ARC 378R + ARC 578S
Bachelor Design Study
Plan II Honors Program
The University of Texas at Austin
May 02, 2023
Charlton Lewis
Senior Lecturer + Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
UT School of Architecture
Co-Advisor
Dr. Todd Levon Brown
Race and Gender in the Built Environment Fellow + Lecturer
UT School of Architecture
Co-Advisor
Author:
Title: Co-Advisors:
Tertiary Advisors:
Sara Rosabel Tin-U
A Second Home: Reimagining Chinatown
Charlton Lewis + Dr. Todd Levon Brown, PhD
Stephanie Choi + Arnold Jin + Yung-Ju Kim
Chinatowns have long held various meanings for the Chinese diaspora, from connecting with heritage to finding a safe space. Initially, Chinatowns formed in response to anti-Asian policies and discrimination that left many with little resources and support. With increasing anti-Asian sentiment attributed to SARSCOV-2 (Covid-19) and a fast growing Asian population, Austin’s lack of an enclave has become more apparent. Thus, a Second Home aims to investigate the meaning of Chinatowns for the Chinese diaspora as well as expand the typology and idea of a Chinatown by exploring the spectrum of Chinese architecture and hybridizing traditional and modern aspects in the context of Austin, Texas.
This investigation includes an in-depth historical, cultural, and psychosocial research in which walking interviews were conducted in the Crescent and the Chinatown Center. As a result of this, the Chinatown Center was selected as the site for extension and renovation in order to give Austin the Chinatown it deserves and needs. With critical race theory and empirical psychosocial data as the framework for design strategies, this urban and architectural design intervention delves into cultural landscapes with a focus on how to preserve and reinforce the cultural identity of the Chinese diaspora in order to foster positive placemaking.
To my advisors, Charlton Lewis, Todd Brown, Stephanie Choi, Arnold Jin, and Yung-ju Kim, thank you for graciously stepping into these advisorship roles with enthusiasm, for your commitment to the success of this project, and for believing in my ambition. I appreciate all the time you’ve put forward and the incredible mentorship and support throughout the process. Your insights and expertise have been invaluable and essential to the cultural integrity of this project. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from each of you. I cannot express how much this has all meant to me, and none of it would have been possible without all of your contributions. You’ve all inspired me in my future endeavors, and I hope to cross paths again.
To Peter Lee, thank you for your help in translating everything into Chinese for me as well as translating Chinese sources into English to make each and every resource accessible to me. I am incredibly grateful for all your guidance and constant encouragement throughout the process.
To my studio peers, who have heard more about this than anyone else, thank you for taking the time to bounce ideas with me at our own personal desk crits. From its ideation to its conclusion, I truly appreciate all your time during our long phone calls, coffee chats, and drawing markups. All your comments were extremely helpful and formative throughout the design process, and I am glad we formed our own little studio culture during this independent study.
To the walking interview participants, thank you for embracing the opportunity to go on an almost three hour long walkthrough. Your simple yes made a significant impact on my arduous research process, and I will forever be grateful. Your insights were integral to the design process, and I am overjoyed to have made new connections with you all. Most importantly, thank you for entrusting me with your stories and your memories.
To my other friends, both near and far, thank you for listening to me prattle on and on about this thesis day after day and for being my biggest cheerleaders. Your support and kind words never failed to make me smile, and your advice and assistance means more to me than you will ever know.
To my Asian American community, thank you for inspiring me to take on this challenge. Your support and contributions mean so much and have shaped me as an individual. I am honored to have had the opportunity to pursue a project that pays homage to my community, and I hope it resonates with you all. This project is for you and for everyone who may come before and after us.
To my family, thank you for your unconditional love and support. Each one of my achievements is thanks to you, and I hope to continue making you proud.
Aside from my actual house, I have spent the most time in Chinatown. Growing up, I probably went to Chinatown at least four or five times throughout the week,everyweek,forovertenyears.
My name is Sara Rosabel Tin-U, and I was born in Houston, Texas. I am the daughter of Burmese-Chinese immigrants, and as such, have been surrounded with a vibrant, multicultural environment. Much of my time in Chinatown is attributed to Chinese school, kung fu classes, art lessons, grocery shopping, and of course, many, many boba runs.
