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Apartments So Small They Can Only Be Photographed From Above

theatlanticcities.com

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Re: Apartments So Small They Can Only Be Photographed From Above

#21

Post by wyuenho »

robryan wrote: post #17

What kind of mobility do these people have? Could they choose to move to somewhere in rural China and get something of decent size?

Very little.

Most people actually would rather stay in HK to take advantage of the better education and healthcare system for their children than moving to China for a __slightly__ more affordable place. HK is also a much safer city to live in. The food is generally safe and the police is fair and professional.

Commuting between HK and China is also a big problem. Most jobs in HK are in the urban areas in HK, commuting from Shenzhen or elsewhere to those areas daily can take a huge chunk of money out of their wages, let alone the 3-4 hours they have to spend commuting.

Re: Apartments So Small They Can Only Be Photographed From Above

#22

Post by daeken »

JeremyMorgan wrote: post #19

Call me crazy, but I've always thought if I were a single guy with no family, I could live in something like this. I follow a couple of pages on Facebook about minimal living and think that it wouldn't be all that bad to have a one room place that has all the facilities needed. It sucks that so many are left with no choice in the matter though.

I thought the exact same. Then I lived in NYC for a year and a half in something like 180sqft. Never, ever again.

Even things like having two other people in the place was uncomfortable. There was space for a full bed and a small desk and nothing more. There was no usable kitchen. It seems like something that can be dealt with, but doing it really, really sucks.

Re: Apartments So Small They Can Only Be Photographed From Above

#23

Post by rhplus »

redact207 wrote: post #10

It gets worse. The photos are not the bottom of the barrel when it comes to Hong Kong real estate. Those who are in the worst poverty are the ones who live in cages. It's literally a bunk bed with sides enclosed with cage wiring. They have no walls, minimal possessions and live day to day. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU4jjdRzy3w Hong Kong is an intriguing city that I highly recommend to go spend some time in.

The 'cage' appears to be so that resident can lock their belongings inside when they aren't there (you can see padlocks hanging on the doors of some).

I can't really offer much of a useful statement on the realities of being chronically homeless (which is what these men essentially are) in a big city or on the root causes of the situation in Hong Kong, both social and economic. But I can say that the immediate needs of shelter, which come with a lack of space, privacy and security, are very likely to exist very close to home for anyone living in a big city. Here are some examples of sleeping arrangements for homeless in Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle and Los Angeles (some are emergency shelters, some are permanent):

http://cdn.theatlanticcities.com/img/upload/2012/01/16/Homel...

http://triblocal.com/glen-ellyn/files/cache/2011/08/OTE-sea-...

http://commongroundwa.org/people/images/portlet-images/Portl...

http://test.housing1000sv.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/she...

Re: Apartments So Small They Can Only Be Photographed From Above

#24

Post by cantbecool »

daeken wrote: post #22
JeremyMorgan wrote: post #19

Call me crazy, but I've always thought if I were a single guy with no family, I could live in something like this. I follow a couple of pages on Facebook about minimal living and think that it wouldn't be all that bad to have a one room place that has all the facilities needed. It sucks that so many are left with no choice in the matter though.

I thought the exact same. Then I lived in NYC for a year and a half in something like 180sqft. Never, ever again. Even things like having two other people in the place was uncomfortable. There was space for a full bed and a small desk and nothing more. There was no usable kitchen. It seems like something that can be dealt with, but doing it really, really sucks.

I mean isn't that twice the size of a dorm room? It could not have been that bad.

Re: Apartments So Small They Can Only Be Photographed From Above

#25

Post by matthewrudy »

cantbecool wrote: post #24
daeken wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought the exact same. Then I lived in NYC for a year and a half in something like 180sqft. Never, ever again. Even things like having two other people in the place was uncomfortable. There was space for a full bed and a small desk and nothing more. There was no usable kitchen. It seems like something that can be dealt with, but doing it really, really sucks.

I mean isn't that twice the size of a dorm room? It could not have been that bad.

I don't know what US dorms are like, but I'd guess they have some shared space to stretch out in. Maybe a kitchen or lounge. But what we're talking about is the room, and nothing else.

That's not a great way to live.

Re: Apartments So Small They Can Only Be Photographed From Above

#26

Post by matthewrudy »

wyuenho wrote: post #21
robryan wrote: post #17

What kind of mobility do these people have? Could they choose to move to somewhere in rural China and get something of decent size?

Very little. Most people actually would rather stay in HK to take advantage of the better education and healthcare system for their children than moving to China for a __slightly__ more affordable place. HK is also a much safer city to live in. The food is generally safe and the police is fair and professional. Commuting between HK and China is also a big problem. Most jobs in HK are in the urban areas in HK, commuti…

Having commuted from Shenzhen for a few months, it seems a lot of people do actually do this.

Mostly younger people though.

The night buses from wanchai are full of HKers heading home to SZ.

Re: Apartments So Small They Can Only Be Photographed From Above

#28

Post by lignuist »

Mongolia's capital Ulaan Baatar is also called the coldest capital in the world. Harsh temperatures during the winters force the poorest people to live in the canalization, where are heating pipes:

http://www.chinasmack.com/2010/pictures/mongolian-homeless-l...

I think, it cannot get worse than that.

Re: Apartments So Small They Can Only Be Photographed From Above

#29

Post by InclinedPlane »

berlinbrown wrote: post #2

I live in apartment. Not a micro-one. But I imagine you can find solace in just having only the things you need. Why do you need a ranch size home and 20 acres?

What does need have to do with it? If people want to live in a "cozy" apartment in the heart of a bustling city or if they want to live on a ranch home with 20 acres, and can afford to do so, why shouldn't they?

Re: Apartments So Small They Can Only Be Photographed From Above

#30

Post by nostromo »

JeremyMorgan wrote: post #19

Call me crazy, but I've always thought if I were a single guy with no family, I could live in something like this. I follow a couple of pages on Facebook about minimal living and think that it wouldn't be all that bad to have a one room place that has all the facilities needed. It sucks that so many are left with no choice in the matter though.

There's a whole community around the idea of tiny houses. For example, check out this 89 sq foot home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbRvsWuWNUM

Obviously it's different to choose this lifestyle vs being forced into it due to poverty.

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