsberg, Edensor, T.2005b. “The industrial ghosts of orderingruins: andmemory disordering in Douglas, M.1966. Garrett, B.L. Garrett, B.L. 2010. “Urban explorers: quests for myth,mystery and meaning.” G. Daskalakis et al. (eds.) 2001. Edensor T,2005a. Éber, M., Szeg Dunlop, D.W. Garrett, B.L. 2011. “Review of http://foucault.info/documents/heteroTopia/foucault.heteroTopia.en.html excessive space.” list&iid=1 http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/asylum/ 2011) May 27 (retrieved Planning D:Society and Space29,378-380. http://www.placehacking.co.uk/ http://www.visegradgroup.eu/main.php?folderID=830&articleID=13033&ctag=article London: Routledge. Compass cafes in Budapest at the dawn of the 21st century.” January January 2011) Place Hacking. 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Ithaca, NY: Cornell (retrieved June2011) (retrieved Cultural , 30:2,83-95. 59 CEU eTD Collection Photos from Altomán’s blog Appendix 1 “Fleurs du mal 3/3” (former campsite forchildren) “Dead station” (http://altoman.blog.hu) “Fleurs du mal 3/3” (formercampsite forchildren “Socialism’s ghost train” ) CEU eTD Collection Credits: Tamás Bujnovszky Photos from the Appendix 2 Várkert Bazár Budafok Paper Factory Várkert Bazár Várkert Urban Walks website (http://kek.org.hu/varosisetak/setak/fotok) Kelenföld PowerPlant Budafok Paper Factory Budafok Paper Factory CEU eTD Collection http://indafoto.hu/michaud/image/6661819-67800568/254233 http://indafoto.hu/michaud/image/8699607-102433cd “Jubileum8” (FerencvárosRailwayStation) Credits: michaud Photos of abandonment from Appendix 3 http://indafoto.hu/michaud/image/6661485-5427cb77/254233 “Stage” (Budai Park Színpad) “Factory” http://indafoto.hu http://indafoto.hu/michaud/image/8236269-b1815367/254233 http://indafoto.hu/michaud/image/8136109-6b23b182/user http://indafoto.hu/michaud/image/7794971-7a5cebca/254233 “Tower” (abandoned housing estate) housing (abandoned “Tower” “Post” (before demolition) “Lacháza” CEU eTD Collection jelezze! Amennyiben egy rövid interjúra is lenne ideje ehhez köt ehhez ideje lenne is interjúra rövid egy Amennyiben ehhez f ehhez kitöltésévelés visszaküldésével segíti munkámat. Az adatokat bizalmasan kezelem. A kérd Zsinagóga-túra, Rákosi-bunker, M4-túrák, Magyar Szentfold Templom) Az elhagyott városi terekr városi elhagyott Az Questionnaire aboutthe Appendix 4 (Emlékeztet 1. 4. 6. 5. 9. 8. 7. 3. a) építész /építészb) hallgatóegyéb: ______2. 10. Ħ]ĘGĘ ______Honnan értesült a értesült Honnan Hány KÉK-es f) egyéb: e) kíváncsiság d) máskor/máshogyan nem nyílna lehet nyílna nem máskor/máshogyan d) Mit és mennyire tart fontosnak egy fontosnak tart mennyire és Mit ______Melyik volt a legérdekesebb/legjobb/meghatározóbb élmény? Miért? Budapest melyik részét „fedezné fel” szívesen legközelebb, akár egyénileg, akár a Látogatott már hasonló helyeket egyénileg? Ha készít fotókat a készítése f) fotók e) a vezetés nem olyan, fontos inkább magam fedezem fel a helyet épülethez történetek kapcsolódóan személyes az soránelhangzó d) avezetés vonatkozások építészeti elhangzó során vezetés c) a vonatkozások történelmi elhangzó során vezetés b) a c) történelmi jelleg Miért jelentkezett a jelentkezett Miért Mi afoglalkozása? c) egyéb: a) el a) mindegyik témának: 1 egyáltalán nem tartom fontosnak b) építészeti jelleg a) személyes köt a) személyes Foglalja össze röviden, mit jelentenek önnek a ______keretében? célra saját dokumentálás a) b) ismer ______a) a KÉK-hírlevélb ŋ ül a Séták helyszínei a 2.évadban, 2010-t élményeivel kapcsolatos. élményeivel ŋ zetes tájékozódás a hely/épület történetér hely/épület a tájékozódás zetes felfedezés élményét kínálják az építészet iránt nyitott érdekl nyitott iránt azépítészet kínálják élményét felfedezés ipari létesítmények – a KÉK szervezésében ismét jelentkez ismét szervezésében a KÉK – létesítmények ipari „ Funkciójukat vesztett középületek, elhagyott víztornyok, újrahasznosításra váró ŋ ______st ŋ l Városi Sétán Városi Ę ŋ l, épületekr l, dés ahelyekhez ť ť érdekl ŋ érdekl Városi Séták Városi l Urban Walks Séták Városi Séták Városi ŋ ŋ dés alatt, milyen célból? dés Ę l szóló szakdolgozatomhoz kérném a segítségét. Köszönöm, hogy a rövid kérd rövid a hogy Köszönöm, segítségét. a kérném szakdolgozatomhoz szóló l vett vett már részt? ______ról? ra? (több válasz is megjelölhet Városi Séta Városi ŋ ŋ ség alátogatásra ség l: OPNI, Várkert Bazár, Budafoki Papírgyár, Kelenföldi H b) megosztás céljából b) megosztás ĘGĘ ------ŋ Ha igen, ______hol? l (háttér-információ) l en (akár a következ (akár en el Városi Séták Városi ŋ Köszönettel: Varsányi Kata (Közép-Európai Egyetem) tt és közben? Adjon egy pontszámot 1-t pontszámot Adjonegy tt közben? és Ⱥ 5nagyon fontosnak tartom) ! Ę ĘGĘ ŋ séta alkalmával), kérem, a fenti címen fenti a kérem, alkalmával), séta ) knek.” Ę Városi Séták a Séták Városi c) m Ę ív a ť vészi célból vészi Városi Séták Városi Séták Városi ŋ kal és az ön er ŋPť ŋ l 5-ig , Ę ív