In addition to Houston’s Chinatown, I spent time in San Francisco’s Chinatown as a cultural ambassador for Houston in the Miss Chinatown USA Pageant, a national competition hosted by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce that takes place during the Lunar New Year. Though I’d only spent two weeks there, I still felt at home almost immediately. Here, I participated in the largest US Chinese New Year Parade, visited family associations, and made connections with many members of the Chinese community.
Though Houston’s Chinatown lacked floating lanterns and upturned eaves with bright splashes of red and green, there was something comforting about the monotonous, even-toned bricks and rectilinear forms with cars zooming in and out of the parking lot. Maybe it was the food, the firecrackers, or maybe even the struggle of not being able to speak or read Chinese fluently. Despite my insecurities in my lack of fluency and literacy, I find myself drawn to finding other avenues of connection to my heritage, whether it be through art, kung fu, and now… architecture.
Because I was there as a representative of Houston for the pageant, I was almost always wearing a qipao, a traditional Chinese dress. Dressed from head to toe in traditional wear in conjunction with the bright red lanterns and gilded facades framed my entire experience here as a sort of spectacle. It was anything but an everyday experience, but the booming firecrackers during the parade, the flurry of red packets, and the sounds of various dialects somehow grounded me in a space of familiarity. this pageant gaps the bridge between generations, all of which are embodied in Chinatowns.
Upon moving to Austin, I found myself seeking that sense of home and comfort, with no one place quite filling the void. Every grocery store, restaurant, or dessert place with familiar smells, foods, and sounds all seemed sprawled across Austin. I’d drive to one place for shaved ice, another for dried fish, and another for cute journals. Day by day, Houston’s Chinatown became more and more romanticized in my head. Every time I returned home, I’d immediately drive to Chinatown and indulge. I wish we had this boba shop in Austin. We don’t have noodles like this in Austin. Can we go grab some stuff from the store before I head back? I repeated these sentiments over and over, and just wished everyday there was a Chinatown in Austin. With a quick Google search, I learned that there was in fact, an Austin Chinatown (the Chinatown Center). The Chinatown Center clearly
had great intentions with its architectural gestures toward the typical Chinatown typology as well as being the host to over 20 Asian-owned businesses. However, the center was ultimately a strip mall, with limited options and low activity.
Throughout my undergraduate career, I’ve always had an interest in cultural and community-oriented work, but never quite had the opportunity to explore it. As an Architecture and Plan II student, I exist in an interdisciplinary space. My commitment to creativity and sustained involvement in the Asian American community is entrenched in my design ethos and when faced with selecting a thesis topic, an Austin Chinatown only seemed befitting.
This project is titled A Second Home: Reimagining Chinatown, which serves as an embodiment of familiarity and comfort many Chinese-Americans, including myself, seek in the sea of the unknown. It encapsulates my previous community contributions and embraces my interdisciplinary background, pushing me to establish a safe space for all: this is my homage to the Chinese community.
Between 1850 and 1900, more than 100,000 Chinese men immigrated to the US in pursuit of wealth. Many left without their wives and children, but as they settled down, they wished to either start families or bring their existing families over. However, the Page Act of 1875 (prohibited immigration of laborers and prostitutes from Asia) prevented this from occurring, leaving these men with little resources and no support. As a result, Chinatowns began to form: they included businesses, restaurants, social service organizations, churches, temples, and other community spaces, all of which provided resources to Chinese residents without their families. They functioned as “separate, nearly independent, cities within the city.” (“Immigration and Relocation in U.S. History: Exclusion.”)
Since March 2020, there has been an immense increase in anti-Asian racism and xenophobia attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic. In particular, anti-Chinese sentiments were fueled by harmful rhetoric in the media, leading to racially motivated attacks and discrimination. The pandemic has greatly amplified anti-Chinese sentiments that were already historically present. These systemic forces of racism and xenophobia ingrained in society prevent the mobilization of minority communities, especially within Austin. Due to the nature of its urban fabric, Austin lacks communities for minorities. The initial master plan of Austin did not include minorities because there was never an intention for minorities to be a part of the urban fabric.
