Most neighbours stay strangers. You share a building, maybe exchange a nod in the lift — and that's it. At Rezidentz, we've always believed that can change. So we organized a climbing evening at Maniak Padoue, and invited residents from across our buildings.
Scaling the walls of a converted church
Maniak Padoue is one of Brussels' most distinctive climbing venues — built inside the Saint-Antoine de Padoue church. Stained glass windows, vaulted ceilings, and bouldering walls sit side by side in a space that somehow makes everything feel more alive.
The evening started with drinks, introductions, and the slow realization that most of us had been living metres apart for months without ever really meeting. An instructor handed out shoes, sorted us into pairs, and got us moving.
From strangers to partners
Climbing has a way of removing social barriers quickly. You need to trust your partner, communicate clearly, and cheer each other on — which tends to cut through the usual awkwardness of meeting new people. By the end of the session, groups that arrived separately were swapping numbers and making plans.
Giulia, who moved into Rezidentz Poelaert a few months before, put it simply: 'I didn't expect to feel this at home this quickly. The apartment is great, but evenings like this are what actually make it feel like a community.'
What Maniak Padoue offers
Beginner zones, bouldering walls, a youth area, and an onsite bar. Open to all levels. Located in the Saint-Antoine de Padoue church, Brussels.
Why we organize these events
Furnished apartments are easy to find in Brussels. A real sense of belonging is much harder. That's what we're trying to build — not through shared kitchens or forced communal spaces, but through experiences people actually want to be part of. Climbing, pottery, cycling: the format changes, but the goal is the same.
