NUS MArch Thesis Report

HUTONG GRAMMAR HOUSE VISION SCDA ARCHITECTS ESP STUDIO THESIS REPORT

ERIC DESIGN

HUTONG GRAMMAR HOUSE VISION SCDA ARCHITECTS ESP STUDIO THESIS REPORT

ERIC DESIGN

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: THESIS TUTOR Mr Chan (SCDA Architects） Mr Jin (SCDA Architects） OFFICE COORDINATOR Ms Esther (SCDA Architects) Ms Ivory (SCDA Architects) Ms Xaviera (SCDA Architects) THESIS EXAMINER Mr Bobby Wong (Internal Examiner) Mr Richard Ho (Internal Examiner) Mr Tan Kok Hiang (Internal Examiner) Mr Tan Teck Kiam (Internal Examiner) Mr Yip Yuen Hong (External Examiner) STUDENT Wang Daxuan MATRIC NUMBER A0137354E In this thesis report I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Mr Chan and Mr Jin, for their precious guidance and support in every step of this project.

Meanwhile, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the following persons who have contributed invaluably to the completion of this thesis.

My Parents: Wang Nengfa,Yang Jun My Twins Brother: Wang Xiaoxuan My Friends: Anna ZhouYue Chen Zhenyu Jason L.K.Wong Lai Hongzhan Li Xiaoya Liu Meilan Liu Shuangyang Ling Mengzhi Wu Chenmu Yin Aiwei Zhang Hanfei Zhang Zepeng SCDA ARCHITECTS ESP STUDIO

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Content

Acknowledgements

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Research 01 INTRODUCTION

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02 EXISTING SITUATION

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03 CRITICAL ISSUES

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04 SITE STUDIES

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05 PRECEDENT STUDIES

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Content

Design Proposal

CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAM

NEIGHBORHOOD

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HOUSING BLOCK

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HOUSING UNIT

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Bibliography

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RESEARCH 01 INTRODUCTION

Thesis Statement Beijing’s urban pattern and architectural features are remarkable and unique. For Andrew Boyd (1962; 63), the urban structure of Beijing clearly emerged from a “creation rather than an accretion” and differs from cities which developed spontaneously and organically around a small trading center. It is typical of major capitals like Washington, New Delhi, Ottawa, and Brasilia, which were designed as monumental centers of political power and administration.

According to Xi Jinping, the President of the People’s Republic of China, and the Chairman of the Central Military Commission, the intrinsic function of the city is that of a center of politics, culture, international communication, and innovation. Beijing was never a center of economy (Jing Hua Shi Bao, 2015).

But in the last sixty years, the forces of modernization and, more recently, the scarcity of land available for construction, have affected the once homogeneous structure of the old city of Beijing. In the 1950s, the massive city wall were demolished and replaced by the second ring-road. A large number of governmental institutions and factories were introduced to the inner-city area within residential quarters. Acres of the intricate and interlocking courtyard housing were demolished. In the 1980s, high-rise buildings were built along Chang’an Avenue, the main east-west axis separating the inner city from the outer city. As a result, the city has lost some of its original regularity and continuity. The once horizontal city now resembles a bowl, with high-rise buildings in the outskirts surrounding the one- to six-story structures of the inner city (Lu, 1993).

Over the last sixty years, Beijing has been facing major problems resulting from rapid urban growth. In the last decades, great efforts were made to solve the dramatic housing shortage and to improve the appalling living conditions in overcrowded areas. In 1990, the Beijing municipal government launched a program for the renewal of the old city center. A series of residential projects has been implemented in traditional neighborhoods since then which have affected the character of the old city and the lives of its residents. Original residents are generally relocated to walk-up or high-rise apartment buildings in large-scale mass housing projects located on the periphery of the city (Broudehoux, 1995).

Based on all these situations, this thesis try to propose a new form of contemporary housing which integrates traditional Hutong grammar with the new requirement of a modern society for the relocated residents at the outskirt of Beijing. The adaptation of tradition to modern city living could help create an environment that is technically functional and perceptually coherent. New housing prototypes will emerge from an in-depth analysis of the attibutes of traditional housing and a better understanding of the current probelms in housing design. The new prototypes will fit in with the scale, texture and color of the traditional environment and justify the existing urban patterns while displaying the clarity and simplicity of modern functions and technological requirements. Meanwhile, the prototypes will allow for variety and flexibility and be both replicable and affordable.

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Urban Transformation of Beijing

Jing Shi Sheng Chun Shi Yi, Qing Dynasty.

