Black and white photo of a row of houses with a large industrial pipe running above them and a metal structure supporting the pipe. The background shows trees and power lines.
Black and white photo of a rural scene with a brick house, leafless trees, and a large pipe running horizontally across the scene above the house.
A black and white photo of a large industrial pipe running horizontally above rooftops, with a utility pole and power lines in the background.
Black and white photo of a large pipeline elevated on a metal stand above residential buildings and trees, with a cloudy sky in the background.
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In Belgium, Charleroi is known for its legacy of coal mining and heavy industry. Mines, factories, and warehouses have profoundly shaped the city and its residential neighborhoods. Although much of the industry has fallen silent, its presence remains embedded in the landscape, a reminder of the city’s industrial past.

From Marcinelle to Monceau-sur-Sambre, a 3.8 km gas pipeline runs through the city, connecting Blast Furnace No. 4 to a former thermal power plant. Now an imposing remnant of Charleroi’s past, the pipeline is an integral part of the cityscape.

Following its path through alleys and neighborhoods, this project uses the pipeline as a thread through the city, exploring how heavy industry has shaped everyday life around it.

This series is the first chapter of a larger documentary body of work on the city of Charleroi, documenting a city in the midst of rapid transformation.

The project is also available as a handmade zine here