Hong Kong architect builds 'micro-homes' inside 100 sq ft pipe to give solution to overcrowded housing problem

2018-01-16 15:40 Last Updated At：16:18

While Hong Kong is well-known for the high population density, residents there are trying their very best to find a space which is affordable to live.

A Hong Kong architect, James Law, has recently provided a solution to the problem.

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Photo via jameslawcybertecture.com

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Photo via jameslawcybertecture.com

His studio, James Law Cybertecture, created the project the OPod Tude Housing system aims to reuse concrete tubes in eight feet in diameter to build a new house. He changed the pipes into"micro-homes" providing a 100 sq feet living space.

According to Hong Kong government, every 6,780 people share a square kilometre of space. The high population density leads the continuous increase in property prices and small room every one sharing.

So, James tried to design accommodations for one to two people. The micro homes are equipped with standard facilities, including a living room with a bench that converts into a bed, a mini-fridge, a bathroom, a shower and plenty of storage space for clothes and personal items.

The tube can be put together to form an estate. James said the design of the house is practical. He tried to provide both the young people and the government affordable options.

It is expected that each tube will cost HK$15,000 (£11,000).

Kazakhstan Views Hong Kong as a Vital and Natural Partner, the Interest in Hong Kong is not Short Term

Last month, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) signed Memorandum of Understanding with Kazakhstan at the Belt and Road Summit, marking a new chapter of aviation connectivity and cooperation between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan.

Bauyrzhan Dosmanbetov, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Hong Kong and Macao SAR’s, highlights that this cooperation with AAHK is a milestone not only for tourism, but also for strengthening aviation management, enhancing service quality, and developing professional talent.

“We had a direct flight from Hong Kong to Almaty before the pandemic, but then it was canceled,” says Dosmanbetov, “We are actively working on resuming it with the major Hong Kong carriers to make both destinations more accessible.” He also says that it is a pity that there is no airline currently operates direct flights to Hong Kong from Central Asia, which has a total population of 80 million.

Besides working on resuming direct flight between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan, according to Dosmanbetov, Kazakhstan also provides two scholarships for their pilots and managers who are going to study at Hong Kong International Aviation Academy (HKIAA), in the hope of enhancing operational excellence, and further supporting stronger tourism, trade and people-to-people exchange.

Aviation is not the only cooperation Kazakhstan reached with Hong Kong. In August, Jiaxin International Resources Investment Limited, a Kazakhstan company receiving investment from Chinese enterprise, listed on both Hong Kong and Kazakhstan markets.

Shares of the company surged about 178 percent on its first day of initial public offering (IPO) on Hong Kong market. “The dual listing is a big growth for the company,” says Dosmanbetov, “I know we have two more companies also want to list in Hong Kong and Astana.”

As President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, emphasized in his 2025 State of the Nation Address, Kazakhstan must move beyond relying on raw material investment and channel more capital into manufacturing and high-end industry.

Dosmanbetov says that the reason why Kazakhstan is interested in Hong Kong market is that Hong Kong can connect it with investors who are experienced in supporting large-scale, diversified and innovative projects. According to him, entering Hong Kong means Kazakhstan-based companies gain access not only to financing but also to strategic partnership and pathways to support the transformation of Kazakhstan.

Dosmanbetov expresses optimism about deeper cooperation between the Astana International Exchange (AIX) and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) in the future. “Our interest in Hong Kong is not short-term,” says Dosmanbetov.

For Consul General, cooperating with Hong Kong is about aligning Kazakhstan’s economic transformation with one of the world’s most dynamic financial hubs. “Hong Kong, ” says Dosmanbetov, “as one of Asia’s premier financial hubs and a gateway to Chinese mainland, is natural partner.”

The Astana International Financial Center (AIFC) has already signed memorandum of understanding with top Asian exchanges, Dosmanbetov expects that there would be more Kazakhstan-based companies will engage in knowledge-sharing, dual-listing and cross-border investment in the coming years, so that they can benefit from the AIX’s high regulatory standards and HKEX’s deep liquidity.

To reach the vision, the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in Hong Kong supports the investors of these projects by assisting with government coordination and regulatory matters, and acts as a link between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan. By working closely with Kazakh Invest, InvestHK, Qazaqstan Investment Corporation, and other agencies, the Consulate General can ensure that projects can develop smoothly and successfully.

When talking about the Belt and Road Summit held earlier, Dosmanbetov states that the Belt and Road Initiative is a powerful engine for Kazakhstan’s future development, since it can not only strengthen transport and investment links across Eurasia, but also deepen its eternal friendship with China.

For Dosmanbetov, the Belt and Road Initiative can provide infrastructure financing, technology partnerships, and cross-border connectivity, which builds the framework of creating a digital Kazakhstan. In September, the Development Bank of Kazakhstan issued a 2 billion yuan (HK$2.18 billion) dim sum bond in Hong Kong, making it the first issuer from Central Asia to launch a bond in Hong Kong.

Kazakhstan is one of the five countries in Central Asia, the rest of four are Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turmenistan and Uzbekistan, and the total population of five is 80 million. According to online information, Kazakhstan has the biggest population among them, the 2025 population is 20.84 million, with the annual growth rate of 1.55%, there are over 55% of them live in urban, the median age is 29.7, the population structure is younger than most of the countries.

Kazakhstan is also the important hub of the Silk Road Economic Belt, China and Kazakhstan have reached multiple cooperations in railways and Caspian sea shipping, building China-Europe railways and cross Caspian sea corridor together, which becomes the Eurasia transport hub.

Action plan on the Belt and Road Initiative made by China and Kazakhstan covers green mining, agriculture modernization, engineer technology and so on, strengthening the cooperation in defense industry is also included.

Dosmanbetov points out that the demonstration effect of the issuance includes that other banks, corporates and infrastructure companies in Kazakhstan and across Central Asia now have a proven model for raising RMB capital in Hong Kong to finance projects like energy transition and digital infrastructure.

For investors from Hong Kong and Greater Bay Area, Dosmanbetov recommends the most promising areas in Kazakhstan including AI applications, fin-tech, renewable and green energy, smart logistics, advanced manufacturing and deep agricultural processing.

Dosmanbetov introduces that AIFC provides an English-law jurisdiction, long-term tax exemptions on corporate income, capital gains and dividends , simplified visa and work-permit procedures to better facilitate the investors. Special economic zones and industrial parks are also provided.

“Kazakhstan is a young and forward-looking state,” says Dosmanbetov, “we give Hong Kong companies not only market access, but also clear pathways to participate in building Kazakhstan’s digital economy and AI-driven industries.”

Hong Kong architect builds 'micro-homes' inside 100 sq ft pipe to give solution to overcrowded housing problem