Temporary Appropriation in Shanghai and Hong Kong: Two Study Cases Assessing the Resilience of Women Faced with the Lack of Affordable Housing

Abstract

The scholastic notion of ‘temporary appropriation’ of the public space refers to a wide range of urban scenarios that evoke conditions of either spatial, temporal or socio-economic disorder. Such disorder is manifested by the frequent contrast between the planned purpose of a public space and its actual use. Often, the unforeseen habits of the users of a place obscure the planned design narrative, adding a juxtaposed layer to the urban life. Analysis of the way people make use of a public space can reveal the contrasts by which the order designed by the planners becomes lost under a disorder or “not coded order” practiced by the users. Through direct observation via qualitative and quantitative investigation of diverse sources of the cause of ‘temporary appropriation’, this chapter investigates two phenomena in relation to its occurrence in public spaces in China. The first is the characteristic spreading of various domestic functions (such as cooking and laundry) onto the sidewalks of Shanghai. The second is the widespread use by Filipino maids of the squares and bridges of Hong Kong during their days off. The main aim of this essay is to highlight how such ‘user invasions’ reflect the resilience of these largely female communities in order to effectively and efficiently face issues related to affordable housing.