NEIGHBOuRHOOD - zURICH DISTRICT 2

Neighbourhood is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “a district or an area of a town; the people who live there.” Everyone has at least one, and many of us experience several over a lifetime. Some shape our identity more strongly than others; together, they form the person we become.

Since the Covid period, a familiar figure has become increasingly present in the streets: the dog walker. Beyond companionship and unconditional affection, having a dog offers a particular way of experiencing one’s neighbourhood. Daily walks compel attention. Unlike most pedestrians, dog walkers rarely move through space while absorbed by their phones. Walking a dog requires awareness of passing cats, unfriendly dogs, narrow pavements, or children whose curiosity may turn into sudden tears. Over time, the eye learns to anticipate, to read situations before they unfold.

As this attentiveness develops, small details, previously unnoticed, begin to emerge. School bells punctuate the day. Neighbours’ routines repeat themselves with subtle variations. Seasonal changes alter familiar paths. Gradually, these observations reinforce a sense of belonging, transforming anonymous streets into known territory.

I lived in Zurich’s District 2 for several years, and throughout 2022 I documented its streets, people, and atmosphere across the seasons. These photographs were made while walking my dog, in rain, snow, and summer heat, with my camera as a constant companion. The project is less a portrait of a place than a record of lived proximity, where daily repetition becomes a way of seeing.