installation and diffused gallery 2024
Located around Belsize Terrace and surrounding streets, including Belsize Lane and Belsize Mews. It lies between Swiss Cottage, Belsize Park, and Hampstead, offering a mix of residential charm, boutique shops, cafes, and local businesses within its village-like atmosphere. Belsize Village is marked by a rather small pedestrian area everyone calls the square, that area even gave name to a locally produced magazine, In the square. It caught my attention since I first visited, during a walk to the Heath with some friends, that had no chain stores or big branded ones. I particularly love discovering the shops where you find the owner or a member of their family ready to trade. Few years later I became a neighbor with my family.
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Nestled in Hampstead, London, has a rich history rooted in its development during the 19th century. Known for its charming mews, originally built as stables for larger homes, the area evolved into a vibrant community. Today, these cobblestone streets and quaint residences epitomize Belsize Village’s unique blend of heritage and modernity. Christopher Wade’s The History of Hampstead mentions “Belsize Village’s architectural and social transformation, shifted from open fields to tree-lined streets of Victorian and Edwardian homes”. Belsize Village includes a few hundred households given its size and density.
The Belsize Village Business Association (BVBA) brings together a diverse range of local businesses dedicated to enhancing community life and promoting economic growth. A very active Instagram account also provides constant connection through photos and by stimulating people to come to the square and spend some time there.
This cluster of independent enterprises spans health, hospitality, beauty, and retail sectors. BVBA organizes community events and beautification initiatives, such as the Belsize Village Streatery, which has supported local dining and attracted visitors since 2020. While some businesses operate with open doors to the public, others work by appointment. The area also hosts professionals like myself, working from closed-door studios or home offices. A chart shows the business in categories as they appear in the BVBA website.