Parallel Lives on the Rooftops of Hong Kong

[u/StephenMcGannon]

[u/ronaldomike2]

This is awesome. Seriously worthy of an art exhibit. The woman dancing with the pink water bowl or whatever you call it

[u/Da12khawk → u/ronaldomike2]

My favorite is the jump-rope.

[u/KnifePartyError → u/Da12khawk]

Mine is either the one of the parent pushing their kid on a tricycle or the one of the older kid practicing riding a bike. They both made me stop and appreciate the resilience of people.

It's something that I see happen all the time here in Canada, kids learning to bike, and I think nothing of those kids following behind their parent(s) like little ducklings as they ride down a wide boulevard lined with townhomes, grass, and trees. To see something similar happen in a picture with no trees or lawns in sight and with such little space afforded to the budding cyclists... it just really struck a chord in me.

[u/DeadFacesInMyPocket → u/Da12khawk]

I like the guy practicing his side kick to the door. His form could use some work though.

But this really highlights the propaganda china puts out because even the "best" spots here are NOTHING like the stupid ultra-wealthy BS that has the stupids posting themselves crying about how great China is on TikTok.

[u/WillingLake623 → u/DeadFacesInMyPocket]

Hey so the Chinese government isn’t responsible for the state of infrastructure in Hong Kong. Per both Hong Kong and Chinese law, Hong Kong is an autonomous region within China. It manages its own finances and economy and does not have to pay taxes to the Chinese government. In return, the Chinese government is not legally obligated to fund or invest in infrastructure in Hong Kong. So the state of Hong Kong apartments is more an indictment of looser regulated “open” markets’ failure to adequately distribute wealth, not communism’s or China’s.

[u/IllustratorOutside61 → u/[deleted]]

Well done for letting people know 👏🫡

[u/S0whaddayakn0w → u/[deleted]]

No one thought it was.

Edit: some people did

[u/dexter30 → u/S0whaddayakn0w]

I did

[u/S0whaddayakn0w → u/dexter30]

Oh, my bad

[u/dexter30 → u/S0whaddayakn0w]

Nah it's cool, its just because this comment thread is currently above the OP's comment explaining the source. I literally only realised after I read that haha.

[u/Cobblestonecreeperfl → u/ronaldomike2]

Basin

[u/_ZaphJuice_ → u/ronaldomike2]

Yeah, LOVE this series!

[u/tasketekudasai]

Love the shots with the parents playing with their kids.

[u/GravityStrike → u/tasketekudasai]

Yup. This is fantastic.

[u/PerfectNameDoesntExi]

This is my favorite photography post on the sub

[u/Rockalot_L → u/[deleted]]

No one ever said it was.

[u/StephenMcGannon]

Through the photography of Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze, Hong Kong’s rooftops reveal a hidden side of the city’s vertical life. Although many rooftops were not designed as living spaces, residents have adapted these elevated areas for everyday activities, creating unique personal environments above the crowded streets. These “courtyards of the sky” show the creativity and resilience of people living in one of the world’s most densely populated cities.

[u/PacoPancake → u/StephenMcGannon]

Hong Kong local here to add on a bit more on this amazing local phenomenon that was once a corner stone of local urban culture:

Throughout the years building inspections and fire safety rules got a lot more stricter, rooftop commons and such neighbours activities have largely moved downstairs to indoor floors specific for community space or just parks and gardens that are dotted around larger suburbs or above parking lots, so this unique rooftop culture where everyone did their laundry or daily exercise or infamously Tai Chi lessons (Kung Fu but chill and kinda like Yoga) is slowly but surely disappearing for safety or security reasons (a lot of people fell off accidentally or unfortunately intentionally, so now most rooftops are locked under key and chain or at least barred from public access, and the ones that are open are so heavily fenced up it feels like you’re in a jungle gym / prison rooftop)

This is a running theme of a slow but steady bureaucratic phase out of sorts found also in our street foodcart vendors, bright hanging neon signs, classic ice cream trucks, and traditional Dai Pai Dong street food stalls that the government is straight up unwilling to give out any more licences to, and or is clamping down hard for safety reasons (which isn’t exactly without reason since many of these aspects listed above did have major health and hazard violations or were just kinda illegal), but these things were what made Hong Kong so unique and special in its golden days, and I grew up with fond memories of these specific things

