Cultured Sites of Contestation
Taja Ivanc (University of Ljubljana) & Adela Petrovic (Charles University)
Across Europe and beyond, cities are reimagining abandoned military sites as vibrant cultural spaces. But what happens when the very institutions that support these transformations begin to commodify them? Our paper explores this tension by comparing two distinct governance models for culture-led regeneration of former military barracks, Metelkova in Ljubljana and Kasárna Karlín in Prague, which have both significantly enriched their neighborhoods through creative placemaking, demonstrating how culture can transform abandoned urban spaces into vibrant spaces. Yet it reveals complex power dynamics and shows that cultural resilience often depends not on formal partnerships but on autonomy and tactical resistance.
Using a comparative case study approach, we examined how governance structures, institutional frameworks, and power dynamics shaped the transformation of two former military barracks into cultural spaces. They analyzed media reports, policy documents, and public statements to trace how social actors (artists, cultural activists, local residents) navigated institutional ambiguity and shifting urban priorities. The study draws on a framework (actor-centered institutionalism) that emphasizes the interplay between individual agency and institutional constraints. This lens helped the authors unpack how decisions were made, contested, and negotiated over time.
The first case, Metelkova (Figure 1), was born from a squat movement in the 1990s, and it has maintained its autonomy despite attempts at institutionalization. Its informal governance and resistance to commodification have allowed it to thrive as a cultural commons, even as city authorities oscillate between support and control. The second case, Kasárna Karlín (Figure 2), was initially supported by local authorities and has become a beloved cultural venue. Yet its future remains uncertain due to shifting political priorities and the commodification of urban space. Unlike Metelkova, Kasárna Karlín’s reliance on formal agreements has made it more vulnerable to policy reversals.
Figure 1: Main square in AKC Metelkova mesto (2024).
Source: Photo by Taja Ivanc.
Figure 2: Courtyard of Kasárna Karlín (2021).
Source: Photo by Adela Petrovic.
This comparative study shows that while culture-led regeneration can enhance a neighborhood’s social and cultural life, it also faces significant political and institutional challenges. Autonomy, community involvement, and resilient governance are crucial in protecting cultural sites from being turned into commercial projects that prioritize profit. Although collaboration between local authorities and cultural actors is often seen as a successful model, the research suggests that bottom-up and autonomous approaches may offer greater longevity and resilience, especially in contested urban environments.
Therefore, the central finding of this research is that cultural spaces born from grassroots efforts and sustained through autonomous, bottom-up engagement are more resilient than those tied to formalized, top-down partnerships. While government support can help launch cultural regeneration projects, it often fades once these spaces become profitable or politically inconvenient. In such moments, spaces like Metelkova, an internationally known squat that has resisted institutional co-optation, demonstrate greater staying power than more formally integrated sites like Kasárna Karlín, which faces ongoing uncertainty despite its popularity. This insight challenges the prevailing notion that collaborative governance is always the most effective model for urban redevelopment. Instead, the study shows that autonomy, tactical engagement, and informal networks can offer stronger protection against displacement, commodification, and policy shifts
Both Kasárna Karlín and Metelkova emerged in a post-socialist context, where the regeneration of abandoned military sites was marked by uncertainty and shifting ownership. During the period when national governments still owned the barracks, cultural actors enjoyed a degree of protection from privatization and displacement. This highlights how spatial and institutional settings directly influence power relations and cultural sustainability.
However, these protective conditions are often temporary. As ownership and control shift to local authorities, cultural spaces risk being standardized and reshaped according to global models of creative industries, prioritizing economic gain over cultural meaning. In such scenarios, culture becomes a tool for urban branding, stripped of its original grassroots significance. Moreover, in post-socialist contexts such as Central and Eastern Europe, where democratic traditions are younger and governance structures more fragmented, the tension between grassroots creativity and institutional control is especially pronounced.
The comparison between Metelkova and Kasárna Karlín underscores two divergent governance paths: one rooted in autonomous resistance, the other in formal cooperation. Both face ongoing pressures of gentrification, touristification, and commodification, yet their experiences affirm the importance of community-driven visions in preserving cultural authenticity.
Ultimately, the research calls for a rethinking of cultural governance, moving beyond token participation to genuinely empower grassroots actors to shape their own spaces. In this light, bottom-up initiatives are not just alternatives; they are essential correctives to the limitations of top-down planning. They offer models of urban regeneration that prioritize community needs, cultural diversity, and long-term sustainability over short-term profit. Still, a critical question remains: What governance structures and institutional conditions can ensure the long-term resilience of cultural sites in post-socialist military brownfields?
Taja Ivanc holds a master's degree in Geography (Regional Planning and Urban-Rural Studies with Geography of Tourism) from the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana.
Adela Petrovic is a PhD candidate and junior researcher in the Department of Social Geography and Regional Development at Charles University, Prague. Her research focuses on urban transformation processes, such as gentrification, with an emphasis on the socio-spatial dialectic and urban governance.