Belafou

Shabby Shabby Appartments
by raumlaborberlin
Münchner Kammerspiele
2015
Munich, Germany

Who hasn’t dreamed of being an astronaut or a sailor as a child? Seeing the world differently used to come naturally. A stick became a sword, two chairs turned into a ship, a cardboard box transformed into a house. Nothing was waste—everything was material.

The Belafou, a ship built from scrap metal, proves what can be created with space and time. Two discarded shipping containers form its base—symbols of transition and impermanence. Old washing machine doors serve as portholes, while wood and metal from the local scrapyard complete the construction. Wooden paneling adds a touch of warmth, turning salvaged materials into a new kind of space.

But instead of water, this ship floats on tarmac, surrounded by a sea of Munich’s rooftops. The present is no dead end —but to see that, you have to be willing to leave solid ground behind and step aboard. From there, the familiar world might look a little different. Cast off—full imagination ahead!