At a time of housing shortages and increasing criticism of both individualistic attitudes and the high ecological footprint of our society, interest in communal living is naturally growing. Anthropologist and photographer Mariet Dingemans recorded life in the De Brouwketel commune in the Dutch province of Gelderland over a period of three years. There, nine adults, five children, six sheep, a dog and lots and lots of chickens live together, close to nature and without the stresses of urban life. The result is an inviting piece of visual reportage that gives an impression of a form of living that revolves neither around the individual nor around the nuclear family.
One shower a week has a thick cover of grey board, which thanks to well-placed grooves on the inside of the folds fits neatly around the interior. The impression made by this unbleached, natural (100% recycled) card, in combination with the two apposite photographs stuck to the front and back of the cover, perfectly suits the theme and feel of the interior. The choice for a Swiss binding means that the photos – particularly those printed across a spread – come out well. Unfortunately, once we get to the second half of the book the thick card cover and Swiss binding start to work against one another, with the book block pulling itself away from the back board due to its own weight.