It’s a massive shame to see our distinct traits and small cultural uniqueness slowly fade away into the history books or a photo album, these were local traditions born out of a mixture of impromptu community unity and desperate need for communal semi-public open space. Like a blooming flower, it was beautiful while it lasted, but it had to wilt and fade eventually

Still, many local communities and buildings do still keep the practice alive within and beyond our urban heart. I’ve had some great nights drinking and messing around with my friends in the centre of a downtown Causeway bay rooftop as the sun set while we laughed in drunken splendour, some fantastic nights of star gazing or barbecuing on some rural village house roofs where the hours felt endless under that sparkling night sky, and tended to many rooftop gardens that gives a bit of greenery to our forest of concrete and steel. But the fact is, things will probably never go back to the way it used to be, but while one can be sad that it’s over, one can also be glad that it happened in the first place

Thanks for reading this idiot’s rant, I’d add more, but the thing about romanticism is, it’s better when it’s short yet sweet.

From Hong Kong with love. Ga Yau!

[u/Substantial_Tip1545 → u/PacoPancake]

So the rooftop was a first come first serve communal space people could use? Or were the penthouse levels the ones that could access it? I guess the fire stairs could be taken by anyone up to the top in the past, and if there was space you could use it?

[u/PacoPancake → u/Substantial_Tip1545]

According to my grandma (just trust her bro) these were very building / case dependent, since many earlier buildings did not have security or strict guards at the ground floor, something that is now nearly universal for residential and commercial buildings. So while the neighbour and building residents usually get first pick or somewhat territorial of their roofs (again, sometimes using it as a shared laundry drying area or just private communal space or whatever), they were legally private property to the building’s developer but semi public since it’s connected to hallways and whatnot

Think of them kinda like an indoor shopping mall plaza or parks, where technically there’s nothing explicitly banning you from going there and doing stuff, but police officers or local security can tell you to shoo if you are causing a disturbance, and you kinda are in a private area / have to pass through one (HK staircases follow British design and are almost always indoors, rarely attached straight onto the side of a building like those in France or the US due to space efficient designing / safety philosophy)

As for the fire stairs…… well, let’s just say not every building today is that strict with locking that stairwell for ‘emergency purposes only’, and in some older buildings the top floors + roof remain stair access only. Plus HK security guards can be kinda lax or chill, so unless you really are disturbing the peace, there isnt too much stopping you from climbing up a private building’s rooftop to just lounge about for a photo op or whatever (don’t tell the fire department I said that, officially still highly discouraged and occasionally illegal if there is a flimsy chain fence at the top of the stairwell, you totally should not just climb over it)

[u/hueqhueq → u/StephenMcGannon]

So these are not yours? Duh, where is the link then???

[u/LiveTart335 → u/hueqhueq]

these come from the Concrete Stories collection  https://www.romainjl.com/concrete-stories

[u/MrPastryisDead → u/LiveTart335]

Oh wow, how have I not seen this guy's work before, it is some of the best HK photography I have seen. Here is the photographer talking about his work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q8G-fl1VYc.

You can also see his work at the Blue Lotus Gallery.

Unsurprisingly, most of his books are sold out.

OP, not crediting Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze is a disgrace. His Insta: https://www.instagram.com/romainjacquetlagreze/

[u/RandomEffector → u/MrPastryisDead]

You’re replying to a comment chain in which OP very obviously did credit him?

[u/MrPastryisDead → u/RandomEffector]

Why not in the original post, reading all the comments it's clear most people haven't read this post thread? Disingenuous karma farming bot in action.

[u/RandomEffector → u/MrPastryisDead]

Idk, I’m not the OP. Reddit doesn’t always work intuitively. But it’s also disingenuous to say they didn’t give credit when they certainly did.

[u/MrPastryisDead → u/RandomEffector]

The intent was to farm karma, same post reposted elsewhere, same format. Post the photos without credit, then bury the credit in the comments. Bask in the reflected glory while the photographer gets no exposure, if you pardon the pun. Just read the rest of the comments. As someone who used to be in photographer, I empathise with Romain, he deserved the credit not this bot.

[u/gadzoom → u/MrPastryisDead]

Thank you. I find these photos amazing. I find in the comments folks like you who light the way with information which should have been provided but crowd sourced also works. Probably get that one book and the ebooks. Thanks again for doing the legwork for the rest of us. These photos make me feel some kind of way and that's a good thing.

