Gives us so much to be thankful for! Happy Turkey Day everyone!

I'm pretty sure this project has been highlighted on this site before, but it's always interesting to look at again.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

A fridge and a tv. What the heck more do you need besides a peg to hang your hat?

A friend of mine is an immigrant from Hong Kong. She's really, really into baking. Hong Kong is heavily populated, and everyone lives in tiny apartments with their whole family (not quite as teeny as the homes featured here, though). No one has room for an oven, so no one in Hong Kong bakes! Hence, her baking enthusiam.

wow. I though we were living in a small space in HK with 400 sqft for 5 of us in my family. 100 sqft is tiny!

i love these photos.

I have seen small apartments like this in the China Town in my city. It amazes me how those who live in the apartments think of storage options that I never would have.

Michael Wolf: you are a brave photographer. I would love to talk with you about the experience of entering into these rooms. There are "dwellings" EXACTLY these in the urban US as well. Maybe you could capture those as well (the Health Department would love you!)

Yes, I am thankful for what I have. And thankful I do not have to smell the interior of those rooms!

Wow, I love these photos too! especially the 4th one--so carefully arranged!
@Monica: maybe you're mistaking this post for that one: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/look/domestic-landscapes-by-bert-teunisse-098184
Both projects seem to have a lot in common, dont thay?

what does the health department have to do with this? there's nothing unhealthy about living in a tiny space, is there?

there are things like this in the us, and while they may be permanent housing for some, theyre also often called dorm rooms.

way to take a culturally different point of view and make it "why isnt it america"?

Wow.

i love these photos too, and appreciate getting a peek at these people's lives in such tiny spaces that would otherwise go undocumented.

but the term "sub-culture" strikes me as inappropriate in describing this environment, it seems to fish-bowl the subjects in an almost exploitative way. i'm curious about people's thoughts on this. am i just over-thinking it?

from what i understand, the term "sub-culture" implies at least partial will to identify with the distinguishing qualities of the subculture. beatniks, punks, gamers, trekkies... those strike me as sub-cultures. in the case of these residents of this public housing, the use of the term "sub-culture" struck me as somewhat insensitive and potentially offensive, as i don't think the 100-sf-space lifestyle is something the residents necessarily want to identify with. would you call low-income residents in housing projects in the U.S. a "subculture" as a group? seems a bit condescending almost. i don't know, it just doesn't sit right with me.

perhaps i'm over-thinking it! in any case, thanks for the thought-provoking post!

One thought. Pray there is never a fire.

I like the way the man in the last photo is so neat and organized. He even has has an empty bottom bunk (spare bedroom perhaps?). I lived in 100 sqft in San Francisco, it can be done and it's really not even half bad. It's just a very different lifestyle with upsides and downsides like any other.

I wonder what Oprah would say if she walked in to one of those? Hmmmm.....

They certainly know how to use every inch of wall space.

editrix26, when we visited my sister-in-law in South Korea, I noticed that her very nice, high-tech European-style kitchen didn't have an oven. I think they're just not that common in parts of Asia, whether you live in a small or large place.

It looked similar to my aunt's.
My aunt and her family (of 4) live in a 400 sqft apartment in HK and I always stayed at that apartment when I visited.

I'd never stayed in a place so small until I got to Hong Kong...prob same size room if not a wee bit smaller..the showerhead was over the toilet so that the bathroom itself was also a shower stall with a drain and rubber accordion door. Just remember to take out the TP before your shower! Fun peek.

jenawithonen and elementarian, I'm with you guys. I love the pictures, but some of the remarks and comments I'm seeing posted on websites and in the comments section here are nothing short of condescending and offensive.

Case in point:

"Michael Wolf: you are a brave photographer. I would love to talk with you about the experience of entering into these rooms." - burnttoast

What is so brave about taking pictures of people in their homes? Do these residents look scary to you? Ooooh, but they're so foreign and poor!!! "dwellings" in air quotes!

wait, so where is the bathroom? and do they have stoves?

this reminds me of a friend's book

http://peperoni-books.de/portraits_from_above.html

pretty cool and tiny!

I agree with undercover. I see why these photos are a great PEAK at how another culture lives and even maybe be happy that you don't live the same way, but to talk about how foul these places MIGHT smell and how it might be a health hazard to live in this space is downright ignorant.

I actually really hate the smell of potpourri ... and all the space some Americans supposedly NEED is ridiculous. That is why I love apartment therapy, they show you how to maximize your life and find home within a smaller space.

I really wish I had a more concise way of telling you of why I am actually hurt by what some of you have said.

Great photos! I love how clever they are in using what little space they have.

