One might point to towering skyscrapers in metal and glass as quintessential Hong Kong architecture, but look a little closer to the ground and you’ll discover buildings that’ve been a part of the city’s history for far longer: the humble tong lau, or walk-up tenement building. Built from the 19th century to the 1960s, the low-rise buildings were originally shophouses, with retail establishments on the ground floors and residents living in the apartments above. Different tong lau evidence different architectural inspirations of the time — for instance, structures from the 1930s might have a more art deco look, while the post-WWII tong lau is more practical and pared back.

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