For those obeying stay-at-home orders or self-isolating at home, the window can be the only tangible connection between you and the real world beyond the four walls of your home.
But what happens when you grow weary of your regular view, or have nothing particularly exciting to look at? Luckily, there’s a new solution to that problem, and it’s as mesmerising as it is cool.
WindowSwap is a new iso-born platform that allows people from all over to witness the everyday views beyond the windows of users from every corner of the world.
Created by Sonali Ranjit and Vaishnav Balasubramaniam, the “quarantine project” was thought out to “fill that deep void in our wanderlust hearts by allowing us to look through someone else’s window, somewhere in the world, for a while”.
The co-creators describe their platform as “a place on the internet where all we travel-hungry fools share our ‘window views’ to help each other feel a little bit better till we can (responsibly) explore our beautiful planet again.”
In trying it out while writing this story, I travelled virtually to witness the rolling mountain ranges from Simone’s window in Tuscany, the bustling streets from Dayanara’s window in Shanghai, clouds rolling in from Guillaume’s window in Paris, and the waves crashing in from Denny’s window in Oahu.
After digitally dropping in on homes in Singapore, India, England, America, Japan, Germany, Sweden, and Indonesia, I felt instantly refreshed and significantly more calm. And of course, now I’m hooked. I lost 20 minutes before I even realised it.
To submit your window view, you need only record a horizontal, 10-minute HD snippet from your own window before sending it on to qunaliaa@gmail.com be uploaded. All windows are welcomed, but be aware that sound will be included too.
You may want to hold off on having a personal conversation while filming, but please feel free to get creative and play some complimentary music or open the windows to hear the trees rustling in the wind.