During this time, anti-Chinese sentiments increased, leading to anti-Chinese violence, the formation of racist organizations, and the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, the first legislation that banned immigration to the US based solely on race. More than ever, Chinatowns were an essential resource to the Chinese community during this time.
However, the demographics of Austin are drastically different from what the city had originally planned for. According to the 2019 American Community Survey produced by the US Census Bureau, the fastest growing demographic in Austin are Asians, and “Asian Americans comprise 8% of the City of Austin’s population.” (“Asian Pacific American Data.”)
There is a need within the Austin city fabric for minority communities, which is already evident by
recent openings at the Crescent (e.g. 99 Ranch, 85C Bakery Cafe, Soupleaf Hot Pot).
Additionally, Asian Americans are the fastest growing demographic group in the US, and the population of Asians in the US “is projected to rise to 35.8 million” by 2060 ( Budiman and Ruiz, 2021). This incredible rise in population coupled with the rise of anti-Chinese sentiments has further amplified the significance of Chinatowns. Chinatowns are urban spaces in which the old and the new coexist. They are representative of the Chinese community, deeply enmeshed with both the immigrant experience and the Asian-American experience.
Chinatowns in the past have emerged out of necessity, and as a result, benefited the Chinese community. Establishing a Chinatown in Austin would bridge both past and present needs. Chinatowns act as a safe haven, a second home, and a reconnection to roots. They create a space in which people feel affirmed in their identities.
The sense of belonging, the historical underpinnings, the reminder of home, and the cultural connection Chinatowns provide are all greatly needed in Austin, a city that is beginning to diversify to welcome all communities.
The typology and expression of Chinatowns have shifted overtime and Chinese communities have reclaimed these spaces as places of cultural celebration. As the urban fabric has made space for more minority communities, such as in Houston and San Francisco, Chinatowns have managed to thrive. Chinatowns have now become spaces that cater not only to the Chinese community, but also to the PanAsian community.
The overarching question that drove this thesis was: how can the architectural typology of an Austin Chinatown be reimagined and what are the implications in relation to positive placemaking and cultural identity within the Chinese diaspora?
To answer this question, the investigation was broken down into three parts: precedent, meaning + place, and intervention. For the purpose of this project, the scope will focus on addressing the Chinese community, rather than the Pan-Asian community as a whole.
How can the architectural typology of an Austin Chinatown be reimagined and what are the implications in relation to positive placemaking and cultural identity within the Chinese diaspora?
As a means of developing a comprehensive understanding for the historical, cultural, and social background of Chinatowns, a timeline and actornetwork diagram were created with a focus on the making of the Chinese-American experience in relation to how their spaces are perceived, experienced, and imagined. The following questions were considered throughout the process:
The actor-network diagram maps the intertwined networks of relationships, patterns, changes, and hierarchies between a multitude of actors in accordance to Bruno Latour’s actor-network theory. Actors can be anything and everything from people, organizations, and entities to objects, events, and ideas. In short, “an actor is anything doing something” (Venturini, p. 266).
• What elements define a Chinatown?
• WhydoChinatownsexist?
What communities do Chinatowns serve?
• HowareChinatownsdepictedinmedia?
• WhatistherhetoricsurroundingChinatowns?
What are the perspectives of the different actors within these networks?
• What is the relationship between Chinatowns and itssurroundingsocialcontext?
• How has the narrative of Chinatowns changed over time?
The actor-network theory states that every social situation or phenomena emerges from these connections between actors. In order to delineate the incredibly complex Chinese-American experience and understand how Chinatowns came to be, it was only appropriate to use this theory as a means to map relationships. Additionally, the actor-network diagram is paired with a timeline to track the shifting networks within a historical context.
The actor-network diagram and timeline encapsulates three overarching ideas, the first of which is that a system of inequality and prejudice has persisted overtime and is why Chinese-Americans have had to rely on concentrated ethnic networks. With discriminatory policies that prevented
citizenship, ownership, and immigration, combined with the media’s portrayal of Asian-Americans as perpetual foreigners, the physical concentration of services, businesses, and communities were vital.
