Laiyin Garden
An outdated tightly-packed residential area demolished in 2022.
An epitome of fate of urban villages
A quick blink of nostalgia
2022/01/25
Tangled wires, dim lamp and peeled surface of wall were typical views inside the buildings.
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It is said that this place stood for over 20 years in downtown area, yet miraculously not renewed due to presence of several stubborn 'nail residents'.How long would it take for it to conform to tide of gentrification?
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2022/08/05
It seems dramatically amusing when random furnitures and personal belongings fell from the windows.The day when residents moved out, deposited items lay queer on the ground, overlapping each other.
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The pile of rain-washed junk somehow resembled a piece of album art.Do they meant to be wasted?
2022/08/31
The garden was left unguarded for weeks while people were gradually leaving, which provided chances for us to pay unwelcomed visits.
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Stepping into any room you would be immersed in fresh evidence of living people.
Amount as well as types of objects left behind were more than expected.The reason might be that tenants of such shabby building were mainly migrant labours that worked in constructing site nearby.
We found it sarcastic that these workers may get paid for dismantling the area, their own temporary dwellings.
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Realizing that perhaps no one would sit on the sofa or appreciate the painting on the wall after us gave rise to some itchy sorrow.
2022/09/09
Who created these grafittis?
Disobedient tenants, earlier invaders or curious alien?
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Roof of these buildings connect to private staircases.That's why it was not only the first but also the last time we've been there.
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The wooden stairs appeared to be feeble. Hence, we decided to crawl up with 4 limbs to spread weight; one member went first with rest of us waiting, so that we could timely reach for rescue in case of collapsing.
2022/09/09
The roof balcony was more than impressive.
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One sentimental genius with engineering skills built this swing.Weeds sprung up wildly and carelessly, more lively than any artificially-grown plant, juxtaposing the monotonous city scenery.
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Can it be argued that skyscrapers stand as tombstone of cottages?Human keep constructing taller buildings to replace the old; would this ever come to an end?
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2022/09/13
Objects were out of place, implying the malfunction of the residential space, in opposed to defined and harmonious as in common sense.This appeared to us as a gasp for breath between hectic development of city
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It also reminded us of deconstructivism that intend to deviate and challenge classic thought and aesthetic
