Public housing: a defining part of Hong Kong’s history, and a major component of the built environment. From the early, modernist blocks of the 1950s up to their most recent, modular counterparts, these sprawling estates are home to almost half the population. Everyone in the city is acquainted with them, but few take the time to fully explore these often fascinating urban hubs.

Starting in early 2016, my aim with this project has been to traverse the huge catalogue of public housing estates and capture my observations like a visual diary. In doing so, and by sharing my finds both on and offline, I hope to present these familiar places in a new light. My approach to achieve this has evolved over time, as has my familiarity with the subject. With precise, geometric compositions, my aim is to fully express their architectural presence, while capturing the little details that retain my interest.

My enthusiasm toward these concrete behemoths shows no sign of wavering. At the time of writing, I have visited well over 120 locations – often multiple times. Concurrently, Hong Kong’s constant redevelopment means that many of these estates have since been demolished, while others face the same fate. Indeed, it is this eventuality that pushes me forward. As such, Building Blocks increasingly doubles as an archive, a chronicle of concrete.