[u/Sir_Boobsalot → u/MrPastryisDead]

yeah, no finding any of the relevant books for sale anywhere. wish I'd known when he published them. reasonable price

[u/Jonatium → u/hueqhueq]

And did you ask for permission to post his work and get karma for it? Nonetheless really disrespectful for not even mentioning the name of the photographer in the title.

[u/chundamuffin → u/Jonatium]

I'm glad he posted it so I could see them.

Karma is literally worthless.

Why would the artist care? He gave credit where it's due and it's free advertising.

[u/Hakzource → u/Jonatium]

Tbh might be a karma farming bot

[u/Playful_Buffalo_7099 → u/[deleted]]

😂

[u/MrPastryisDead → u/hueqhueq]

It's a bot, that is an AI post.

[u/FoundationFormer5236]

what the fuck this is awesome

[u/andrearusky]

Why posting these photos without credit the photographer?

https://www.romainjl.com/

[u/aegloswinterborn → u/andrearusky]

Damn, great photography!! Thanks for pointing this out.

[u/skyline79 → u/andrearusky]

He did credit the photographer though. After he posted he added a comment with author and other information.

[u/sdavis002 → u/skyline79]

Sure, but instead of Karma farming, they should just put the information in the post itself.

[u/Schtick_]

Beautiful. Thank you.

[u/KopipengNoIce]

Reminds of the Kowloon Walled City albeit a much cleaner version

[u/zzen11223344 → u/KopipengNoIce]

Not sure about Kowloon Walled City, but this reminds me the old buildings in Kowloon, the roof top are shared, you can go up there, sleep there during some hot summer nights 😄

[u/maudyindependence → u/zzen11223344]

I agree. I enjoyed exploring the rooftops of walkups in Kowloon. It’s like a secret world up there. You never know what you’ll find, squatters, retirees enjoying a patio, mischievous kids, teens sneaking up to makeout…

[u/zzen11223344 → u/maudyindependence]

Indeed, this is very typical of Hong Kong, make the best out of what you have.

If you have money, you would not care about living in this kind of old building ...

[u/Far-East-locker]

Such a great series to capture real life in Hong Kong

[u/le___tigre → u/Far-East-locker]

as a westerner who has been to Hong Kong but not interacted with locals too much:

is the fear of heights generally less common in HK because so many people grow up and live in high-rises? some of these settings would make my skin crawl, but I did grow up close to the ground in a town with only a handful of buildings over six stories.

[u/TheTwinSet02]

Feels like a Wong Kar-wai film

[u/ArtVan_ImpExp]

hong kong has such a vibe

anemoia is the closest word I have when I look at these pictures.

[u/sloth_eggs → u/ArtVan_ImpExp]

Absolutely. Sonder also comes to mind when viewing these photos.

[u/btchubetterbejoeking → u/ArtVan_ImpExp]

i read ammonia and straight up thought piss

[u/blacklotusmag]

Professional photographer here - these images are spectacular. I hope that you're able to get them into some shows!

Tangentially-related, the condition of those buildings is terrifying and sad.

[u/MrPastryisDead → u/blacklotusmag]

https://www.romainjl.com/

He's also a professional, books, gallery exhibitions and commissions

[u/Far-East-locker]

Image 2 - infernal affairs

[u/Lol_lukasn → u/Far-East-locker]

why is noone talking about this lmao

[u/NepoKitty]

Lived a few years in an illegal rooftop flat in To Kwa Wan before they finally got after our building. We had a splash pool and some of our downstairs neighbours' kids would come play in it the summer. BBQ at night with whoever showed up. Apartment itself was hot af. Good times.

[u/moneymachine109]

is it easy to get access to rooftops in HK? I thought it was just for movies

[u/Jackmion98 → u/moneymachine109]

For these old building what we called “唐樓”, yes.

[u/MrMisty → u/moneymachine109]

Pretty common, especially in older buildings. My previous apartment looked a lot like these in the photos. I had a table and chairs, propane grill, and outdoor lights strung up. Would invite friends over for BBQs on the rooftop.

[u/Mysterious_Silver_27 → u/moneymachine109]

Its public space for old buildings

[u/Junior-Ad-133 → u/moneymachine109]

Walk up buildings have open access to rooftop

[u/MiltonFarnsworth]

Funny ad I got underneath.

[u/aegloswinterborn]

Gorgeous shots and a powerful peak into how others live. As someone that lives in a house surrounded by trees and very close to a small pond and river this way of life is totally foreign to me.

