June 23, 2009: Top Slum

xoxoxoBruce · 06-23-2009, 12:16 AM

Most big, and some small, cities have slums.
In the US they are usually in the city, consisting of old run down buildings. But in less developed nations they often spring up on the fringes, built from scrounged materials.

Quote:

In South America the slums are attached to the outskirts of mega-cities such as Caracas and Mexico City like wasps’ nests on a cliff face. In a hilly island city like Hong Kong, however, living space is limited. Here you only see the laboriously constructed huts made of corrugated iron and planks of wood in which the poorest of the poor live if you look upwards – they occupy, to put it in cynical terms, a penthouse location.

Quote:

Some of these rooftop shacks, which in the year 2006 after the government’s first slum clearance programme still housed 3962 people in 1554 households, are up to three storeys high. Improvised structures made of ladders and bits of furniture create connections between the individual parts of the buildings and join these impoverished dwellings into complete rooftop settlements – sociologists even talk of a “self-organising niche architecture” and point to the utopian aspects of this urban way of life.

I wonder if the building's owners are charging rent for the locations?
Well anyway, it's easy to get rid of the garbage, but being evicted would be a bitch.

link

toranokaze · 06-23-2009, 12:31 AM

Was this a one case or a two case idea?

xoxoxoBruce · 06-23-2009, 12:37 AM

One case for the idea, many cases for getting all that crap up to the roof.

SPUCK · 06-23-2009, 04:31 AM

Don't roll out of the wrong side of the bed.

spudcon · 06-23-2009, 05:22 AM

I hope those brown dripping stains are rust.

ZenGum · 06-23-2009, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spudcon

I hope those brown dripping stains are rust.

They probably are, but that does leave a certain question hanging...

.

.

Hate to think what a fire hazard those buildings must be.

classicman · 06-23-2009, 07:53 AM

Why do the owners of the buildings allow them to do that. When the heck DO the do that? Do they pay to be on top of the building? What about sewer/water... not that it looks like they have any...

Sheldonrs · 06-23-2009, 09:48 AM

Sort of like gay sex. Just because you're ON top doesn't you're THE top.

Diaphone Jim · 06-23-2009, 10:46 AM

The right hand structure in the left picture has an air conditioner just like all the units in the big building behind it.

skysidhe · 06-23-2009, 11:08 AM

Interesting! Now, if I ever visit Hong Kong I won't embarrass myself by being all gape mouthed and staring.

(having got that over with )

WillieO · 06-23-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diaphone Jim

The right hand structure in the left picture has an air conditioner just like all the units in the big building behind it.

Well, we all want to live in comfort, right? And by not having to pay rent, you have extra for the finer things in life.

Sundae · 06-23-2009, 01:22 PM

I should think everything that needs to be disposed of goes over the side. From cooking fat to faeces.

Why do building owners allow it?
How often do you think building owners inspect their properties if the rent is coming in?

All around the world, people emerge from nights in slums in clean, pressed uniforms, ready to face another day on the minimum wage, taking their precarious chance at living. In many, many places they live cheek by jowl with the people they work for, and again in many places, they simply hope for a better life for their children, who they pay to school.

Building owners probably accept this sort of thing as a hazard of their environment, and by the time they find out it's more hassle to vacate the roof than it is to turn a blind eye.

glatt · 06-23-2009, 01:27 PM

There are probably waste vent pipes sticking out the roof that lead directly into the sewer system. Just poop into one of those.

Tawny · 06-23-2009, 07:01 PM

Wow. Richard Gere really needs to get the maid up there to clean up his Buddhist shrine.

Gravdigr · 06-23-2009, 08:05 PM

They only build like that because they don't have trailer parks.

06-23-2009, 12:31 AM	#2
toranokaze I'm still a jerk Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Little Mexico Posts: 1,817	Was this a one case or a two case idea? __________________ "Without deviation from the norm progress is not possible." - Frank Zappa It is the ignorance of ignorance that lead to the death of knowledge The Virgin Mary does not weep for her son, for he is in paradise. She weeps for the world , for we are in suffering.

06-23-2009, 12:37 AM	#3
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	One case for the idea, many cases for getting all that crap up to the roof. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

06-23-2009, 05:22 AM	#5
spudcon Beware of potatoes Join Date: May 2007 Location: Upstate NY, USA Posts: 2,078	I hope those brown dripping stains are rust. __________________ "I believe that being despised by the despicable is as good as being admired by the admirable."

06-23-2009, 07:53 AM	#7
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Why do the owners of the buildings allow them to do that. When the heck DO the do that? Do they pay to be on top of the building? What about sewer/water... not that it looks like they have any... __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

06-23-2009, 09:48 AM	#8
Sheldonrs Master Dwellar Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,412	Sort of like gay sex. Just because you're ON top doesn't you're THE top. __________________ Laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and the world laughs AT you.

06-23-2009, 04:31 AM	#4
SPUCK Professor Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,911	Don't roll out of the wrong side of the bed.

06-23-2009, 10:46 AM	#9
Diaphone Jim Junior Master Dwellar Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,122	The right hand structure in the left picture has an air conditioner just like all the units in the big building behind it.

06-23-2009, 11:08 AM	#10
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	Interesting! Now, if I ever visit Hong Kong I won't embarrass myself by being all gape mouthed and staring. (having got that over with )

06-23-2009, 01:22 PM	#12
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I should think everything that needs to be disposed of goes over the side. From cooking fat to faeces. Why do building owners allow it? How often do you think building owners inspect their properties if the rent is coming in? All around the world, people emerge from nights in slums in clean, pressed uniforms, ready to face another day on the minimum wage, taking their precarious chance at living. In many, many places they live cheek by jowl with the people they work for, and again in many places, they simply hope for a better life for their children, who they pay to school. Building owners probably accept this sort of thing as a hazard of their environment, and by the time they find out it's more hassle to vacate the roof than it is to turn a blind eye.

06-23-2009, 01:27 PM	#13
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	There are probably waste vent pipes sticking out the roof that lead directly into the sewer system. Just poop into one of those.

06-23-2009, 07:01 PM	#14
Tawny Named After the Family Dog Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: In a Howling Windy Dust Bowl Posts: 79	Wow. Richard Gere really needs to get the maid up there to clean up his Buddhist shrine.

06-23-2009, 08:05 PM	#15
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	They only build like that because they don't have trailer parks. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

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