The Old City Centre of Beijing, 1949.

The New CBD of Beijing, 2016.

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RESEARCH Urban Transformation of Beijing 02 EXISTING SITUATION Relocation

As mentioned before, original residents are generally relocated to walk-up or high-rise apartment buildings in large-scale mass housing projects located on the periphery of the city. Relocation sites are generally inconveniently located, badly serviced, and suffer from poor security and high crime rates. Because of the registration system, relocation remains a complex administrative process. The transfer of the hukoucan take several months, causing major inconveniences to both relocated people and new residents on the site.

Although most people look forward to the regeneration of their neighborhoods, they are generally opposed to relocation, over which they have a limited control, as to where and in what conditions. Most people prefer to remain in their original neighborhoods because of its prime location near the city center. One of the initial goals of the renewal program was to retain a minimum of 30% of the original site population on the site after regeneration (He, 1990).Yet, because of the absence of strong enforcement of the regulation regarding the requirements for minimum number of residents to return to the site after its regeneration, the current system has allowed developers to benefit from every resident not returned to the site. It has also made it possible for the developers to create artificial constraints to convince residents to accept relocation.The need to find temporary housing and the payment of the rent deposit have often discouraged people from staying. The prospect of larger units, lower rents, facilitated moving, or compensation bonuses proposed by the developer often convince residents to leave their old neighborhood and accept relocation.

The size of the units allocated to each of the original households is based on the size of their original living space. However, the calculations do not account for the many additions that have been built throughout the years to solve problems of space shortage. In cases where families are found to live in unbearably crowded houses, the right to have more living space has to be purchased from the local government for about one thousand yuan per room. The household’s work unit generally covers this cost, but the family has to pay rent monthly for the extra space (Broudehoux, 1995).

News About the Relocation of Inner City Residents in Beijing

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Urban Transformation of Beijing

YUAN DYNASTY

(1949)

PRC

750,000-1,000,000 Residents

POPULATION DENSITY

(1271-1368)

5,000 ha

54,800 ha 4,200,000 Residents THE RENEWAL OF THE OLD CITY CENTRE

(1990)

70%

107,000 ha 10,860,000 Residents

FUTURE

90%

By 2020, 280,000 ha 23,000,000 Residents

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RESEARCH Relocated Housing Projects in Beijing 02 EXISTING SITUATION

Location Distribution of Beijing Relocated Housing Program Data Source: http://www.bjjs.gov.cn/ accessed on 18 July 2016, Redrawn by Author

Location Distribution statistics of Beijing Relocated Housing Program Data Source: http://www.bjjs.gov.cn/ accessed on 18 July 2016, Redrawn by Author Above figure shows the location distribution of the 217 relocated housing projects in Beijing.

Meanwhile, about 64% of the reloacated housing projects are located outside the Fifth Ring Road and 19% of the projects are located between Fourth and Fifth Ring Road. Only 17% of the projects are located inside the Fourth Ring Road. Thus, the overall spatial distribution pattern of the relocated housing in Beijing could be preliminarily estimated as located on the outskirts of the city.

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Beijing Master Plan (2004-2020)

Beijing Master Plan (2004-2020) Data Source: http://www.bjghw.gov.cn/ accessed on 18 July 2016, Redrawn by Author Above Figure shows the planning structure of Beijing, which has three layers: first is the innermost layer, which is the historical and cultural center and the Old City District; second, the central city layer includes the Central Business District, Political District, High-tech District, Commercial Cultural Mixed-use District, and Olympic District; third, the suburban area includes ten new districts. The relocated housing projects are mostly located in the ten new districts. According to the New District Planning Guideline, the objective of the new district development is to alleviate the population pressure in the central city and constitute a self-contained, comprehensive, and beautiful satellite district. All these districts provide an integrated living environment with commercial, educational, social, and community facilities.

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RESEARCH Housing Typologies Transformation of Beijing 02 EXISTING SITUATION

Traditional Multi-generation Siheyuan.

Multi-household Compounds.

Relocated Housing Projects.

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Housing Typologies Transformation of Beijing

Traditional Siheyuan

Transformation

Modern Houisng

Multi-generation Living

Multi-household

Isolated Houisng

Enclosed Greenery

Shared Greenery

Isolated Greenery

The traditional Beijing Siheyuan constitutes a closely packed, ground-oriented form of housing which is the result of a long process of interaction between the built form and the social, economic, and cultural needs and habits of the people (Ekblad & Werne, 1990). The intimate scale and tranquil ambiance of the courtyard create a strong sense of privacy and offer an ideal environment for raising children (Mann, 1984). One of the most important characteristics of the siheyuan is its flexibility in accommodating growth and change: the courtyard allows for a whole range of outdoor activities and can provide additional space to accommodate relatives or to store diverse items (Mann, 1984).

