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One place symbolises the unity and specific character of the West Berlin squatters’ movement at its height: the KuKuCK, an acronym for Kunst- und Kulturcentrum Kreuzberg. The history of this art and culture centre, a vast squat that sought to embody the diversity of the alternative scene, demonstrates the importance of the existence of independent spaces in cities, dedicated to the diversity of political and cultural expression. Focusing on the meanings and events associated with this particular urban site, which existed between 1981 and 1984, this article explores its symbolic dimension, at the heart of intertwined conflicts. In a context of urban restructuring, the KuKuCK represented both an emblem of resistance and an opportunity to maintain spaces for the expression of a subversive culture. The end of the experiment coincided with the decline of the squatters’ movement.