Skip to content

Cheek By Jowl

Bowery

It’s not that surprising that the warren of tiny makeshift living spaces captured by The New York Times is populated by Chinese.

Beijing

Just a few months ago the newspaper published a similar feature about the “mouse people” of Beijing. At least they have ceilings.

If you need any further proof of China’s boom and NYC’s extremes, look at the prices: $80 in China’s capital versus $100-$200 at 81 Bowery. I guess that makes Manhattan’s cubicle homes a better deal?

81

It’s certainly not an unheard of dwelling style in China and Hong Kong, and probably lots of other places around the world. Photographer Michael Wolf’s photo series, 100×100, captures residents of the 100-square-foot rooms of Hong Kong’s oldest public housing complex (since torn down).

I’m impressed that cooking is still given consideration. Even in such abbreviated space, most seem to have a rice cooker, mini-fridge and teapot, many also with hot plates or microwaves. I probably shouldn’t complain about my typically scrunched Brooklyn-sized kitchen again.

Photo credits: Annie Ling/NYT, Sim Chi Yin/NYT, Michael Wolf

No comments yet

Leave a Reply

You may use basic HTML in your comments. Your email address will not be published.

Subscribe to this comment feed via RSS