Secret Apartment At Providence Place Mall Getting Its Own Documentary

Remember that time a man lived in a secret apartment in Providence Place for four years? Well, it’s officially getting a documentary.

Secret Mall Apartment will debut at the South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) in Austin, Texas next month.

When Did That Guy Live in the Providence Place Mall?

When the construction of Providence Place was happening from 1997 to 1999, Providence-based artist Michael Townsend discovered a 750-square-foot space that was an accidental room due to the formation of the designed rooms around it.

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Townsend originally planned to spend only a week in this “accidental room” but that week turned into four years, as he and his friends built a cinderblock wall and a nondescript utility door to keep the loft hidden, and fully furnished the space while utilizing the mall’s bathrooms.

‘The Accidental Room’ Getting a Documentary

“Far more than just a wild prank, the secret apartment became a deeply meaningful place for its inhabitants – a personal expression of defiance against local gentrification, a clubhouse to coordinate artistic charity, and finally, a 750-square-foot "F you" to The Man,” said SXSW.

It’s the kind of story that will have audiences captivated. How did this man pull this off for so many years?

After this film festival, I wouldn’t be surprised if Netflix knocks on the artists' doors.