How the one and only HOC cat loves the co-iving space and the community
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My name is Mira, or Fluffy to my friends. I live in HOC King Square Mansion: a beautifully renovated townhouse where six people live, work, cook, laugh and, every now and then, give me a cuddle. It’s one of HOC’s co-living homes, a community that breathes new life into old Antwerp buildings and turns them into warm, stylish homes.
Of course, I know nothing about property. I just know when a house feels right. And believe me: you can feel that here straight away.
From the moment I set my paws over the threshold, I knew. Everything here is just right. Sunbeams falling precisely onto the wooden floor. Stairs just begging to be climbed. Windowsills where you can daydream for hours. And little nooks everywhere where you can sleep soundly.
Come on, shall you join me for a stroll?
We’ll start downstairs.
The first thing you’ll notice is the impressive staircase. Tall wooden doors, an elegant staircase and colourful, authentic floor tiles that have been welcoming visitors for over a century. This townhouse once stood empty and seemed forgotten. Today, it shines once more, just as it was meant to.
Next to the hall is the living room. Warm earth tones, soft furnishings, a beautiful cabinet from Pakistan, two old chimneys and ceiling rosettes that I even find myself gazing at from time to time. My humans call that daydreaming. I call it enjoying myself.
The kitchen-diner is the heart of the house. Whilst my housemates are cooking, I keep a close eye on everything. The large wooden table, once part of a diamond-cutting workshop, has witnessed many a story. Behind the kitchen lies what is perhaps my favourite spot: a quiet city garden full of greenery, with a pond and a large shade sail under which everyone loves to linger.
Come on, let’s head further upstairs.
On the first floor, you’ll find a cosy reading room and a bathroom. One flight of stairs further up are the first bedrooms. Warmly decorated, with plenty of natural light, comfortable beds, beautiful old chimneys and just enough space to feel at home.
One floor higher still, you’ll discover the remaining bedrooms and bathrooms. They all share the same tranquil atmosphere. It’s as if the whole house tells a single story.
My friends sometimes tell me how it all began. How HOC breathed new life into this stately townhouse during the pandemic. How Pim, the founder, has a passion for buildings full of character and transforms them into places where people feel at home. The HOC community now comprises thirteen houses and over a hundred residents. I particularly love the fact that all these people seem to love beautiful houses just as much as I do.
Because ultimately, it’s not just the interior that makes this house special.
It’s the people who eat together, meet up in the garden, have a chat on the stairs or enjoy a summer’s evening together. As a cat, you might feel that even more keenly than a human.
And that’s why I do my usual round every single day.
Not because I’m afraid of missing out on something.
But because this is the sort of house where you keep discovering something new.
With a paw from me,
Mira – or Fluffy, for those who know me.
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