Give us a place to rot
The demolition of “Fauna DIY” in February 2021 also marked the beginning of new DIY projects. By March, the same people had moved to another spot and started building a new skatepark. This cycle repeats—illegal parks are built, torn down, and then rebuilt elsewhere.
In 2023, I joined these projects in Hamburg. It’s not a fixed group; people come and go, contributing as time and motivation allow. There’s no schedule, no leader—just a shared vision of reclaiming space and turning lost places into something meaningful.
For me, there’s a sense of social romanticism around these places. They’re more than just skateparks; they’re refuges for those who don’t fit (or don’t want to fit) into mainstream society. A utopia carried into everyday life, resisting the consumer-driven logic of the city. Shot on expired analog film due to budget constraints, my work embraces imperfection, mirroring the raw energy of these spaces. These parks may be temporary, but the idea behind them remains. I hope you feel it. I hope you’ll occupy something.
Find out more:
Website: fabianschwarze.com
Instagram: @fschwrze
