Corinna Kern

Photojournalist & Documentary Photographer

www.corinnakern.com

A Place Called Home

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A PLACE CALLED HOME

What does home mean to you? How is the experience of home related to a place or a feeling? How does this experience manifest itself around a life in constant transition?

This project explores the concept of home within London’s squatting scene. What might commonly be perceived as a shelter for the homeless or poor is often a conscious choice - an alternative and communal way of living. By becoming part of the squatting community, Corinna Kern embarked on a personal journey through which she discovered homes that extend far beyond a physical existence. From warehouses to design studios, from restaurants to fabric storehouses, each place has gained its own vibe of the people and their lifestyle – and with these a sense of home.

A couple sits on the rooftop of... the conventional idea of home.

A couple sits on the rooftop of a squat called ‘The Castle’ on May 03, 2013 in London, United Kingdom. Once used as a five-storey office block, the building became home for more than 100 squatters and was used as a location for parties.

Squatting is often a conscious choice of an alternative and communal way of living. On 1st of September 2012 the new section 144 of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill (LASPO) came into force rendering squatting in residential buildings a criminal offence. Hence, squatting can legally only be attempted in commercial premises with the result that squatters often occupy unusual premises that contradict the conventional idea of home.

A resident relaxes after a rave... the conventional idea of home.

A resident relaxes after a rave in a squat called ‘The Castle’ on May 12, 2013, in London, United Kingdom. Once used as a five-storey office block, the building became home for more than 100 squatters and was used as a location for parties.

Squatting is often a conscious choice of an alternative and communal way of living. On 1st of September 2012 the new section 144 of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill (LASPO) came into force rendering squatting in residential buildings a criminal offence. Hence, squatting can legally only be attempted in commercial premises with the result that squatters often occupy unusual premises that contradict the conventional idea of home.

A resident washes his hair in t...sed as a location for parties.

A resident washes his hair in the communal washrooms in a squat called 'The Castle' on May 09, 2013 in London, United Kingdom. Once used as a five-storey office block, the building then accommodated more than 100 squatters and was used as a location for parties.

Room in a squat called &#39...sed as a location for parties.

Room in a squat called 'The Castle' after a rave on May 09, 2013 in London, United Kingdom. Once used as a five-storey office block, the building then accommodated more than 100 squatters and was used as a location for parties.

Fabrics are used to section roo...walls and set up little tents.

Fabrics are used to section rooms in a squatted fabric storehouse on June 22, 2013 in London, United Kingdom. Hundreds of abandoned fabric rolls are further reused as bed sheets and pillows, decorations for ceilings and walls and set up little tents.

A squatter takes a rest in shel...2013 in London, United Kingdom.

A squatter takes a rest in shelves used to store fabric rolls inside a squatted fabric storehouse on June 24, 2013 in London, United Kingdom.

A resident smokes a cigarette i...2013 in London, United Kingdom.

A resident smokes a cigarette in a squatted fabric storehouse on June 17, 2013 in London, United Kingdom.

A girl draws in her new home, a... rooms and set up little tents.

A girl draws in her new home, a squatted fabric storehouse in London, United Kingdom. Hundreds of abandoned fabric rolls are used as bed sheets and pillows, decorations for ceilings and walls and to section rooms and set up little tents.

A squatted fabric storehouse a ... the conventional idea of home.

A squatted fabric storehouse a few days before its eviction. Hundreds of abandoned fabric rolls were used as bed sheets and pillows, decorations for ceilings and walls and to section rooms and set up little tents.

Squatting is often a conscious choice of an alternative and communal way of living. On 1st of September 2012 the new section 144 of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill (LASPO) came into force rendering squatting in residential buildings a criminal offence. Hence, squatting can legally only be attempted in commercial premises with the result that squatters often occupy unusual premises that contradict the conventional idea of home.

Group cuddling in a squat on Ma...sidents and a sense of family.

Group cuddling in a squat on May 11, 2013 in London, United Kingdom. The communal squatting lifestyle often creates strong bonds between the residents and a sense of family.

Sitting under a sleeping bag, a...9;, a grade II listed building.

Sitting under a sleeping bag, a squatter makes a phone call and smokes a cigarette on the rooftop of a squat called 'Borough High Street', a grade II listed building.

Two residents check a freshly s...2013 in London, United Kingdom.

Two residents check a freshly squatted building formerly used as design studios on June 16, 2013 in London, United Kingdom.

A room from fabrics in the &... people usually share one room.

