Could you imagine a family living in an apartment not much bigger than a king-size bed? In Hong Kong, some families are forced to live in 40 square-foot cubicle apartments that have bunk beds overlapping with cooking areas and food storage located inches from electronics. The Society for Community Organization (SoCO), a Chinese human rights group, has released photographs of Hong Kong’s claustrophobic apartments as part of a campaign to raise awareness about the tough living conditions city dwellers are facing. In order to capture the feel and scale of these micro-apartments, photos were taken from the only full vantage point-above.
Hong Kong is one of the world’s most densely populated cities. With seven million people living within 423 square miles, space is scarce and living conditions are often almost unbearable. According to the Society for Community Organization, over 10,000 people in Hong Kong live in tiny “cubicle apartments” created by dividing already small apartments into even smaller units. A single square foot of Hong Kong real estate costs nearly $1,300, on average. Compared to New York, Hong Kong’s rents are 35% percent higher.
The wide-angle photos were taken by fixing a camera with a wide-angle lens to the ceiling, and then triggering a shot remotely. That is how the photographer was able to capture thecramped space in a single shot that shows even the smallest details.
+ Society for Community Organization (SoCO)
Via The Atlantic Cities
