‘How stubborn “nail houses” take a stand against China’s rapid urbanisation’ is a new blog piece by Dr. Hyun Bang Shin of the UPD Cluster written for The Conversation in March 2017.

‘A single house balancing precariously in the middle of a construction site may seem like a doomed and fragile structure. But in China, these residences have become a potent symbol of resistance. Known as “dingzihu” in Chinese – which can be translated as “nail house” or “nail household” – buildings like this represent those who, like stubborn nails, defy state-ordered evictions and demolitions by refusing to vacate their properties.’

Read the full piece here.

A nail household in Tianjin, north-east China. Hyun Bang Shin, Author provided
A nail household in Tianjin, north-east China. Hyun Bang Shin, Author provided