A room from fabrics in the 'Kentish-Town-Squat', a building that was formerly used as design studios on July 05, 2013 in London, United Kingdom. Privatsphere is rare in squats since several people usually share one room.

A resident lies in her room mad...ive and communal way of living.

A resident lies in her room made from fabrics in the 'Kentish-Town-Squat', a building that was formerly used as design studios. Privatsphere is rare in squats since several people usually share one room. Squatting is often a conscious choice of an alternative and communal way of living.

A couple living in the &#39...2013 in London, United Kingdom.

A couple living in the 'Kentish-Town-Squat', a building formerly used as design studios, jokes around on July 20, 2013 in London, United Kingdom.

A visitor enjoys the view from ...xample at eviction resistances.

A visitor enjoys the view from the rooftop of the 'Kentish-Town-Squat', a building that was formerly used as design studios, on July 05, 2013 in London, United Kingdom. The squatting scene is large and interconnected in London, which is why squatters often visit and support each other, for example at eviction resistances.

A squatter sits thoughtfully in...013 in London, United Kingdom.

A squatter sits thoughtfully in the living room of a squat called 'Borough High Street', a grade II listed building, on June 09, 2013 in London, United Kingdom.

Residents of a squat called &am... the conventional idea of home.

Residents of a squat called 'Borough High Street', a grade II listed building, socialise in the living room. The communal squatting lifestyle often creates strong bonds between the residents. Squatting is often a conscious choice of an alternative and communal way of living. On 1st of September 2012 the new section 144 of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill (LASPO) came into force rendering squatting in residential buildings a criminal offence. Hence, squatting can legally only be attempted in commercial premises with the result that squatters often occupy unusual premises that contradict the conventional idea of home.

A squatter holds two lighters h... 20 people living in the squat.

A squatter holds two lighters hanging from the ceiling in a squat called 'Borough High Street', a grade II listed building on June 08, 2013 in London, United Kingdom. The communally used lighters are attached with strings to not get lost in among the 20 people living in the squat.

After having taken a bucket sho... the residents build their own.

After having taken a bucket shower, a resident stands on the terrace of a squat called ‘Downtown Restaurant’, a former cabaret restaurant facing the Thames on August 01, 2013 in London, United Kingdom. Since located in commercial premises, squats often do not have showers, unless the residents build their own.

A young couple builds and repai... towards arts and craftmanship.

A young couple builds and repairs the interiors of a squat called ‘Downtown Restaurant’, a former cabaret restaurant in London, United Kingdom. Like them, many squatters are oriented towards arts and craftmanship.

A resident paints a giant octop...it is used for another purpose.

A resident paints a giant octopus on the outside walls of a squat called ‘Downtown Restaurant’, a former cabaret restaurant facing the Thames on August 06, 2013 in London, United Kingdom. . The residents have an agreement with the owner to stay in the building until it is used for another purpose.

Residents watch videos in the l... greenhouse of a plant nursery.

Residents watch videos in the living room of their home, the 'Garden Centre', a former greenhouse of a plant nursery.

A greenhouse in the squatted &a...use is used as the living room.

A greenhouse in the squatted 'Garden Centre', reminding of its time as a plant nursery on July 03, 2013 in London, United Kingdom. The main greenhouse is used as the living room.

A resident of the 'Gard...2013 in London, United Kingdom.

A resident of the 'Garden Centre', a squatted plant nursery, makes music with his squat mates on July 03, 2013 in London, United Kingdom.

A girl paints a fence in the ou...2013 in London, United Kingdom.

A girl paints a fence in the outside area of the 'Garden Centre', a squatted plant nursery, on July 17, 2013 in London, United Kingdom.

A squatter fights soap bubbles ...2013 in London, United Kingdom.

A squatter fights soap bubbles in a squat called 'Blackfriars', a run-down building without water facilities and electricity, on July 26, 2013 in London, United Kingdom.

A girl has breakfast in a squat...ity in London, United Kingdom.

A girl has breakfast in a squat called 'Blackfriars', a run-down building without water facilities and electricity in London, United Kingdom.

A squatter looks out of the win...2013 in London, United Kingdom.

A squatter looks out of the window of a squat called 'Blackfriars', a run-down building without water facilities and electricity on July 26, 2013 in London, United Kingdom.

Two residents relax in a squat ...2013 in London, United Kingdom.

Two residents relax in a squat called 'Blackfriars', a run-down building without water facilities and electricity on July 26, 2013 in London, United Kingdom.