In October we learned that the three houses we lived in were planned to be demolished — and that we, the tenants, were expected to move out by the end of June 2024.
It was a shock to all of us. These houses were not just buildings to us. They were homes with character and charm, old walls with a history and a quiet part of the street’s character. Two of them stand directly by the canal, while the third one sits across the street, forming a small ensemble that, in my eyes, deserves to be preserved.
During that uncertain time, I shared my feelings on Instagram because I could not simply stay quiet. The thought of tearing them down felt wrong — not only because people lived there, but because the houses carry history, atmosphere and a kind of charm that is becoming increasingly rare.
So I painted them in my art journal with acrylic paint. Capturing the dusk, the reflections on the water and all the little architectural details was harder than expected, but I wanted to preserve at least a piece of them on paper. The page is not completely finished yet, but I wanted to document this stage before adding anything more.
This painting is both a small memory and a quiet protest. A way of saying: these houses matter.
The original photo is from @ligariusstr_12_14_16 where you can also find more photos from our beautiful houses. Cross your fingers that we can find another solution than to tear them down!