I enjoy photographing blocks of apartments and often do not get it right with the perspective even with help from the photo editing apps. Anyway, that is another story...
When land is scarce, one builds up ...
Now the next 2 photos below are not a wow architecture but there was a history, a story to it ...
This hospital according to the archives, have existed in the 17th century and throughout the centuries, it has never stopped expanding even today.
I have no idea this staircase's age but it was old... really old. This is the passageway for those who worked in the hospital and not opened to the public. The good news is that it will be demolished and modern medical facilities are being constructed.
I just can't imagine the history of it, the nurses / nuns of different centuries who had used those steps - what they have seen, how they worked .... Anyway, it is good today that the medical teams would have a modern and adaptable place to work!
The photo below was shot when the car stopped at the red light and there was a slight traffic jam. It was the '1910' that caught my eye. Was it alphabets or numbers?
I looked at the apartment with those small windows. Bathroom? Kitchen? It was an old building but during that time, I am sure it was considered as a 'handsome' building.
At the back, modern apartments.
I really enjoy reading your stories behind your photographs.The idion"packed like sardines" comes to mind when looking at those huge buildings. But as you said when land is scarces one must move upwards. My questions comes when looking at the staircase....wouldn't that have been a pretty cold climb during winter months? The last photo reminds me of something one would see in Chicago...can you imagine living in a place where there amount of light coming in would be just through that tiny window... I am assuming there are more windows on the other side but.....
ReplyDeleteThank you Camellia and thank you for your encouragement. I really appreciate it.
DeleteThe first photo is a bit of an illusion. There was one taller block of apartment and in front, a shorter block. In-between was a children playground and a small garden. But you are right about 'packed like sardines'. In Hong Kong it is much denser and they are almost like what you would see in the first photo without any park or greenery.
For the stairs, I very much doubt the staff would want to linger there but use it as a shortcut to wherever it leads to.
Last photo - there were windows on both side of the building but I wasn't going that way. I cannot imagine living in a place with only those tiny windows for light but I think when one is in need, one have no choice but to accept the situation. This is just my opinion.
Love reding the stories behind the captures Interesting set of building up
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tom.
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