Readers debate global housing issues in this week's comments update, in response to a proposal by James Law Cybertecture for stackable micro homes in Hong Kong.
Put that in your pipe: readers don't think the OPod Tube Housing concept, which would see 2.5-metre-wide concrete water pipes transformed into low-cost apartments, offers the answer to Hong Kong's affordable housing problems.
Ryan Gadz had a bone to pick with the design choices: "Make micro apartments even smaller by wasting the space between units and overly thick concrete with no shared walls" I guess it's good for soundproofing."
"A cylindrical space wastes a lot of volumes. For occupants, I'm certain every inch of space would count," agreed Distiller. Eric felt the designer was fighting a losing battle: "The biggest factor in the housing prices of Hong Kong or other high-cost cities is the value of land, which no amount of architectural creativity can solve."
"The housing problem isn't an architectural problem. It's a planning and policy problem," stated NYCBK123, simply.
"Can't architects stop promoting inhuman habitations just frankly to serve those in the top 0.1%"" fumed Vincent Ip
"The question we should ask ourselves is why is there a housing crisis, rather than trying to make people live in smaller and smaller 'apartments'," reflected Hanna Hais.
"The matching question is why almost no-one is prepared to discuss the stu...