The Tenants: Zupagrafika reveals the people behind its modernist paper buildings

The Tenants is a fascinating photo series portraying current and former inhabitants of the post-war modernist estates that Zupagrafika have illustrated and turned into paper model kits and books. The images capture them in front of their Brutalist homes – some just renovated, others awaiting demolition.

Chisinau. “Romanița” Collective Housing Tower. Photo by Mihail Kalarashan for Zupagrafika. 2017. ©Zupagrafika. All images © Zupagrafika 2012-2017. Main image: Chisinau. “Romanița” Collective Housing Tower. Photo by Mihail Kalarashan for Zupagrafika. 2017. ©Zupagrafika

Chisinau. “Romanița” Collective Housing Tower. Photo by Mihail Kalarashan for Zupagrafika. 2017. ©Zupagrafika. All images © Zupagrafika 2012-2017. Main image: Chisinau. “Romanița” Collective Housing Tower. Photo by Mihail Kalarashan for Zupagrafika. 2017. ©Zupagrafika

David Navarro and Martyna Sobecka, the people behind the creative studio, "had the pleasure" to shoot in cities of the former Eastern Bloc and beyond, such as Berlin, Chisinau, Halle Neustadt, Katowice, London, Paris, Poznan, Rostock, St. Petersburg, Wroclaw, and Warsaw.

"Our future is uncertain, they will eventually make us move out... I'm not afraid of changes, I just hope I can afford them," said Shamim from Robin Hood Gardens in London, currently under demolition.

"The neighbourhood changed considerably in the '90s and doesn't feel that safe anymore," remarked Eduardo, who has lived in Orgues de Flandre`s Tour Prelude for the past 30 years and still says he wouldn't change this place for any other flat in Paris.

"I will never forget this view, we had all the facilities, hot running water, it felt so modern," said Wiesław from the 'Gwiazdy' estate, who remembers the first day he entered his new home in Katowice in the late 1970s.

Discover more of the series on Behance or, to purchase a paper model kit, visit zupagrafika.com.

Halle Neustadt. Hochhaus-Scheiben. 2017. ©Zupagrafika

Halle Neustadt. Hochhaus-Scheiben. 2017. ©Zupagrafika

Paris. Les Choux de Créteil, 2016. ©Zupagrafika

Paris. Les Choux de Créteil, 2016. ©Zupagrafika

Warsaw. Tarchomin Estate. 2013. ©Zupagrafika

Warsaw. Tarchomin Estate. 2013. ©Zupagrafika

St Petersburg, Novosmoloenskaya Housing Complex. Photo by Alexander Veryovkin for Zupagrafika. 2017. ©Zupagrafika

St Petersburg, Novosmoloenskaya Housing Complex. Photo by Alexander Veryovkin for Zupagrafika. 2017. ©Zupagrafika

Berlin. Hochhaus Ernst-Thälmann-Park. 2017. ©Zupagrafika

Berlin. Hochhaus Ernst-Thälmann-Park. 2017. ©Zupagrafika

Wroclaw. “Manhattan” Housing Complex. 2017. ©Zupagrafika

Wroclaw. “Manhattan” Housing Complex. 2017. ©Zupagrafika

Warsaw. Rotunda PKO. 2014. ©Zupagrafika

Warsaw. Rotunda PKO. 2014. ©Zupagrafika

Paris. Cité Curial-Michelet. 2016.  ©Zupagrafika

Paris. Cité Curial-Michelet. 2016. ©Zupagrafika

Rostock. Terrassenhaus, Schmarl Housing Estate. errassenhaus in 2017. ©Zupagrafika

Rostock. Terrassenhaus, Schmarl Housing Estate. errassenhaus in 2017. ©Zupagrafika

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