Albert Street Autonomous Zone
The Albert Street Autonomous Zone, also known as A-Zone or the Old Market Autonomous Zone, was founded in 1995, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, by local activists Paul Burrows and Sandra Drosdowech, who also co-founded Winnipeg's Mondragon Bookstore.
| Imperial Dry Goods Block | |
|---|---|
The Imperial Dry Goods Building, home of Old Market Autonomous Zone | |
| Alternative names | Trend Interiors
Emma Goldman Building Mondragon Bookstore and Cafe Tooke Building |
| General information | |
| Location | 91 Albert Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Completed | 1899 |
| Renovated | 1909 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | J.H. Cadham |
| Heritage site | |
| Designation | Winnipeg Landmark Heritage Structure |
| Recognized | 16 June 1980 |
| CRHP listing | 29 January 2008 |
| Recognition authority | City of Winnipeg |
| ID | 8668 |
Its name is derived from "Old Market Square", the historic Exchange District in Winnipeg's downtown core area, combined with Hakim Bey's notion of a "temporary autonomous zone" (or TAZ). The Winnipeg A-Zone occupies a three-story building sometimes referred to as the Imperial Dry Goods Building, originally built in 1899. Like many buildings in the area, it is classified as a heritage building by the city of Winnipeg. Since 1995, the building has been known locally as both the A-Zone, and sometimes the Emma Goldman Building.