I could definitely live like this if I had more hobbies outside the home or more of a social life. I see these as places you only sleep in and occasionally cook there too, for those people who work a lot and eat out a lot and maybe take a few yoga classes.

I live in a nice 1200 square foot apartment, but I made it my home office and gym as well. But I could easily live out my days just like in these pictures as long as I had a lot to do outside of the home. In a very densely populated city, this type of living makes sense.

I like to see how people make the space work for them. I like how they use every inch of the wall!

madamelai and others, I too am at a loss for words. I never assume my way is better than others, just different. Who am I to judge? These people have hardships AND joys, some may choose this way of living, and others I'm sure have no choice.

Feeling like what I have is truly an 'embarrassment of riches'.

"thankful I do not have to smell the interior of those rooms!"

burnttoast, why would you assume these rooms smell bad?

I for one am very appreciative that these nice folks allow us to peek in at their carefully put-together spaces.

I lived in HK for years. It's a crazy city that is very dear to me. What I learned there is that most people eat, entertain and socialize outside of their homes. Different culture, different priorities. p.s. Don't let these pictures fool you, they probably have mucho $$$ in cash in their cookie jars and have all their children & grandchildren's college (overseas perhaps?) paid for.

I do love that fourth photo.

We are all aware that there are huge differences between the way homes are set up in HK and the US, even homes with comparable square footage, right? Some of the differences are by choice or an aesthetic. Other things are about local construction and availability. I've been inside similar places in HK & southern China and I've been to tiny apartments in NY and London. It's apples and oranges so some of the attitudes here are a little maddening.

@ elementarian - you're absolutely right about the use of the word subculture. Looks like you know your Dick Hebdige, too bad the writer of this post didn't.

The only thing I like about 100 sf flat is I wouldn't have much to clean!!

The people in the photos all look extremely happy. Enough said.

As someone who went from a 3500 sq.ft. home (my parents) to a 600 sq.ft. apartment, I can honestly say I prefer the apartment. I hated having all this empty space- guest rooms and sunrooms that were never used, a huge unfinished basement no one entered. It grossed me out how our neighbourhood felt they needed all of this when it wasn't even touched. Small places are so comfortable and it prevents you from hoarding. If this has anything to do with culture at all I would say it puts Hong Kong in a much better light than America- here we are all about excess. Over there, you don't take what you don't need.

great pics. a neat window into another culture.
thanks,
jlb

simpler lives, and serene people....

a very interesting view into other people's lives...

Yeah, burnttoast's "smell" comment has really put me off. Pretty rude, yo.

Lovely photos, ! I'm just stunned about the fact that none of these rooms seems to have a window.

I think all of these tiny homes would benefit greatly from a coat of paint and lots of decluttering.
I was also wondering about the window situation.
Very sad, if no windows...

Decluttering? Every possession that they have is in the 100sq. feet! I think that for everything being in one room they look pretty good!

They have to fit every worldly possession into 100 sq. ft. I don't think decluttering is a big concern for them.

Astur, yes, I understand that all they have is probably in that room.
I wonder if they can even buy paint, by the way...

'posted by Jany: Lovely photos, ! I'm just stunned about the fact that none of these rooms seems to have a window.'

Well spotted Jany. While the photographs are brilliant, remember that the photographer meant them as a statement. Not a design shoot. Maoist era homes. Not 'downsizing'. Forced housing. They may be a brilliant use of space... but no one, please, romanticize them.

Another thing: have you noticed that everyone is sitting?

These people could give lessons on utilizing space efficiently. It's amazing how they've stored their possessions in every nook and cranny.

The use of the term "sub-culture" to describe residents who live in these small apartments is inaccurate. Living in small spaces has always been the norm in Hong Kong. People use to share apartments with other families to save money because affordable housing and available land to build was scarce. The "new territories" in Hong Kong exists because of this land shortage. These old public housing buildings were constructed when the island city was still a British colony. Some public housing apartments are larger but in general, even recent renovated homes in HK are tiny compared to US apartments. It's great that these photos were taken, but these people aren't living on the fringe of society. Everyone in Hong Kong knows about them. Some people have relatives in these buildings.

