Hong Kong has long been known as the “concrete jungle” because of its skyscrapers. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, a French photographer has discovered unexpected spaces where everyday life unfolds in an authentic and simple way. Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze, a talented photographer who has lived in Hong Kong for nearly a decade, has spent years telling the story of the city from a unique perspective – the rooftops.
"Courtyard in the Sky" of the Crowded City
Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze is not only famous for his urban architecture photography, but also for an emotional project called Concrete Stories. This series of photos is a collection of daily life moments on the rooftops of high-rise buildings in the Kowloon area of Hong Kong. He spent more than four years (from 2014 to 2018) exploring old buildings, looking for apartments with open roof exits, which he likened to "courtyards in the air".
In fact, for one of the world’s most densely populated and expensive cities, where apartments are often cramped, rooftop spaces are precious living space. Hong Kongers make the most of these scarce spaces for many of their daily activities.
From drying clothes, growing plants, exercising or even repairing furniture, rooftops have become places where they find privacy and peace, in complete contrast to the hustle and bustle of the streets below.
The 30-year-old French photographer shared that the idea for the Concrete Stories series came to him by chance. One morning in 2014, while looking for inspiration for another project, he was suddenly attracted by the sunlight shining through the buildings, creating small, sparkling streaks of light.
That particular light illuminated a nearby rooftop, where he spotted a man busy repairing a model airplane. “I quickly snapped a photo of it and was mesmerized by the magic of the moment,” Romain says. It was this serendipitous moment that inspired him to start his passion project.
Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze insists he has no intention of intruding into people's privacy. He simply photographs what he sees from above, through a window or from another rooftop.
As a result, the subjects in the frame are often very small in scale, "overwhelmed" by giant buildings or only photographed from behind while they are working. This gives an objective and respectful view of everyday life. Many viewers commented that his photos give a feeling of authenticity and naturalness, as if they were observing the rooftops next door themselves.
Having lived in Hong Kong for about 10 years, Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze has discovered many traditional and unique cultural features of the locals in the old neighborhoods. Through these everyday photos, the locals' culture appears extremely simple and authentic, contrasting with the flashy, modern appearance of the city.
The photo series is not simply an art photo. In the context of increasingly modernized cities, many old buildings and these types of rooftop spaces are gradually disappearing to make way for new high-rise buildings. Therefore, Romain's photos have both documentary value, recording a part of the architectural history and people's lifestyle, and are imbued with a nostalgic feeling, making viewers appreciate the simple moments that remain more.
