A megalopolis is a clustered network of cities or megacities with a population exceeding 10 million people; "It grows amidst an irregularly colloidal mixture of rural and suburban landscapes; it melts on broad fronts with other mixtures, of somewhat similar though different texture, belonging to the suburban neighborhoods of other cities." [gottman, 1961]
More then 50% of the world population is now living in urban areas and the numbers are constantly increasing. We are living through an extraordinary period in human history, an era of unprecedented growth in our species [Sinding, 2010]. The way that cities and megacities are developing is not only influencing the structure of our families and communities but it also plays a role in declining social interaction. The purpose of this investigation is to create awareness and highlight the problems that modernization and the rapid changes in the environment create in our lives. Is it still important to be, or feel, part of a group? Do we feel part of the environment? Are we alone in the crowd?
The People Republic of China is the most populated country in the world with 1.35 billion citizens [Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2011].
People mountain, people sea is an old Chinese saying indicating a very large group of people. Few years ago a young Taiwanese boy told me this sentence when describing a huge crowd travelling to a rock festival; and it did make sense. With this spirit I have begun to work on this project, fascinated by the multitude, and by the strong sense of community I was feeling in Chinese neighbourhoods.
The recent years’ socio-economical progress and modernization, together with the fast modifications of the environment are changing the relationship between people and their communities.
It is my personal interest to investigate the problematic that an individual may face in such a habitat; what is its relationship with other individuals? What is the relationship with the environment?