GO BEYOND CURIOSITY...
The model of coffin cubicle may be shocking, however, they do exist in a metropolitan like Hong Kong. Official figures of 2016 showed that at least 226,000 of its 7-million population lived in illegally subdivided flats, to the extreme, some stayed in 15 sq ft boxes.
As The Guardian reporter Benjamin Haas descried his one-week stay in a coffin cubicle "horror" ( link ), his neighbours - 29 regular tenants who shared the 500 sq ft apartment together - might just be living deads who were tortured by all sorts of unplesant odours, bugs and safety risks daily, without seeing the day that they could move elsewhere livable...
To explore the subject further, please read/ watch the following materials and review your definition for "home". Focus on sensations rather than life-enhancing objects like decor and plants. Immerse into the boxes life and think of what made these people to call the cubicle "home".
2018
by Mythopolis Pictures for Channel News Asia
An interactive 360° short documentary that explains the origin of coffin cubicle.
From 01:29, follow the footsteps of tenant Simon Wong to explore the environment, including the shared space and Won'gs own box by moving your mouse left and right.
The heartbreaking reality of living in
2017
by BBC
In this video, the reporter looked into the living space issue in Hong Kong. He visited a family apartment which installed space-theme pods for two grown siblings, and the home of dishwasher Alan, who rented a bed in an apartment without a kitchen.
Hong Kong’s residents living in 'coffin' homes
2019
by Alex Crawford, Sky News
Starting with a visit at two different types of illegal grassroots housing options, sub-divided flats and coffin homes, the reporter explored the relavance between the city's housing issue and the fierce protests of 2019. The soundbite from social worker Anne nailed that the lack of true public representation in the political system contributes to the housing problems.
2017
by Benny Lam
This mini site provides background of Lam's grassroots housing photo project.
The "Housing statistics" section briefly explains the causes of housing issue - land use and income gap.
2019
by Dr. Cheung Wai-lung
In his three-section photo essay for his MA Photography final project, Dr Cheung captured various types of grassroots housing in an authentic way. Some photos show the trace of "last generation" of coffin cubicles, caged homes. The tenants lock their cage at night and when they were away to protect their belongings.
Boxes in: life inside the 'coffin cubicles' of Hong Kong - in pictures
2017
by Benny Lam for the Guardian
This photo journal shows the first-person view of coffin cubicles from the angle of tenants.
Look carefully and identify the popular household items, a mini-TV seems to be a must-have item.
These are the images that inspired the creation of this game.
the horror of Hong Kong's coffin homes
2017
by Benjamin Haas for The Guardian
The reporter's first-person account of squeezing himself in a coffin cubicle for
a week, amongst him were 29 others who shared the same 500 sq ft apartment.
The people-focused story offers readers
a clearer picture of the tenants' profiles.
The tenants are usually a marginalized group.
