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http://everything2.com/title/Oranssi

Oranssi in english

Young people as independent dwellers

*Squatting*

At the end of the eighties the housing situation for young people in Helsinki was grim. It was the peak period of business boom. The search for reasonably priced rental apartments was fruitless. However the city was full of empty buildings waiting for their market values to rise...

A group of young homeless individuals decided that straightforward action was necessary to improve their desperate situation -if apartments weren’t otherwise available they should be taken.

Non-violence and the avoidance of private property were the main principles of the squatters. Buildings owned by the government, the city and by the large building contractor companies for, real estate refining, were considered as fair game by the squatters.

Oranssi ry was registered in the beginning of of 1990

*The first steps into organised action*

In the summer of 1992 Oranssi occupied an old taxidrivers garage wich was re-decorated into a youth house by young volunteers. Oranssi’s field grew into youth activities when new enthusiasts started joining in.

Squattings ended often in the emptying of the buildings by police force followed by a frustrating legal process. It was decided to start an independant housing company...

After long negotiations the city council decided to allow Oranssi ry to rent two old wooden houses in the Kumpula area that had been waiting for their bulldozing sentence. The idea was to renovate the buildings independently. The project must have been considered as crazy by outsiders...

Oranssi housing company was founded in order to finance and manage the ”youth independent dwelling” -project. In 1992 work on the Intiankatu houses began...

*Present*

After the succesful renovation of the Intiankatu houses future negotiations and co-operation with the Helsinki city authorities was a lot easier. The independent renovation projects have been carefully improved during the nineties and new renovation projects have benn undertaken steadily.

*Fixing houses the oranssi way*

The purpose of the housing operation is to renovate and repair old houses as reasonably priced rental apartments for young people. The key concept is participation of resindents in planning, renovation and practical maintenance. The aim is to encourage and support young people to find their independence by providing low-cost housing and create steady, live and socially united housing communities.

Ecological considerations are an important part of the residential activity. Careful and expert planning is needed to produce a controlled renovation project.

The slogan ”if it isn’t broken it shouldn’t be fixed but if it is broken it’s most likely possible to repair it.” is common Oranssi filosophy. For instance renovating old doors and windows, under competent supervision, do not require special skills rather than just care and patience. It is also a great cut of expense.

*Houses*

At the moment Oranssi ry maintains approx 80 apartments, with about 110 residents in Helsinki. The houses are located in Kumpula, Vartioharju, Kulosaari, Arabia and Tapanila. The rates of Oranssi's apartment rents are about 7 e/m2/month. The Oranssi Youth house at Herttoniemi has evolved into an openminded culture centre and a lively meeting point for the youth. Looking good!