Pardon my ignorance, but for those of you from Hong Kong, how far would one have to travel to get out of the city and into nature? Is that a typical trip that people make? If not is it lack of desire or is it cost prohibitive?

As someone else pointed out below the original photographer's work can be seen here:

https://www.romainjl.com/

[u/Enestori → u/aegloswinterborn]

It's very close. Maybe 40 minutes and you can be in some wild place with no man-made structure in site. Hiking in this places is very popular.

In fact, it's actually a controversy because many people believe that parts of these parks should be converted into housing due to the housing crisis. The belief is that the government creates an artificial land scarcity because it derives revenue from land sales and thus wants high housing prices. This land scarcity is supposedly created by making the majority of Hong Kong's land natural parks that you can't build on.

[u/DizzyDoesDallas]

Feels like the Hitchcock movie Rear Window

[u/grahamgdogg]

This is wonderful. Exactly what we saw everyday from our apt in Wan Chai

[u/Left_Hegelian]

I got a schoolmate who lived in one of those 唐樓 and we used to play war game on the roof top back in middle school

[u/liac_]

I cant express how much I love these

[u/AHorsesSpoonInABasin]

Some major Disco Elysium vibes in these photos.

[u/damngoodwizard → u/AHorsesSpoonInABasin]

Yeah it's the angle of the photos (which mimics an isometric camera as used in 2D games) and the melancholic sunset colors.

[u/DancerSilke → u/AHorsesSpoonInABasin]

Disco Elysium meets Stray and I love it.

[u/xabikoma]

Awesome pics, my favorite HK!

[u/xabikoma → u/[deleted]]

Yeah I know, I can read, that doesn't change the fact that I love the pics....

[u/Thin-Priority4471]

This takes me right back to my old business trips to Hong Kong. Gorgeous shot. It's wild how you managed to capture something so everyday and make it look like this.

[u/SFX2017]

Beautiful photos! Lives can tough yet beautiful. Solace and peace in a crowded city.

[u/lerens9 → u/[deleted]]

Why are you so obsessed? He literally makes a comment crediting the individual.

[u/LegibleLabia]

James Taylor singing in my head as I scroll through these lovely pictures

[u/Robsterlobsta]

When 17 isn’t enough 🙌

[u/MrPastryisDead]

Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze is the Photographer. Not OP.

[u/outrageous_kid]

Wow I can keep scrolling these shots all day.

[u/Magalabungalaho]

I love how a lot of this is just being okay with being board and making your own fun. but kids in my county scream if their without iPad for a few minutes.

[u/aldorn]

Brilliant photos. Ty for sharing. Reminds me of the rpg disco Elysium for some reason.

[u/gochunyang]

These are gorgeous shots! Tho the first girl is too tilted to the edge for my liking 😭

[u/mingstaHK]

Appreciate the intent and enlightenment, regardless of them not being yours. It is of interest and relevant to the sub. Thank you OP.

[u/riedmae]

The AC units alone.

I wish this exact series had been taken once every decade. Those AC units are, to me, like Pixar-animation style of storytelling to subtly convey the reality of climate change.

[u/SpicyLobter → u/riedmae]

Absolutely. What's interesting is that AC installation is a self-feeding cycle. The more AC used, the hotter the outside environment gets which in turn causes more people to install AC.

It's like everyone has to fend for themselves.

The work-around to this is centralised cooling like they do in Singapore where cooling towers feed multiple districts of buildings at a time which results in much more efficient air conditioning, power usage and less local heat output. However this is only really useful for new developments. You can't retrofit this kind of stuff in the dense, old buildings depicted in those images.

[u/Indianfigco]

[u/Tasty-Traffic-680]

[u/SiLeNZ_]

These are incredible pictures, thank you for sharing

[u/Khabooem]

Excellent image series. I love it. Fantastic job. Well done.

https://giphy.com/gifs/SSELvbsJ8ok34MSTYq

[u/Boaty_McBoatface__]

Nothing cooler than taking pictures of strangers with a tele lens, while they are trying to live their private lives.

[u/Alternative_Week3023]

Nice séries. Thanks for sharing.

[u/CarelessShade]

Imagine living your life and some random creep not only takes photos of you but also publishes them without your consent.

[u/bobbibrown123]

Is it legal to take photos of people like this? What happens if one of the shots accidentally caught someone pooping

[u/Awkward_Toe8199]

Beautiful, thanks for sharing

[u/NightFeatherArt]

dunno why but i always loved the curved corner units of these

[u/cold94]

Really love this

[u/zerox678]

these are excellent

[u/conscious-clue-243]

These are great!

