URBAN NOMADS IN SHANGHAI

A new landmark of Shanghai Commercial Art designed by the Japanese
Architect Arata Isozaki.
The Himalayas Center, which’s estimated completion date is around Christmas, has been described on their homepage www.zendaihimalayas.com as “a perfect embodiment of the architectural ideal of combining nature with humanism”. Humanism is what seems to be missing when walking on the construction site of this three-dimensional freeform design. Right next to the new structure a row of shabby metal containers is housing workers for the period of construction. With less than 10m² the units are reminiscent of train compartments without any insulation – each inhabited by 6 migrant workers. One water supply for all workers for washing/cooking/drinking/showering is installed outdoors between two containers.
Although we’ve been dealing especially with the living conditions of migrant workers we were not prepared to walk into such intimate scenes on this construction site.