I live in Hong Kong (around 650 square feet for the 3 of us) and this series is interesting, but typical of many housing estates here. All locals know about the conditions of many of the estates and expats who are aware of the culture know about these places too. They're not a subculture, but HK is all about public relations horn blowing and doesn't like the world to know that yes, a great majority of this city of 7 million live like this. Often the people shared kitchens/bathrooms on a single floor, or climbed up many many levels to reach their flat (no lifts installed). They were built to accommodate the rush of people who came to the colony as immigrants. There were many shantytowns before and some big fires. So the next time you're in HK, having tea in the Peninsula, and boozing and clubbing in Lan Kwai Fong blowing big bucks, just remember that the majority of people live like this, contrary what many, including many locals, would like you to believe. And design-well, frankly, you'll find the vast majority of HK people don't give two bits about it. It's about cramming stuff in a small space! The fire hazard "look" is fairly standard, even in flats more than 100 square feet....

ChesterShoeshine, thank GOD for your comment!!!

These photos illustrate two things: the extraordinary dignity of the occupants of these ungodly "closets", and the inhumanity of a regime where the well-being of the citizens is totally submitted to the religion of profit. When no money = no space, it looks like that.

Now about the comments. As much as I too have a deep admiration for people with great habilities in space-management, I have long ago decided that there was such a thing as minimum decent living space for human beings. 100 square feet is UNACCEPTABLE, whatever country or age you live in.

Besides MacMansions and 3000 sq. ft. lofts, there is such a thing as a decent space, whether it be urban, suburban, in the country ot the woods, old or new.

We must never accept to live in / and pay excruciatingly high prices for / a home: a place to stay, a place to hide from the elements, a place to have some privacy and a minimum of comfort. When you can swallow the fact that you must spare 75% of your revenues for a place to sleep, what else can you swallow? Will we see the return of the flop-houses (decorated by great design stars, of course)?

Thanks AT for posting these great photos. And please everybody, wake up and reconnect yourselves with reality.

these are great photos!

I'm not sure it's exactly 'undocumented'. The tiny living spaces in Hong Kong is pretty well-known. Also, even though Hong Kong is politically a part of China, it is very very different in lifestyle and culture.

Rats! I posted too quickly. I really meant:

"We must never come to accept to live in / and pay excruciatingly high prices for / such a dreadfully small space. A home is a place to stay, a place to hide from the elements, a place to have some space to move in, some privacy and a minimum of comfort. This demands more than 100 square feet."

Of course this means that the cost of dwelling space IS political.

I agree with those who took offense at some of the comments. There is nothing in the photos to suggest that the rooms would smell bad. Perhaps there is something in that commentor's character to make her feel that they would smell bad if SHE lived there, but that's far from being objective.

I don't find anything special about this series at all. Basically, it's pictures of people's apartments in Hong Kong. Anyone who lives in a public housing estate lives in these conditions. This is why most Chinese furniture stores and appliance stores sell smaller sized furniture or multi-function appliances to save room.

Almost every large city in Asia is densely populated, with people living on top of each other. Hong Kong and Tokyo in particular have some of the most expensive per-foot real estate in the world. My aunt and uncle paid nearly the equivalent of US$1 million for what amounts to a 400 square foot apartment in a non-designer, typical private 12-building apartment complex in the middle of a 50-floor building. Their kitchen is basically a closet with 2 burners; when my aunt wants to cook more than 2 dishes at once, she has to use a hotplate.

You just learn to live with less.

If only people would stop judging other cultures by the standards of their own ...this is not any form of maoist oppression...it is not a case of no space because of no money. Hong Kong is probably the most wildly capitalistic, money oriented place in the world where people just like in these photos have millions in the bank, pay for their kids to study at Harvard and trade daily on the stock exchange.

Priorites over here are just different...why eat or entertain at home when you have over 50,000 restaurants to choose from including Michelin starred $2 dim sum joints?

When your home is only somewhere you sleep that no-one else ever sees, why spend the $$ on it? Especially when there is always a good IPO coming up next week!

Thank you Chester Shoeshine for addressing offensiveness and also for offering further insight on the potential health hazards of living in the possible layout you described.

Thank you amandabug, HongKonger, moreshooz, and buddhafun for sharing insight on what is considered normal for this densely populated city. And for pointing out that HK citizens have different priorities in their lifestyles.

ChesterShoeshine, MissBalzac,

I'll make free to respond since I 'have' read plenty of Said in addition to plenty of postcolonialism, do come from a poorer Asian background, and have seen both the type of benevolent patronizing you decry and the outraged righteous war-cry against supposedly neoliberal you espouse. You said:

"the result of a government's half-hearted acknowledgment that gee, shucks, they better make some kind of affordable housing while they pimp out their workers to the globalizing work economy."

-Let's gain a sense of reality about what constitutes a good life. A weathered house does not mean a pitiful people. Let not those who live in glass houses throw stones. Most of us don't know the realities of the pictured people's lives.

"minimum decent living space for human beings. 100 square feet is UNACCEPTABLE, whatever country or age you live in."