However, since 1949, most of the siheyuan in Beijing’s inner city have been altered through a series transformations. The extreme housing shortage and overpopulation in the inner city area have exerted a great pressure on the traditional houses. After the Revolution, as a first step to solve the housing crisis, traditional houses were subdivided to accommodate several unrelated households, resulting in substantial reduction of the available floor area per household (Casault, 1987). Between five and ten households now share a compound originally intended for a single extended family (Hoog and Kennedy, 1979).

In the last thirty years, thousands of traditional houses have been replaced by new developments and infrastructure. At this pace, it is estimated that the majority of the city’s siheyuan will have disappeared in a few years.

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RESEARCH 03 CRITICAL ISSUES

Housing Family Narrative

Mr Hutong

Hutong Grandpa

Hutong Granddaughter

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Hutong Family Narrative

Mr Hutong: Where is my home? The government wants to exchange my Siheyuan courtyard with a high-rise apartment at the outskirt of Beijing.

Eric: Can you tell me the story about your home?

Mr Hutong: Of course.

Hutong Grandpa: Where is my home?

Eric: Can you tell me the story about your home?

Hutong Grandpa: That’s a long story.

Hutong Granddaughter: Where is my home?

Eric: Can you tell me the story about your home?

Hutong Granddaughter: Yeal!

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RESEARCH 03 CRITICAL ISSUES

Housing Family Narrative

Mr Hutong: I miss the old days when I stayed with my bros. We usually gathered at the Hutong near my courtyard, bragging, talking, and playing chess. In the summer, we did not wear our shirt because we felt comfortable and cool.

Hutong Grandpa: Every time I see these pieces of old furniture I’m depressed for a week.

After all these years, things stay the same, but people have changed.

Hutong Granddaughter: There is a huge tree in my courtyard. Her name is Judy. She is the same age with my grandpa. Every time when I go back from school, I climb the tree with my friends.

In the spring, I grab flowers from her. My grandpa makes desserts with those flowers. I miss her so much.

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Hutong Family Narrative

Mr Hutong: Hey,dear.

Mrs Hutong: Go back and wear your clothes!

Mr Hutong: Why?! This is my home.

Hutong Grandpa: At the old time, I and my neighbors shared our chairs and tables along the alley. When the weather was good, we just came out and sat along the Hutong. There was a quite cozy and intimate relationship within our neighborhood. Everyone can use these chairs when they need a break at any time

Hutong Granddaughter: Can you bring back Judy to me? It is a long time I do not meet her. I even forget the taste of the flower desserts.

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RESEARCH 03 CRITICAL ISSUES

Housing Family Narrative

Mr Hutong: Hey,dear.

Mrs Hutong: Go back and wear your clothes!

Mr Hutong: Sorry, my dear. I forget this is not in Hutong.

Hutong Grandpa: Now I even don’t know my neighbor’s name. Luckily, I live on the first floor.

But all my neighbors’ backyards are gated and not allow others to enter their house. I miss the old days when all my neighbors shared their funiture and talked with each other.

Hutong Granddaughter: In my new house, I can only stay at home to play with my toys or go to the kid corner to climb these boring facilities. I don’t like my new house! I want my Judy back!

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Critical Design Issues

PRIVACY & MEMORY PUBLIC

PRIVATE

Create more Semi-private and Semi-public places for residents.

SOCIAL INTERACTION & MEMORY NEIGHBORS

NEIGHBORS

Encourage sharing behaviors among neighbors.

GREENERY & MEMORY GREENERY

Improve the ownership of greeneries for each household.

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RESEARCH 04 SITE STUDIES

Site Selected Hulongguan Community In this thesis, Huilongguan community—the largest relocated housing project in China—was chosen. Huilongguan community is located in the Changping District northwest of Beijing and is on the east side of Jingchang Highway. The whole community is about 141.16 ha. To fulfill the long-term development, the project was divided into six phases. The project was scheduled to accommodate around 300,000 inhabitants.

The Huilongguan community was one of the first 19 relocated projects approved in 1998. The developer, Tianhong Group, started the project in 1999, and now, the sixth phase of housing is under construction. During the process of the relocated housing development in Beijing, the government has made several policies such as urban planning and housing guidelines and sustainable relocated housing guidelines to regulate the relcoated housing development. Huilongguan’s community, as one of the initial projects, experiences all these processes and, thus, is an ideal site for this thesis.

