Amy C. Smith

Photojournalist

adifferentsmith.com

Shanghai Sprawl

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â€œLane housesâ€ are narrow b...oo narrow to accommodate cars.

1 of 15 © 2024 Amy C. Smith

â€œLane housesâ€ are narrow buildings, usually around three floors high, often organized in rows on little lanes too narrow to accommodate cars.

The narrowness of these lanes ... amidst the chaos of the city.

2 of 15 © 2024 Amy C. Smith

The narrowness of these lanes allows for a calm amidst the chaos of the city.

Many families live their whole...upporting the elderly in turn.

3 of 15 © 2024 Amy C. Smith

Many families live their whole lives in their home, raising families and supporting the elderly in turn.

A man reads an official evicti...nity wall in his neighborhood.

4 of 15 © 2024 Amy C. Smith

A man reads an official eviction/relocation notice posted on a community wall in his neighborhood.

Despite being amongst building... as best it can, while it can.

5 of 15 © 2024 Amy C. Smith

Despite being amongst buildings being prepped for demolition, business carries on at this corner shop, as best it can, while it can.

Lane houses are cleared out and boarded up, seemingly overnight.

6 of 15 © 2024 Amy C. Smith

Lane houses are cleared out and boarded up, seemingly overnight.

Before knocking down exterior ...s, interiors are hollowed out.

7 of 15 © 2024 Amy C. Smith

Before knocking down exterior walls and plowing the homes, interiors are hollowed out.

Only a skeleton of the homes t...n the lane houses, bit by bit.

8 of 15 © 2024 Amy C. Smith

Only a skeleton of the homes that were there remains as they tear down the lane houses, bit by bit.

Parts are salvaged, such as do...ows, and even tiles and brick.

9 of 15 © 2024 Amy C. Smith

Parts are salvaged, such as doors, windows, and even tiles and brick.

Out with the old and in with t...or the next high rise or mall.

10 of 15 © 2024 Amy C. Smith

Out with the old and in with the new, a construction worker helps to bring down a brick exterior wall, clearing the land for the next high rise or mall.

Amongst the rubble are eery to...left behind in the relocation.

11 of 15 © 2024 Amy C. Smith

Amongst the rubble are eery tokens of the families that once lived there, left behind in the relocation.

Leaving only a skeleton, the h...the final steps of demolition.

12 of 15 © 2024 Amy C. Smith

Leaving only a skeleton, the homes are primed and ready for the final steps of demolition.

Communities live on, as these ...rubble atop a straggling sofa.

13 of 15 © 2024 Amy C. Smith

Communities live on, as these women continue their social sewing, piled much like the rubble atop a straggling sofa.

The demolition continues, work...ded to the rubble it oversees.

14 of 15 © 2024 Amy C. Smith

The demolition continues, working itâ€™s way through the neighborhood. Â A graffiti artist has left his or her mark with this eerie image, soon to be added to the rubble it oversees.

Some community members hold on...the garbage and time moves on.

15 of 15 © 2024 Amy C. Smith

Some community members hold on to the last bit of â€œhomeâ€ that they have. Â Whether here or in their new modern apartment, they all still have to take out the garbage and time moves on.

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Thumbnail of â€œLane housesâ€ are narrow bu_too narrow to accommodate cars.

Thumbnail of The narrowness of these lanes a_m amidst the chaos of the city.

Thumbnail of Many families live their whole _supporting the elderly in turn.

Thumbnail of A man reads an official evictio_unity wall in his neighborhood.

Thumbnail of Despite being amongst buildings_, as best it can, while it can.

Thumbnail of Lane houses are cleared out and boarded up, seemingly overnight.

Thumbnail of Before knocking down exterior w_es, interiors are hollowed out.

Thumbnail of Only a skeleton of the homes th_wn the lane houses, bit by bit.

Thumbnail of Parts are salvaged, such as doo_dows, and even tiles and brick.

Thumbnail of Out with the old and in with th_for the next high rise or mall.

Thumbnail of Amongst the rubble are eery tok_ left behind in the relocation.

Thumbnail of Leaving only a skeleton, the ho_ the final steps of demolition.

Thumbnail of Communities live on, as these w_ rubble atop a straggling sofa.

Thumbnail of The demolition continues, worki_dded to the rubble it oversees.

Thumbnail of Some community members hold on _ the garbage and time moves on.

Public Project

Shanghai Sprawl

Copyright Amy C. Smith 2024

Updated Jan 2016

Location Shanghai, China

Topics Architecture, Black and White, Photography, Photojournalism, Travel

There is a price paid to have a booming metropolis such as Shanghai, China - urban sprawl. Lane houses are being torn down to make room for the next big mall or modern high rise. A traditional "lane house" lends itself to community - neighbors often share a kitchen and common space, wet markets are set up on doorsteps and curb sides, and mahjong is played under awnings as players bring their stools to join in. From gossip to groceries, these are true communities and everyone knows everyone. The eviction of families and demolition of homes seems to occur overnight, relocating families to update homes in high rise buildings, often in a different part of the city entirely. While some families may be eager for a new modern apartment, others may be parting ways with neighbors and friends that they have had for much of their life.

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