-Sorry, but there just isn't enough land on earth anymore to go around for all of us to have the minimum space you mention, not now, not for a while. And yes, you can blame it on those irresponsible folks who produce too many offspring, but the missionary, zealous anger doesn't make the world's reality of poverty and scarcity any less. People before you and I have asked for more, but it's dangerous to ask for too much.

Some of the comments here made me sad. One can empathise, try to touch the common human part of alien people, can't one, instead of trying to reform everything at once? Maybe they have utopias other than the American Dream? Just a thought.

I like these photos. I am afraid to leave a comment here. LOL

FigurativeSketches, I appreciate your comment.

I live way north of Montreal. Do you have any idea of the climate here? There is moderate to deep cold 8 months out of 12; in summer, it's searing hot and humid. One needs a serious heating source, four-season clothing, etc. Not luxury stuff: just clothing, but a variety of it. Here, living in 100 square feet means certain death, one way or another.

As much as we would all like to live in warmer climates, "the planet" does not allow that. Not unless there are much less human beings on it. But we're here!

Oh, and also: all change starts with some anger, zealous or not.

great photos! lucky you for having the opportunity to visit and photograph these charming and fascinating homes.

Interesting and fascinating photos of people in their personal spaces. Love it.

The ping-ponging of assumptions on the part of imperialist AND post-colonialist thinkers in the comments, not so much. (Thinking inside the box, is thinking inside the box, no matter which way you turn the cube.)

Can't you just appreciate that the photographer made a 100 piece tableau of 100sqft spaces without projecting? I actually find it oddly charming and kind of great that the pictures say so much that some commenters could crinkle their noses at imagined smells.

I lived in HK for years. The space I had was similar but we had everything. Everything is smaller to fit those tight spaces. They get everything down the streets or very close by and no need to keep anything extra. Now, I am in the States and need to store extra stuff in case I need it. Although it is small yet it's functional.

Reb, timely reminder about ping-ponging:) Since this space is about home/design/living I'll hold my tongue on how my plaintive cry was misunderstood:).

Will add, though, to MissBalzac: I'm sorry you took offense. Where we come from influences how we see, of course. I agree anger spurs change, but it has to come from the bottom up, I thought. Since those pictures and Bert Teunissen's, to me, inspired humility rather than anything else, I was surprised to find your comment.

Again, apologies to you and everyone for the verbal clutter.

my mother grew up in hong kong in these exact conditions; she and her mother were refugees from newly-communist china.
she describes growing up in these conditions as the happiest time of her life: everyone always out and about, everyone knew their neighbors, kids running around together in the courtyards, street vendors, mah jong games that ran through the night, etc. their wealth lay in people, shared common losses (tragedies from the japanese occupation, communist china, nearby wars in cambodia and vietnam and their refugees), living life together. no one thought about design or stuff; it just wasn't on the radar, you know?

It's just that the sense of space is different. Some couldn't accept that the space is too small for people to live but some are glad to take it without any complaint.

For those interested in how the project came to be and how the photographer set up the shots, there's a great item on the New York Times's Lens blog from several weeks ago: http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/showcase-77/

This particular housing estate has since been torn down (the photos were taken in four days only weeks before the residents had to move out), but, as others have said, it's a common situation here in Hong Kong.

Thanks, annaholl.
Where did all these people go, I wonder...

I'm surprised to see no one else has commented on what common and accepted American institution these apartments really resemble -- college dorm rooms! We had bunk beds, mini fridges, microwaves, contraband hot plates, and way more jammed in there, and I was pretty content for all four years. About the only thing I had back at my parents' that I really missed were all my books. With all a big city has to offer, and being used to sharing communal bathrooms, I don't think this would be a terrible situation.

sophiahelix, didn't you see this one?

"what does the health department have to do with this? there's nothing unhealthy about living in a tiny space, is there?

there are things like this in the us, and while they may be permanent housing for some, theyre also often called dorm rooms.

way to take a culturally different point of view and make it "why isnt it america"?"

posted by jenawithonen on November 24th 2009 at 2:04pm

"If only people would stop judging other cultures by the standards of their own ...this is not any form of maoist oppression...it is not a case of no space because of no money. Hong Kong is probably the most wildly capitalistic, money oriented place in the world where people just like in these photos have millions in the bank, pay for their kids to study at Harvard and trade daily on the stock exchange."
posted by HongKonger

Never confuse the Hong Kong of today for the one owned by the colonial powers... Maoist oppression? Depends on how you define it... One oppression made possible by another, perhaps... Thank you annaholl for posting the link. It helps provide some of the balance.