C.A.S.H. - communal affordable singles housing : a platform for proactive affordability in Hong Kong

Abstract

In Hong Kong, young singles are left out of the affordable housing equation. They require much more space per person in comparison to those living in family housing, and the government is not willing to allocate a disproportionate amount of already limited public resources to house this demographic. Many young singles end up living in cramped conditions with their parents well into their 30s, lacking space and autonomy throughout their golden years. Conditions for elderly singles are more dire - with no family to look after them, many live in Hong Kong's notorious cage homes, stacked bed spaces within already tiny apartments in the city's poorer districts. CASH transcends this housing deadlock by providing a new approach towards affordable housing - proactive affordability - for Hong Kong's singles population. The architecture acts as a platform that maximizes opportunities for tenants to generate extra revenue, allowing them to afford their own spaces. This is achieved by re-organizing private and communal space in such a way that allows for subletting and commercial activity to coincide with the residential space. The building positions itself to generate foot traffic, creating greater opportunities for its tenants. In doing so, the residents of CASH can live larger, dream bigger and work harder, on their own terms and within their own communities.