Gallery: Why Hong Kong Shrouds New Skyscrapers in Cocoons

  • Image may contain Road Office Building Building Construction Crane Freeway Urban Town Metropolis and City
    Photo: Peter Steinhauer
    01

    Cocoon and Cranes Hong Kong-2008

    Peter Steinhauer's *Cocoon* series looks at a construction tradition native to Hong Kong.
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    Photo: Peter Steinhauer
    02

    McDonald's Cocoon Hong Kong - 2009

    When buildings are going up (or being torn down), they get shrouded in bright nylon mesh covers.
  • Image may contain Urban Town Building City High Rise Office Building Condo Housing and Apartment Building
    Photo: Peter Steinhauer
    03

    Greeen Cocoon #5 Hong Kong - 2010

    No matter how tall they are.
  • Image may contain Construction Scaffolding Indoors and Room
    Photo: Peter Steinhauer
    04

    Quarry Bay Cocoon Hong Kong - 2013

    Some are white, though that's rare.
  • Image may contain Construction Crane Building Office Building and Construction
    Photo: Peter Steinhauer
    05

    Cherry Street Cocoon Hong Kong - 2009

    Most are brilliant primary hues, like this green.
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    Photo: Peter Steinhauer
    06

    Blue Cocoon #1 Hong Kong - 2008

    The cocoons are there to protect debris from falling on Hong Kong's densely populated streets.
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    Photo: Peter Steinhauer
    07

    Yellow Night Cocoon Hong Kong - 2011

    The tradition dates back as long as we've had photographs of building being built in the city.
  • Image may contain Construction Building Office Building Scaffolding Housing Condo City Town High Rise and Urban
    Photo: Peter Steinhauer
    08

    Aqua Cocoon Cage Hong Kong - 2012

    Underneath the shrouds is scaffolding made from bamboo.
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    Photo: Peter Steinhauer
    09

    cocoon2

    Most of the nylon mesh gets reused if there aren't too many holes.
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    Photo: Peter Steinhauer
    10

    cocoon

    Though the bright colors look beautiful to outsiders, they're almost universally loathed in Hong Kong because they signify months of loud construction.
  • Image may contain Construction and Scaffolding
    Photo: Peter Steinhauer
    11

    Southside Cocoon #2 Hong Kong - 2012

    And after a few weeks, they become extremely dirty. This one use to be white.
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    12

    cocoons

    Still their odd beauty still beats the soulless metal scaffolding you'll find in the U.S.
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