Szomszéd Vacsora – dinner gathering with all the neighbours of vegyeskereskedés collective.

The idea for a neighbour’s dinner gathering comes from an old Ukrainian tradition: setting a table for neighbours or workers who helped build a house or assisted with important tasks around someone’s home. In Ukraine, neighbours tend to stay connected because they often share communal spaces, such as sitting areas in front of houses or playgrounds, which naturally encourages people to get to know one another.

In Budapest, or other big cities in Hungary, however, residential buildings don’t necessarily have shared spaces designed for gatherings or social interactions. Few of them have green areas, or even simple architectural features like benches. Although the courtyards are spacious, they mostly used as a transit space. Living in the same building with many different families or individuals doesn’t automatically mean people meet or form connections. This inspired us to create opportunities for neighbours not only to meet but to actively do something together — to share a table, a conversation, and make food together.

Curated by Taras Tolstikov and Sasha.