Portraits of a packed city

05.08.2015 17:30

Dizzyingly tall tower blocks create a mosaic effect as far as the eye can see in these mesmerising photos of Hong Kong's living quarters.

The housing blocks are almost hypnotic resembling a piece of abstract art thanks to their endless appearance and seemingly random colour scheme.

The apartments may look surreal, but they are home to tens of thousands of people in a city that struggles for space to accommodate its seven million citizens.

Travel photographer Jason Langley captured the fascinating images of the apartment blocks - which are sprawled across the city - while travelling in China.

Around one third of Hong Kong's staggering population live in housing blocks such as these and the largest can house up to 36,000 people.

Most of the photos show Hong Kong's oldest public housing estate - the Shek Kip Mei Estate.

The 7,363 yellow, red, blue and grey apartments on the estate don't seem to follow a pattern and are home to a staggering 14,000 people.

Jason also captured high-rise apartments in Tseung Kwan O, which are a staggering 40 floors tall.

The photographer, who is originally from New Orleans, USA, said each estate functions as a small city as many have their own shops, restaurants and fitness centres.

He also said some even have doctor's offices, schools, dedicated post offices and metro stations.

Jason also captured high-rise apartments in Tseung Kwan O, which are a staggering 40 floors tall.

The photographer, who is originally from New Orleans, USA, said each estate functions as a small city as many have their own shops, restaurants and fitness centres.

He also said some even have doctor's offices, schools, dedicated post offices and metro stations.

'I believe that each block has a chosen colour scheme, but each tenant gets to pick which of the colours they'd like to have on the outside of

their flat.

'All of the apartments are so mesmerising, they are even dizzying. The overall scale of the buildings is spectacular, they are so big it is difficult to capture in pictures.

'Many of the buildings seem to be composed of hundred of identical windows, but upon closer inspection there are many smaller details that show signs of individual lives.

'If you look closely you can actually see laundry hanging from some windows or even a single house-plant on a balcony.'

(dailymail.co.uk)