Sardines in Hong Kong
There are times in my tiny New York City life that I want to thrust myself out onto the fire escape, tear my shirt open and just suck in all the oxygen I can get. It is so easy to feel claustrophobic here – we are packed in like sardines – on the train, on the sidewalk, at work, in our apartment buildings – sometimes I just get hungry for my own space.
But these tower blocks in Hong Kong are somethin’ else entirely. I need to breathe into a paper bag. Photographer Michael Wolf photographs what he calls the “architecture of density,” and his photos of Hong Kong literally make my heart race – they’re beautiful but terrifying all the same. So many lives in such tight quarters – something tells me you don’t just bang a broom on the ceiling to get your upstairs neighbor to turn down the bass.
What do you think – would you enjoy the energy of a neighborhood like this or does it make you schwitz?
Some of my favorites below, but check out more of Wolf’s photography here on his website!
(Via Photojojo)






Whoa. While I definitely think that Americans “need” way too much living space, I think I would lose my damn mind if I lived in a highrise building surrounded by other highrise buildings filled with that many people. This ninja needs her green space something fierce, even if it just a couple of plants on my stoop and a tree across the street.
His shots are amazing aren’t they! Really convey just how high up Hong Kong housing goes!
His shots are amazing aren’t they! Really convey just how high up Hong Kong housing goes!