During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a simple, enriching service went viral in the midst of lockdown: WindowSwap.
According to their website, "WindowSwap is here to fill that deep void in our wanderlust hearts by allowing us to look through someone else's window, somewhere in the world." Simply put, WindowSwap gives viewers a glance into someone else's window somewhere around the world.
The practice is simple: click a button to be taken to a random window. The video will loop until you click for another location. In the top left, you'll see the name of the window's owner. In the top right, you'll see the window's location, which can vary anywhere from London to Honolulu to Singapore and everywhere in-between.
Creating an account gives users access to playlists, which are curated lists of windows for a particular mood or vibe, such as windows that have animals or a particular landscape. Registered users can also bookmark their favorite windows and search windows based on location.
Some window views are quiet, and others have background noise such as traffic or inhabitants moving around the space. This was intentional, as the creators believed having movement and noise helps transport the user.
WindowSwap is both meditative and enlightening. For artists, it's a way to step into another part of the globe for inspiration, especially if you are bored with the view outside your own window. WindowSwap is a great place for finding a muse for your next art project, such as painting a landscape for a place you've never been!
Further Reading
- Mashable | Addictive site Window Swap lets you pretend to work from other people's homes
- Travel + Leisure | WindowSwap Lets You Enjoy the View From Other People's Windows Around the World
- Vice | I Tried WindowSwap, a Site That Lets You Stare out a Stranger's Window
Feature Image by Rob Wingate on Unsplash