DE DRIE STEEGJES
Ghent, Belgium - 2017

“We share spaces, but it doesn’t stop there. We also share elements like air, light, and views. My neighbor’s small window gives me a glimpse of the street. Under my stairs, there’s a space my neighbor uses for his wine collection. I don’t know much about wine myself, but I often run into him on the rooftop terrace, and he occasionally tells me about his collection.

On the roof, we have the option of an open-air cinema. When the weather is dry, we all sit on the roof and watch Netflix together. And the kids love foosball. When the youngest comes home from school, he parks his bike in the shared storage and waits for the neighbor’s son to come back. Then they play a game of foosball outside. As soon as they start playing, I know they’re home, because you immediately hear the sound of the ball bouncing around.

Fresh air is an important part of our daily lives. Sometimes I like to cook outdoors, while my wife enjoys taking a bath in the open air, as long as she’s not seen by the neighbor.

The spaces don’t obligate us to do anything, but they do give us the opportunity to live differently, and I really like that.”