what a great post to open the year with - Hong Kong! although i visited Hong kong for only short time (2 days each time...), it is one of the few places that i could say to myself: i could definitely live here...Hong kong has it almost all. starting with the geographic conditions, it has sea, islands and mountains. it has a rich mixture of cultures with a touch of british heritage and energies which can be compared to New York. the quantity of the people in the streets, the shopping rush, the strong contrast between luxury and decadence, make you feel that life in Hong Kong is far from being relaxed. it is always on the move, work, shopping, out for dinner and later for a drink...like in New York, staying at home is absolutely not an alternative (i guess that the small apartments has also something to do with it).
the topographic conditions of the city challenged planners and engineers to find creative solutions to the mobility and the housing problems of the city, and they did it in a quite remarkable way. the huge investment in infrastructure, combined with the efficiency the people who run it, make everything work perfectly.
many famous international architects contributed to the dynamic skyline of the city. however, i think it should be seen as a whole and not for the detail. except for few big and interesting projects (such as HSBC of Foster or Bank of China by M. I. Pei) it is hard to notice the quality of architecture in this maze of construction. some of the new constructions are simply boring, but the diversity of the buildings, from shimmering glass and steel towers to gray tenement houses decorated with aircons is what makes it charming. the density of the construction on the existing narrow streets layout, creates many cozy corner and spaces, that could somehow remind of the mediterranean city. in some point you don't even notice how many floors are above you...
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