Is the community we dream of closer than we think?
Last month, we invited Punggol residents to open up their homes to host a series of gatherings as part of our story-collection initiative. Known as House Warmings, they brought residents together and offered a more personal way for us to get to know them beyond door-knocking.
But what made these gatherings so special was that they revealed the quiet, yet profound, warmth and care residents have for one another. In a time when many of us keep to ourselves, it was uplifting to see such genuine connection.
Of course, that wasn’t the case for LX and Cliff — the couple behind Punggol home café @thatdayathome and one of the hosts of House Warmings. They started their business with the dream of getting to know their neighbours. Inspired by a bar in Bangkok where people often gathered to chat, they wanted to bring that same sense of community back home. And that spirit came through during their
And it’s not just LX and Cliff — the homeowners we approached and the residents who showed up shared the same sentiment of wanting to be part of something bigger. We’re heartened to have come across people like this, especially since our door-knocking showed that we have limited interactions with their neighbours. But what these gatherings have taught us is that the desire for connection is very much alive, and sometimes it just takes a small nudge for it to show.
This is the spirit we hope to inspire and the kinds of everyday stories we hope to tell through art engagements and experiences. In our three years in Punggol, we aim to continue sparking such meaningful encounters, bridging gaps between neighbours, and amplifying the spirit of care for the people and space around us. This is only the beginning, stay tuned.