Urban Camping: Subversive City Living from Times Square to the Car Tent

Camping in Times Square

Urban camping means different things to different people, from living without a vehicle or electricity and plumbing to squatting in unused properties and more. However, the most popular definition of urban camping provided by the urban dictionary is: “camping in an urban setting by sleeping on rooftops, under bushes, and in public parks.”

Camping in Times Square 4

Camping in Times Square 5

Camping in Times Square 3

Camping in Times Square 2

Amid and Zach are two brave New Yorkers who picked the busiest and most high profile place they could think of to pitch their urban camp: Times Square, New York City. According to Zach,

“We chose the traffic median at 44th Street because it is a wide island right in the middle of Times Sqaure with plenty of room for our tents to sprawl. It was noisy and bright, but the LEDs replaced the stars nicely, and the skyscrapers couldn’t have imitated sequoias any better. We met dozens of strangers who, whether they were just curious, drunk or lonely, were eager to strike conversation to try figuring us out.”

They were also questioned by multiple police officers, to whom they provided non-commital responses about photographing the North Face store or waiting overnight to buy tickets.

Baltimore Camping

Baltimore, Maryland seems as good a location as any to pitch a tent on the sidewalk. These industrious campers managed to travel virtually for free, selling mugs and living on the street.

“With promise of a free dinner from RISD, a new city to inhabit, and galleries extraordinaire, the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Conference in Baltimore was a must. While figuring out the budget side of this journey camping was suggested as a housing option in a joking manner, and strangely the idea began building with intrigue.”

Ultimately they were shooed away by the police, but not before sipping on hot chocolate and taking a few pictures.

Car Tent 3

Car Tent

Car Tent 2

The Car Tent is a rather ingenious approach to urban camping. Instead of hiding in a park or making up excuses in a public location, car tent users can camouflage themselves right in plain view.

“The car tent is a tent designed to look like a car cover, so you can go camping in the city without being disturbed. And really, who doesn’t go camping in the city? When you get hungry you just shoot a business man and cook him over an open flame.”

Be sure to check out this related article on car living and couch surfing and these creative homeless dwelling designs.

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Posted by Urbanist September 28th, 2007
Architecture, Guerilla Action, Urban, Urban Images, Urbanism
Comments: 21

Comments

Comment from AgentSully
Time: September 28, 2007, 4:48 pm

seems like you would need good padding on concrete to get a good nites sleep…that is if the traffic doesn’t keep you awake….and then you need to pray that a drunk driver doesn’t slam into your tent at 2am.

Pretty wild stuff !

Comment from Rick Marnon, Brighton
Time: September 28, 2007, 6:59 pm

This has to be one of the best ideas I have seen in quite some time. Whoever the designer is kudos.

Comment from Agent Laserfist
Time: September 28, 2007, 8:51 pm

Amazing! only a truly insane fool would think of such a plan… which is why i was surprised i had not thought of it.
Congrats!

Comment from giL
Time: September 29, 2007, 4:30 am

Urban camping is great and is also a good way for poor people to put some pressure on the state when its not doing its job properly. We had a whole “tent city” in the middle of Tel Aviv until a few years ago when they forced them out. See https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/1435/index.php

Comment from rony john
Time: September 29, 2007, 5:44 am

Man..this is so cool

Comment from Darryl
Time: September 30, 2007, 6:40 am

What a concept !! What’s next, sleeping in the woods?

Comment from clumsy fergie
Time: September 30, 2007, 2:23 pm

One of the weirdest things I saw recently. But I must admit, I would not have the courage to stay at that car tent through the night.

Comment from CaptainPlanet
Time: September 30, 2007, 9:49 pm

That car tent is kewl. lol

Comment from Dr. Strangelove
Time: September 30, 2007, 9:52 pm

I LOVE THE IDEA!

I think I am going to try to get a few people together & do it here in South Dakota. [as long as the temp, wind, & weather cooperates]

Comment from Jack Alexander
Time: October 1, 2007, 2:48 am

Wow, most of the commenters sound like a bunch of chikensh*ts or live such a sheltered lives! I’m in the O.C. and this past 2 years has been the longest I’ve lived indoors in the past 13-mostly by choice. In the city I like to camp in you absolutely don’t stop moving on the sidewalks or go near the median strips, unless you want to go camping at the county jail. The worst part of it all, after you learn to sleep in the rain or when the sprinklers come on (w/no tent-ever) is keeping the crack-heads from stealing your stuff when your back is turned… regards…j

Comment from Zane Dickens
Time: October 8, 2007, 7:58 am

Crazy - lucky they’re not in Jo’burg, South Africa - I’d like to seem them try that here… :P Wait thats not funny… :.(

Awesome counter cultural trend.

Comment from Dawid Michalczyk
Time: October 22, 2007, 4:06 am

Man, I could never camp in the middle of a city. Too much noise!

Comment from bum
Time: November 16, 2007, 11:02 am

Very few cars in NYC have car covers on them, especially ones parked on the street. Make sure you don’t pitch your tent in a no parking zone or something, tow truck drivers in NYC don’t even get out of the truck to tow a car. You could be sitting there in your tent when two giant steel rods plow though and decapitate you.

Of course the most danger comes from some driver that hits your tent. If you have ever driven in NYC you will see that hardly any car driven or parked there on a daily basis is still in mint condition.

Dangerous idea unless the tent is used AWAY from moving vehicles. Kinda defeats the purpose of having it shaped like a car. May I suggest making a tent in the shape of a square that is colored like red bricks? You could pitch one right next a building. :)

Comment from Artopium Mike
Time: May 7, 2008, 6:03 am

Urban camping is not only a new trend, it’s a sorely needed and intregal part of a balanced society. There is a subculture developing within the “houseless” community that is trying to fill this role. I call this group the shamanic class. You can read more about it in an article called “Guerilla Urban Camping” ( http://www.rovingfestival.com/guerilla_urban_camping.shtml ) which you may find on the website http://www.RovingFestival.com.