Home is where the sofa is: photos by Nacha Wongchanglao

While accommodations vary greatly from sofa to sofa, one thing is always certain: There is usually no photo of where you will sleep. Instead, descriptions written by hosts usually give an idea of ​​what to expect, whether that’s a private room, a sofa, or sometimes even sharing a bed with the host. This lack of certainty makes each sofa stay feel like its own unique experience, shaped by the host and the space they provide.

Each photo in the series features a different host, a person from a faraway country with a unique story, job and lifestyle. The range is astonishing: a liberated woman in Mexico who works at Booking.com and parties every night, a government speechwriter from Canada, a topless nudist in Brooklyn. Natcha’s lens captures not only the hosts, but the subtle dynamics that occur when living under someone else’s roof—sometimes comfortable, sometimes awkward, but always deeply personal.

The project began during Nacha’s time at art school in New York, where she turned to Couchsurfing as a way to alleviate the loneliness of starting over in a new city. For her, it was more than just a way to find a bed to sleep in, it was an opportunity to connect, learn and grow. The series is a portrait of these connections – some fleeting, some permanent – ​​and a reflection of how we are all ultimately just travelers searching for a place to call home.