In Tsung-yi Michelle Huang’s, Walking Between Slums and Skyscrapers, her notion of urban space describes how Hong Kong has been shaped by dual compression, global and local. Global compression is defined as a collapsing of a space in order to meet the needs of global capital accumulation. In contrast local compression, collapses a space to accommodate “urban densities of population and housing, aggravated by global compression” (Huang 14). As a result, dual compression leads to many changes amongst the community and city, Global compression leads to special changes such as Hong Kong Disney and the Chek Lap Kok International Airport, and local compression leads to over population and less personal space (epitomized by public housing). Space compression is an ongoing phenomenon, “Time space compression gives rise to a shrinking world (space compression) and simultaneity (time compression),” (Huang 612). 

Furthermore, global compression gives the city a new social structure, “the new elite” (international business people), and “others” (low income natives). It has also resulted in “glamour zones”, distinctive capitalist architecture, and gentrification as the city is filled with, stylish restaurants, exotic places, and skyscrapers. In addition, local compression has resulted in congested living spaces for the urban population. The city’s population composition has been an inevitable effect of the “city’s long history of involuntary immigration and globalization” (Huang 24). In conclusion, Hong Kong’s governments goal is to reserve free urban space for more transnational projects in the future. Thus, leaving the voices of the major urban population unheard. Huang portrays both slums and skyscrapers, giving the readers a clear understanding of neoliberalism through the eyes of four flaneur’s. 

In contrast, Mumbai’s residents are aware of the reality in their city, as transnational and vernacular urbanism occupy the same space. Loose wires hang from poles as the streets piled high with debris. The crowded streets seem chaotic at first, but out of this chaos, there is order. Each piece of debris has a purpose, everyone has a job to fulfill and nothing is to be wasted. The shanty towns are filled with the aroma of bakery goods that are ready to be distributed to the small markets each morning. The skilled potters await for their pots to dry in the sizzling Mumbai sun. As one continues to walk through these narrow alleys, hidden shops reveal themselves. The humming sounds coming from the leather workers as they engage in their labor, resembles the optimism and positive energy that fills the cracks of these shanty towns. Their tinted hands are visible from miles away as they dye bags, wallets, and shoes. Walking further into the slums, tiny rooms are lined with men sitting at sewing machines with piles of multi-colored fabric and leather. The children play with wasteland piled centimeters high. This industrial area suddenly comes to an end as it is overpowered by the shadows of neighboring buildings. The glass windows and the cement roofs are something they have always dreamed of. Walking through the sidewalks occupied by slum dwellers, the construction of a future building is visible, as the construction workers hammer down each nail, with pouring sweat.  As the sun goes down, some slum dwellers pack up their goods to do it all over again the next morning, not knowing if they’ll be displaced that day. 

As one walks through the city they might wonder whose city is it? The government has tried to take over Dharavi (Mumbai’s biggest slum) for many decades due to its location (center of the city). As David Harvey states in “The Right to the City” Dharavi is estimated to be worth 2 billion dollars, [there is a lot] of pressure to clear it- for environmental and social reasons. Dual Compression has been a prevalent problem for Mumbai as the population growth has resulted in congested living, while the elite have tried to give Mumbai a new social structure. “Financial powers backed by the state push for forcible slum clearance, in some cases violently taking possessions of terrain occupied for a whole generation” (Harvey 2008). Though the elite try to oppress slum dwellers by leaving places like Dharavi blank in all maps of the city, the slum dwellers still persevere with acts of protest. The elite should suppress instead of repress the slum dwellers, as the tall skyscrapers and the luxurious homes they like to flaunt, are built by those who they try to displace. The results of Dual Compression has been the reality for most of the population in Mumbai for many years, as the slum dwellers feel so close but yet so far to wealth. However, they still manage to make the best out of their living conditions. by working hard while keeping a smile on their faces.