IN ADAPTATION - OBSERVING THE EVERYDAY

1) Wong Zhen Fai, James

2) Clement Chen

Chapter 8 of Calvino’s Invisible cities which consists of 5 cities namely Irene, Argia, Thekla,

Trude, and Olinda have taught and portrayed its cities to me in many ways. The primary theme

extracted from the chapter is mass urbanisation. Throughout the whole chapter, Calvino has come

up with cities of different names and conditions to signify the various phases of mass urbanisation.

This includes its rise and fall, and the positive and negative impact it has on the various social

classes.

From the site visit, a clear distinction between the old, dilapidated buildings and the new,

modern skyscrapers could be observed. These old buildings were probably the local landmark and

has set the architectural language of the site a few decades ago with its rectangular and mid-rise

structure. However, as the time passes by, the richer and higher social class has continued to

upgrade and progress through its architecture while striving for newer elements such as taller

skyscrapers and newer shopping malls. Meanwhile, the earlier buildings were left behind to be

recycled by the poorer and lower social class while adapting it according to their needs. This was

the case for one old low-cost apartment building which was the home to immigrant workers. Some

time ago during the apartment’s glorious days, it housed people of middle social class or lower along

with the surrounding buildings and shop lots but now, as the land value decreases, it has become a

place for immigrant workers to stay. They have adapted the apartment into their needs by adding

common necessities such as mini marts, barber shops, clinics and even a small-sized law firm into

the apartment block itself to serve the residents only, turning it into their own little city.

Meanwhile, the higher social class begins to move out of the area into newer streets along

with their taller skyscrapers and shopping malls, leaving the poor to take over and recycle the old.

By W

ong Z

hen F

ai,

Jam

es

New

er

skyscr

apers

rise

up

at

adja

cent

are

as

while

th

e

old

build

ings

rem

ain

to

be

recycle

d

and

reused

by

the

low

er

socia

l

cla

ss.

By Wong Zhen Fai, James

The low-cost apartment has been transformed

into the immigrants’ own little city with mini

marts, barber shops, clinics and even a law firm.

By Wong Zhen Fai, James

The dilapidated and unmaintained state of

most buildings in the area.

By W

ong Z

hen F

ai,

Jam

es

New

er

skyscr

apers

rise

up

at

adja

cent

are

as

while

th

e

old

build

ings

rem

ain

to

be

recycle

d

and

reused

by

the

low

er

socia

l cla

ss.

By Wong Zhen Fai, James

Makeshift and unhygienic stalls pop up in any

remaining space they can find in between

building blocks.

By Clement Chen

Loneliness

By C

lem

ent

Chen

Synonym

By C

lem

ent

Chen

Fro

m a

dis

tance

By C

lem

ent

Chen

Ris

ing C

ities