Wuhan's Capsule Apartments - Chinese style

[Fu Lai]

Cramped urban living: ‘Capsule’ apartments, just 50 square feet, to share with roommates in Wuhan, China

 

Each tiny room functions as a bedroom, living room, bathroom and kitchen — all in one. That means a resident’s toilet is never too far away from his or her dining space. By Michael Walsh / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1199542.1352578667%21/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/china.jpg Quirky China News/Rex USA

High rent and low wages in Wuhan have forced some young professionals to consider these super-cramped quarters. Wu Chao and Yan Changlai share room 405.

Jimmy McMillan and his fellow New Yorkers are not alone thinking the “rent is too damn high.”

The rent is apparently so “damn high” in the city of Wuhan, China that some people have opted to share 4.5-square meter rooms — just under 50 square feet — with other people.

New York is one American city that can commiserate with the cost-cutting tactics of squeezing into cramped quarters with roommates. But most New York apartments have a bit more room than those found in a six-story building in China’s Hubei Province.

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1199538%21/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/china.jpg HAP/Quirky China News/Rex / Rex USA High rent and low wages have caused many young people to move in together. Zhang Xuan and Wu Meihua share room 508.

The landlord transformed his building into 55 separate living “capsules.” Each room functions as a bedroom, living room, bathroom and kitchen — all in one. That means a resident’s toilet is never too far away from his or her dining space.

The story of the capsule apartment has been spreading beyond China due to photos that were snapped on Wednesday — and published by HAP/Quirky China/Rex Feat.

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1199544%21/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/china.jpg HAP/Quirky China News/Rex / Rex USA Home decorator Wu Juan spends time with her boyfriend in room 606.

One photo of Room 508 shows roommates Zhang Xuan and Wu Meihua sharing the small room. In the picture, Xuan, a courier service worker, can be seen washing her hair as Meihua sits on her elevated bed checking her phone.

Another picture captures baby products salesman Zhang Xin taking a shower, with his laptop propped up on his bed, not far from sight.

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1199541%21/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/china.jpg HAP/Quirky China News/Rex / Rex USA Zhang Xin makes time for a shower in room 103.

The residents’ occupations vary considerably — from local retail workers to construction material salesmen.

Young workers in Wuhan — like young workers in New York — have encountered financial roadblocks on their paths to independent living. High rent and low wages have forced some young professionals to consider these multipurpose quarters the preferable option.

 

and rent is not that expensive in Wuhan and wages not that low... LOL... the New York Daily (American) News is a funny paper... Chinese like to save money is mostly what the "capsule" phenom is all about here