Man Built Lived in Secret Apartment Inside a Shopping Mall

Michael Townsend, a Providence-based artist, transformed an unused section of the Providence Place Mall into a covert living space.

He and a group of artists used that space for activism and their creative endeavors. But how did they manage to turn a secret mall into a hidden apartment? What motivated them to take such a bold step? How long did they live there what happened when their secret was finally discovered?

Dive into the story of this hidden sanctuary and find out how creativity and rebellion came together in an unexpected way.

The Discovery of the Secret Mall Apartment

The story begins in 2003 when Townsend faced the imminent loss of his home in a historic mill building. Not knowing what to do, he turned his attention to the Providence Place Mall, a massive commercial complex.

During his daily runs, Townsend had noticed an unused, undeveloped space beneath the mall. Inspired by the mall’s own advertisements glorifying relentlessly the virtues of living at the mall, Townsend and his friends saw an opportunity to turn this neglected area into their own secret apartment.

Creating a Hidden Home

Using their artistic skills and resourcefulness, Townsend and his group of artists embarked on a secret renovation project. They built a cinderblock wall and utility door to conceal their living quarters. This simple change transformed the stark, industrial space into a functional home.

The apartment offered basic comforts, including a sofa, a PlayStation 2, and even a china hutch. It reflected Townsend’s desire to create a temporary yet meaningful living environment.

The space, although basic, was a testament to their creativity and determination. They used the mall’s bathrooms for running water and lived in their secret haven for extended periods. Often, they were there for weeks at a time, without getting caught.

The Artistic Statement

For Townsend and his friends, the project was more than a practical experiment; it was a form of protest. It was a statement against the encroaching gentrification that had displaced many artists from their affordable studio spaces.

By living in the mall, they symbolically resisted the commercialization. They were also and loss of cultural spaces that had previously fostered their artistic community.

Townsend viewed their secret residence as a “temporary work of art”. To them, this was an exploration of what it means to create a home in unconventional spaces. The project allowed them to intimately experience and critique the very environment they were protesting against.

The Downfall

Their unconventional living arrangement eventually caught the attention of mall security. In 2007, a chance meeting with a visiting artist from Hong Kong led to their detection by mall security guards. Despite their best efforts to remain hidden, the group was discovered and evicted.

Townsend was arrested for trespassing and faced a misdemeanor charge. However, the judge recognized the project’s artistic and protest elements, resulting in probation rather than jail time.

Legacy and Reflection

Although they dismantled the secret mall apartment, Townsend and his team’s story endures as a clear example of artistic courage and social critique. Their experience has inspired discussions about how to make urban spaces useful.

It raised questions about how gentrification—where wealthier people move into a poor urban area, improve housing, and attract new businesses, often displacing current inhabitants—affects artistic communities. Furthermore, people discussed the lengths to which individuals would go to make a statement.

A film titled The Secret Mall Apartment, directed by Jeremy Workman, now documents the tale of the secret mall apartment. The film aims to capture the essence of Townsend’s project and its broader implications for art and activism.

The issue had garnered so much attention, and according to Townsend, there were over 30 film directors who wanted to make a movie out of the unusual story. They decide to go with Workman because according to him, he was the only one interested in the full story.

Michael Townsend’s secret apartment in Providence Place Mall remains a remarkable chapter in the intersection of art and life. It stands as a bold reminder of the power of creative resistance and the enduring spirit of those who challenge traditional boundaries.

Through their creativity, Townsend and his friends demonstrated that art can transcend traditional spaces, making even the most unexpected locations a canvas for personal and societal expression.

What do you think about the way these artists dealt with their struggles? Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments.

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