Location

Location of Huilongguan Community Source: Baidu Map, Redrawn by Author

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Location

Huilongguan Community: Six Phases Source: Baidu Map, Redrawn by Author

Huilongguan Community: Selected Sites Source: Baidu Map, Redrawn by Author

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RESEARCH 04 SITE STUDIES

Site Selected Hulongguan Community There are six phases of development within this community. Each phase will select one project to carry on the study.

Phase 1: Feng Ya Yuan Precinct 1 (1999) Phase 2: Long Teng Yuan Precinct 3(2001) Phase 3: Long Teng Yuan Precinct 4 (2002) Phase 4: Long Xi Yuan Precinct 2 (2003) Phase 5: Long Yue Yuan Precinct 4 (2006) Phase 6: Guo Feng Mei Tang Precinct 2 (2011)

Overview of Selected Case Study Sites Source: Drawn by Author 22

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Site Model

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Phase 5

Phase 6 Huilongguan Community: Six Phases

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RESEARCH 04 SITE STUDIES

Site Plan

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Phase 5

Phase 6 Huilongguan Community: Six Phases

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Sunshine Duration Simulation According to the climate zone of Beijing, the city has a cold, windy, and dry winter due to the influence of the vast Siberian anticyclone. Therefore, the “Great Cold” day and “Winter Solstice” day are selected to compute the sunshine duration on the surface of housing blocks in Beijing. As required by the Beijing Standard of Building’s Solar Access, the sunshine duration in “Great Cold” day should be no less than 2 hours. And the sunshine duration in “Winter Solstice” day should be no less than 1 hour.

Phase 1

Phase 4

Phase 2

Phase 5

Phase 3

Phase 6

Sunshine Duration Simulation

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RESEARCH 04 SITE STUDIES

Survey Results Sample Survey The sample survey is the best way to uncover the opinions of the residents in the community of Huilongguan. The spatial demands of middle- and low-income inhabitants will be directly obtained through the survey. The samples are selected from the six phases of Huilongguan’s relocated housing program. In order to conduct the survey, each phase would entail the selection of 20 respondents.

Income Level Summary

Survey Results of Selected Study Sites Source: Drawn by Author Of the 120 respondents in the six phases of the relocated housing projects, 93.3% think they are part of middle- to low-income households. Only 6.7% of the respondents think they have a high income level. From Phase 1 to Phase 6, the income of the households gradually increases. High-income households only are found in phases 5 and 6. In summary, the relocated housing projects in Huilongguan are mainly aimed at middle- to low-income households.

Meanwhile, there is a trend to include mixed-income households in the new phases of the relocated housing program.

Frequent Commuting Mode Summary

Survey Results of Selected Study Sites Source: Drawn by Author Of the 120 respondents, 53% of them frequently take public transportation such as the subway and bus to go to work. The rest of the respondents usually use private transportation, going to work by car, bicycle, or foot. According to the table above, private cars are becoming more and more important in daily urban travel. In summary, it is crucial to plan rationally the public transport service and vehicular circulation in the projects.

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Frequent Commuting Time

Survey Results of Selected Study Sites Source: Drawn by Author Of the 120 respondents, 78% of the respondents spend one to two hours commuting to work.

Most of the inhabitants work inside the Third Ring Road in Haidian District and Chaoyang District. According to the table above, 90% of the workplaces of the respondents are more than 10km from home. In summary, the commuting time is so long that the inhabitants suffer all the mornings and evenings of the weekdays. Therefore, strengthening the public transport service and providing more job opportunities near the relocated housing projects should be the focus of the next step of development.

Summary of Residents’ Perceptions

Survey Results of Selected Study Sites Source: Drawn by Author To find the most urgent needs among middle- and low-income households in the affordable housing projects, we asked the question “Which part of the planning of residential areas do you think should be strengthened? (Only one choice.)” Of the 120 respondents, 31% thought the vehicular circulation system and parking should be improved. Second, 26% of the respondents thought the public facilities should be improved. Lastly, 22% of the respondents thought the green spaces of the precincts should be improved. No one chose solar access.Therefore, at this point, the most urgent need could be said to be a more efficient vehicular circulation system and sufficient parking lots.

