Dans un immeuble en fête

In a building in celebration Over a glass of wine and crisps, neighbours finally meet in this garden at 126-128 chaussée d'Ixelles IXELLES ▽ People are jostling in the entrance halls of the Anaïs, at 126-128 chaussée d'Ixelles. One of the residents of this Ixelles building has his arms full of trays of tarts, another is moving chairs from an upper floor down to the ground floor. Earlier, a teenage girl was clutching cartons of orange juice; her mother, bottles of wine. Direction: the garden, where current and former neighbours have arranged to meet for a little get-together. No doubt about it this Tuesday 27 May, 5 pm: we really are in a building in celebration. The operation, which came into being four years ago in Paris, is now also celebrated in Brussels. But also in other major cities of the continent as part of European Neighbours' Day. In the City of Light, the operation had a father: Atanase Périfan. Here, his name is Carl de Moncharline. At 126-128 chaussée d'Ixelles, however, it is the managing agent Christiane Opdebeeck who decided to get the residents of her landings moving. "We were invited to a small meeting on 2 May at a ministry, with other managing agents, to explain the aim of Immeubles en fête," recounts Christiane. "Enthusiastic, I immediately gave all my residents a note for a meeting. The date of 27 May suited them!" Martine has lived in one of the fifth-floor flats for 9 years. "Apart from my managing agent, I do not often see my neighbours," admits Martine. "A little hello in the lift, yes! But otherwise it is not possible: I leave early and come back late. In any case, I really like this little party…" Opposite Martine, a couple of former tenants, Paul and Toti. They lived at the Anaïs between 1963 and 1967. "We find this extraordinary," says Paul. "You know, we are not used to this kind of gathering in Belgium. But my wife and I, who now live in Malaga, Spain, spend more time with people we do not know! Here, it is not possible. Perhaps the climate…" André is certainly the doyen of the building: 35 years already that he has lived with his wife on the first floor of this Art Deco ensemble built in 1926. Besides food and drink, he has brought along his prize-winning pictures. For 40 years, André was a press photographer. "Nobody here knew I was a photographer," he says straight away, though not at all surprised. "People do not communicate with each other," this specialist in sports photography finally acknowledges. In any case, the gathering made it possible to break down barriers. And everyone already hopes to meet again in this same courtyard on 27 May 2004. "And if we can already have a little drink together before that, all the better," said some tenants, a cup of red in hand… Karim Fadoul