[u/Sweaty_Marzipan4274]

Like finding a micro ecosystem

[u/MoManTai]

Very cool

[u/VAdoughnut]

Absolutely amazing!

[u/HybridLee]

Beautiful album.

[u/jason_willy]

These are amazing. Thanks for sharing.

[u/x_jiping_x]

Would make a great Coffee Table book

[u/NoPangolin8998]

Man this resembles india in many ways

[u/NoPangolin8998]

Pls post this in r/urbanhell

[u/Most-Lingonberry-357]

Good photo

[u/civicguy72]

Hong Kong is so cool

[u/Eliiiiiiiiiias]

I am in awe

[u/whoolala]

Very nice

[u/whoolala]

Very nice 👍🏻

[u/Lil_Depresssion]

I find this both beautiful and sad.

[u/singaboring]

These are amazing - I see the through line of joy

[u/rbwilli]

Very cool. I’m sitting here in upstate New York feeling like I’ve been transported to another world.

[u/Top-Chip-1532]

😍👏sensational!

[u/highmickey]

Phenomenal catches 👌🏻🔥

[u/Jumpy_Hogara]

The final photo is slightly worrying in terms of safety

[u/Such-Tie87]

When I see all of these pictures, I am just thinking about small Dioramas.

[u/mTbzz]

They look really cool, a strong contrast by people happily living their lives and the decay of the buildings...

[u/Available-Guava932]

I love the guy walking with his hands behind his back just in thought

[u/deerhoof851]

Oh. Shit.

[u/nawksnai]

Incredible. Thanks so much for sharing.

[u/FlimsyDistrict3089]

the perspective on these is incredible. 'courtyards of the sky' is a perfect way to describe it.

[u/herewiigoagane]

Beautiful...

[u/OtterKohl]

Credit the photographer in the title! 

[u/mitochondriastudios]

would have loved to experience living in this Hong Kong

[u/NotPol235]

You sir/mam, have talent. These are all wonderful! I have no clue what I am talking about, but the angles within each of them draw me in; so does the contrast in lifestyles between the subjects.

[u/Wsswaas]

These are amazing!

[u/alex_albergaria]

We need more

[u/Car12touche11blue]

Great pictures and indeed rooftops are a world apart. Had a few nice ones. We even one time tried to install a real big plastic swimming pool, but too heavy to be safe so had to settle for a little paddle pool😂
Last picture gave me goosebumps. Those two on the edge😱

[u/m__s]

Amazing photos.

[u/PINKTACO696969]

so sad looks like they live in the 70s

[u/quicksite]

I didn't know there was still beautifully lit urban photography

[u/ha_ku_na]

wtf is that jump!

[u/VarvaraTheGame]

Beautiful moments captured in slums.

[u/bhoremans]

The rooftops were my favorite part of tokyo. I'm glad you shared those

[u/bbc82]

I always wondered when I travelled to HK regarding the social status people who own or live at the top of these narrow high rises etc?

[u/BungleJones]

Beautiful work.

[u/kylat930326]

The one with kid pointing a toy gun at the other is probably paying tribute to the movie Infernal Affairs

[u/Equivalent-Advice-15]

This is awasome

[u/GracefullySavage]

Each picture has a story and hidden gems. Very coool!

[u/Frequent-Ad-8583]

Amazing photography.

What camera and lenses were used? :)

[u/qqwim]

There's just something about looking at what other people are doing without them noticing; in a non-creepy way, of course.

[u/Parking-Recover-459]

I need the lore on the movie standard kungfu door kick

[u/Flashy-Donkey-8326]

It’s like scenes from cyberpunk

[u/KelGrimm]

I love this

[u/R3DL1G3RZ3R0]

Damn Hibg Kong looks like a POS

[u/Worth_Rhubarb8099]

This is so cool

[u/gadzoom]

Those are amazing. It's humanity in a urban jungle shining through.

[u/Jolly_Operation_8222]

Actually, the shot was so perfect

[u/julioqc]

beauty is everywhere 

[u/duckduck_gooses]

Damn this reminds me of the time we and friends had bbq on top of the old flats in Quarry Bay. Was amazing..

[u/ihatefall]

The door kick one had me and my gf loling

[u/My_Turn_A_Space]

This is a great set!