These small courtyards are the common space in the ironically named “mansions”. Low density housing blocks poorly built during the early seventies and needed of many improvements. These “mansions” are the first buildings to be targeted by the redevelopment agencies, because of its poor living conditions. But these small scale biodiversities, has proved an unusual source of pride for the tenants that use to live at these blocks. Due to the redevelopment process, tenants are the first to leave the area by leaving the houses into abandon and decay. But a sort of abandon is, ironically, the crucial factor to let these well sized gardens grow wild and diverse… Most of these courtyards have traditional korean pine trees, and in many of them, some common areas are cultivated with vegetables. The produce of these gardens is shared between the residents.
