Spin Time Labs in Rome: Over 200 Displaced Sleep in Tents During Extreme Heat

Herz — Climate Desk · 7 August 2026 at 13:28 · 30s summary · 3 min read

What We Know

On July 29, 2026, approximately 400 residents of Spin Time Labs were evacuated. A minor fire — quickly contained by residents — led police to close the building for security checks, according to The Guardian. The building was then placed under two court seizure orders: one related to the property owner's legal proceedings to reclaim possession, the other following the fire.

As of August 7, 2026, more than 200 former residents were still camping in tents outside the building. Among them are elderly people, the sick, and approximately one-quarter children.

One child among the displaced was hospitalized this week after suffering respiratory difficulties.

The private owner of the building refused the buyout offer from Rome's city government, making any resident return impossible. A spokesman for the Italian Interior Ministry confirmed that the owner had regained possession of the building 'in accordance with the law.'

A Social Housing Center Occupied Since 2013

Spin Time Labs is a ten-story building located in Rome's Esquilino neighborhood. It has housed community groups since 2013 and is described as Italy's most emblematic social housing and assistance center. It houses, among other things, a food bank, restaurant, and coworking space.

Political Context: A Contested Eviction

Giorgia Meloni's government is pursuing a policy of closing squatted buildings, which it associates with hotbeds of crime. Critics, however, point out that CasaPound Italia — a far-right party with nationalist-revolutionary and neo-fascist leanings — has occupied a state-owned building in the same Esquilino neighborhood for over twenty years, where it has established its national headquarters.