Barcelona: Room with a View
Life on the once abandoned Spanish rooftops, traditionally used to dry laundry, has resurfaced in the lockdown- they are the new gyms, living rooms, parks, town centres. As life on the streets fades, ‘Barcelonesos’ are now living life at the top. Terraces, balconies and windows are the new public spaces.
“It’s a moment to reconnect with each other - but living with two kids, it’s not that easy!”
On a single high rise you can see a cast of different characters populating the different box balconies. People sit and read, sunbathe or just stand and stare longingly at the street below. Currently only one adult can leave the house with mask and gloves to buy food, go to the pharmacy, get money, go to work, return home, or care for the elderly. For workers a certificate is required to demonstrate that your trip is warranted.
“We do whatever we can to stay happy and healthy!”
After a long stint people have started to embrace the down time to focus on wellness. You can spy a random flurry of movement on certain balconies and rooftops, on the otherwise sedate landscape. A young woman practices her aerial rope gymnastic skills on the patio and her father loyally documents it. Some feet appear from behind a wall as someone works out on the roof.
People have taken to their gardens for sunbathing and mealtimes. The once packed cafes and restaurant terraces where locals tend to have their daily ‘vermut’ remain closed, as the buzzing city centre, always filled with tourists, has become unrecognisable. Breaking this silence is the 8pm daily clap- where neighbours and communities embrace a moment of solidarity amidst the lockdown craziness.
“The government says we shouldn’t visit the elderly, but my mother is old and feeling very lonely these days. So whenever I can, I drop groceries to her house to say hi, keeping our distances in the reception area of course.”
Amidst the bureaucratic chaos, citizens and police have had to engage in rule-bending behaviours- if you want to visit an elderly relative, make it functional and bring them something. If you go to the supermarket, take the receipt with you. If you go for a walk, it better be with your dog!
“When I first came out it was really weird to touch the street floor again, it was amazing, I could see all the kids on their bikes and scooters. It was weird seeing the world through windows and not knowing when I could see my friends and family again.”
The photographer’s daughter tells him about her first time outdoors as she enjoys some painting on the kitchen floor. The Spanish government officials have started to ease the lockdown measures this weekend. Children like her are starting to venture out in to the courtyards as they enjoy their 1 hour a day outside.
Photography by Ivan Hugo
Quotes and words by Cristina Viladomiu