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RESEARCH Precedent Studies 05 PRECEDENT STUDIES

Quinta Monroy / ELEMENTAL

By Elemental - Alejandro Aravena

Yokohama Apartment

By ON design partners

Okurayama Apartment

By Kazuyo Sejima & Associates

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Precedent Studies

In this case, the provision a physical space for the “extensive family� to develop, has proved to be a key issue in the economical take off of a poor family. In between the private and public space, we introduced the collective space, conformed by around 20 families. The collective space (a common property with restricted access) is an intermediate level of association that allows surviving fragile social conditions.

This timber framed apartment accommodates four artists. The small bedrooms are lifted five meters (16.4 feet) above the ground on the triangular corners of the building. The open-air covered courtyard is shared by the residents as their communal studio and gallery. The exterior stairs to bedrooms are sometimes used as seating when there are performances in the gallery.

Kazuyo Sejima designed this nine-unit apartment in Yokohama with an undulating inner court. Each unit has access to either its own garden or roof terrace. The glimpses into this maze-like open space adds a unique character to the surrounding neighborhood.

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DESIGN CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAM

Hutong Grammar

UNIT UNIT SCALE COURTYARD

CLUSTER SCALE HUTONG NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE

NEIGHBORHOOD

CITY SCALE CITY

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Sectional Grammar

HOUSING UNIT UNIT SCALE VERTICAL COURTYARD

CLUSTER SCALE VERTICAL HUTONG NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE

VERTICAL NEIGHBORHOOD

CITY SCALE VERTICAL CITY

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DESIGN CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAM

Hutong Grammar-Unit Scale

One Courtyard Siheyuan

Two Courtyards Siheyuan

Three Courtyards Siheyuan

Four Courtyards Siheyuan

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Hutong Grammar-Unit Scale

One Courtyard Siheyuan

Two Courtyards Siheyuan

Three Courtyards Siheyuan

Four Courtyards Siheyuan

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DESIGN CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAM

Sectional Grammar-Unit Scale

One Vertical Courtyard Compound

Two Vertical Courtyard Compound

Three Vertical Courtyard Compound

Four Vertical Couryard Compound

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Sectional Grammar-Unit Scale

One Vertical Courtyard Compound

Two Vertical Courtyard Compound

Three Vertical Courtyard Compound

Four Vertical Couryard Compound

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DESIGN CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAM

Hutong Grammar-Cluster Scale

Back-to-back Courtyard Siheyuan

Perpendicularly Connected Courtyards Siheyuan

Laterally Connected Courtyards Siheyuan

Face-to-face Courtyards Siheyuan

Mixed Courtyards Siheyuan

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Sectional Grammar-Cluster Scale

Back-to-back Vertical Courtyard Compound

Perpendicularly Connected Vertical Courtyard Compound

Laterally Connected Vertical Courtyard Compound

Face-to-face Vertical Courtyard Compound

Mixed Vertical Courtyard Compound

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DESIGN CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAM

Hutong Grammar-Neighborhood Scale

E-W HUTONG

N-S HUTONG

Typical Hutong Neighborhood in Gulou, Beijing Source: http://www.instanthutong.com/index.html accessed on 21 November 2016

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Sectional Grammar-Neighborhood Scale VERTICAL COMMUNAL SPACES

VERTICAL COMMUNAL SPACES

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DESIGN NEIGHBORHOOD

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DESIGN HOUSING BLOCK

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DESIGN HOUSING UNIT

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DESIGN HOUSING UNIT

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Boyd, Andrew. (1962). Chinese Architecture and Town Planning. London: Tiranti.

Broudehoux, A. M. (1995). Neighborhood regeneration in Beijing: an overview of projects implemented in the inner city since 1990. Mcgill University.

Casault, André. (1987). “The Beijing Courtyard House.” Open House International; 31-41.

Ekblad, Solvig and Finn Werne. (May-June 1990). “Housing in Beijing.” Ekistics; 146157.

He Hongyu. (Dec. 1990). “Living Conditions in Beijing’s Courtyard Housing.” Building in China; 14-20.

Hoog, Marjorie and Marie Kennedy. (Nov. 1979). “Urban Neighborhoods: Socialist Renovation.” Progressive Architecture; 78-79.

Jing Hua Shi Bao. Retrieved November 19, 2016, from http://finance.sina.com.cn/ china/20150211/015921524097.shtml.

Lu Junhua. (June 1993). “Beijing’s Old and Dilapidated Housing Renewal (Phase I).”

Building in China; 24-35.

Mann, Dennis Alan. (July-Aug. 1984). “Housing in a State of Conflict: Tradition and Modernisation in the People’s Republic of China.” Ekistics; 349-353.

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SCDA Architects ESP Studio Department of Architecture School of Design and Environment