Feeling the squeeze around the world
Deutsche Welle teamed up with photo-sharing app "EyeEm" to learn more about the creative solutions people find to make use of the space they have. Here's a selection of photos submitted from EyeEm users around the globe.
Sleeping on the balcony in Kyiv
With rents rocketing upwards in cities all over the world, the spaces people live in are increasingly shrinking. Deutsche Welle teamed up with photo sharing app "EyeEm" to find out which creative solutions people use to make the best out of the space they have. Some really mastered the art of improvising. Irvna Kyrychenko turned her balcony in Kyiv, Ukraine, into a guestroom (above).
Protecting tools from floods on a Japanese island
Minsyuku Seiryukyo is a shop owner in a guesthouse on Tanegashima Island in southern Japan. Minsyuku works and lives in this shop. Because the shop is close to the river, he hangs all of his tools on the wall to protect them in case of a flood. He told DW that his favorite item in the room is the stuffed wolf, which he got from an amusement park that didn’t need it anymore.
Resorting to campervans in Berlin
Even in Berlin, a city that was recently still known for its cheap living, rents have jumped up 40 percent in the last five years alone. Competition for every free room is fierce - it has become so intense that some people are apparently even living in campervans. Barbara Sommerer sent us this picture, taken on New Year’s Day in Berlin.
Family house in Moldova
Berlin is not the only city where people get creative to make the best out of the little money and space they have. Alexandra sent us this picture of a family house in Moldova, where there’s only space to hang the laundry up outside, even when there's snow on the ground.
Inaccessible washing machine in Holland
High demand for housing in Holland and increasing living expenses make it difficult to find an affordable place. EyeEm user Clouds sent us this picture of her kitchen in Holland. It leaves you wondering how she gets her laundry in and out of the washing machine...
Welding 14 hours a day in this room in Japan
EyeEm user Rys sent us this picture of his room in the Japanese city of Saitama, north of Tokyo. He doesn't only live in this room but also spends 14 hours a day working here as a welder. The rest of the day he likes to just sit on a chair and think, he told DW.
Tiny kitchen in St. Petersburg, Russia
Sonja Belle submitted this picture of a kitchen in St. Petersburg. Even though she only has space for a tiny stove, she loves cooking here and managed to cram everything she needs into the space she has. --- Thanks again to all the participants, your pictures were truly inspiring. If you want to see them all, check out EyeEm's mission "Creative Living by DW" on http://www.eyeem.com/a/7661330.