Kowloon Walled City January 11, 2007
Posted by Jensen in Others.trackback
The archaic eye sore is called The Kowloon Walled City. Take a good look. These images are an epitome of complex architectures and design misadventure all combined together. I asked myself how did they resolve to built such a repelling stucture? Well apparently it’s a case of having no other option.
When the Chinese ceded Hongkong and Kowloon (New Territories) to the British, the jurisdiction within the walled city is the only part of Kowloon to remain under Mainland China. Due to the increasing population and it geopolitical annexing, when it gets too dense, they can only resort to buildng inwards or upwards.
The mishap out of architure conventions has its ability to get the garner attention from architects and admirers all over the world. Its underworldy style and filthy magnificent has been romantised together with the folks living in it. My first encounter about this place was through a picture I saw in a magazine. I was visually hooked instantly. These photos are all taken off from the internet which was dedicated to the historical icon before it was torn down in 1993.
At that time, it had 50,000 inhabitants on 0.026 km²
Thank you for giving me back my childhood memories in Kowloon Walled City where I was born forty-eight years ago. I cannot stop my tear drops brusting out from my eyes. No matter how dirty and crowded it was, it is a part of my life. I am still finding the old maps of my Kowloon Walled City….
Unfortunately for me I can only live by to read and hear tales of this amazing urban living city. I was born only in 1984. However, the images has created a mystifying reaction for me. This is the book I first saw the walled city ->
http://www.amazon.com/City-Darkness-Ian-Lambot/dp/1873200137
Mr Li, Siu-Ki 49 years old – April 9, 2008
Ray, I had bought ‘City of Darkness – Life in Kowloon Walled City’ which you told me before during this Chinese New Year holidays when I was in Hong Kong. I could also find out two pictures in page 73 and page 79 which show out my old home. I almost read the book daily. Thank you.
Ray, I went back Hong Kong this early spring. Fortunately I found the book you told me in Stanley, Hong Kong Island. I read and read and read in the bookstore and found out two pictures which show out my old home. I bought it immediately. There are some old maps I have been dying for long. I almost read it every day. Thank you for your help.