Secondly, Chinatowns are the epitome of ChineseAmericans creating their own opportunities. Despite anti-Asian legislation and the scapegoating of Asian-Americans in the media, Chinese-Americans were enabled by Chinatowns to participate in the mainstream economic sector.
Finally, Chinatowns have acted as an essential foundation for building common ground within the diverse Chinese diaspora. Many of the differences and tensions between Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, and Macau lie in the political and education system. Despite the political tensions that exist abroad, Chinatowns provide more opportunities for common ground to be established between those of the Chinese diaspora with common foods and cultural festivities that can bring communities together.
With a broader analysis of the historical, cultural, and social background of Chinatowns done in Part I, Part II narrows the scope down to Austin. The priority of Part II was to gain an understanding on how existing Chinese-centric and Asian-centric spaces in Austin are perceived, experienced, and imagined, particularly in the context of meaningmaking. The following questions were considered throughout the process:
meaning-making, and gain a better understanding of the intersection between race and the built environment, a series of walking interviews were conducted in accordance with Dr. Todd Brown’s Socioracial Evaluation methodology, in which participants provide commentary on their surroundings while collecting photos.
• What about these existing infrastructures are successful/unsuccessful?
• How do different backgrounds influence the perceptionofthesespaces?
What environmental cues inform the participants’ sociospatial imaginaries within a cultural context?
To engage with the heterogeneity of the Chinese diaspora, embrace the subjectivity of
Within the built environment, what strikes most users is simply the appearance of the building, as this is the environmental cue that allows for one to create a sociospatial imaginary. In other words, the visual environmental cue of a building is what pedestrians initially use to attach meaning to spaces. Environmental cues consist of anything one can see, smell, taste, smell and touch in relation to spaces, places, or objects. This type of socioracial performance evaluation can reveal the social, psychological, and cultural impact a building’s environmental cues can have on a user or passerby, which is essential to understanding meaning-making within a cultural space, thus being the perfect tool for investigating the meaning of Chinatowns for the Chinese diaspora.
Prior to the walking interviews, a comprehensive site analysis was carried out in each location. This site analysis required onsite research, which involved taking photographs of each business from the exterior to identify architectural features, in addition to recording each business type.
Regarding the walking interviews, each interview was conducted over the course of around two to three hours, with all of them taking place between September 2022 and November 2022. For this study, there were a total of six participants. All participants identified as members of the Chinese diaspora — their education, occupation, socioeconomic background, and other characteristics are further detailed in diagrams.
Participants first walked through the Crescent (6929 Airport Blvd), an Asian-centric shopping and dining center. Following the Crescent, participants walked through the Chinatown Center (10901 N Lamar Blvd), a Chinese-centric commercial complex. Directions were provided during the walk in order to maintain a consistent route.
At the beginning of each walk, participants were given the following prompt: During the course of this walk, I would like you to document with your own phone — via photographs — any specific spaces, areas, buildings, or objects that stand out to you. I would also like you to identify these places verbally and explain what it is about them that are significant to you as well as negative/positive aspects within a cultural context. Additionally, as we walk through different areas, can you identify specific buildings, spaces, items, objects, smells or sounds that you feel are representative of that area? In addition to the initial prompt, participants were also prompted with additional questions in relation to their first thoughts throughout the walk. Throughout the walking interviews, photographs were captured with the participants’ personal mobile devices, all audio was recorded using a mobile device, and handwritten field notes were taken to note stops.
To further gain insight on meaning-making and memory in relation to Chinatowns as well as gather background information, participants were also asked a series of questions after the walking interviews. All audio was recorded using a mobile device. The following questions were asked:
so, what do you typically visit for?
14. How long have you lived in Austin?
15. How many communities have you lived in within Austin?
16. Where else have you lived outside of Austin?
17. What type of place do you currently live in? (e.g. single-family home, apartment, etc.)
1. What is your age?
2. What gender do you identify with?
3. What are your pronouns?
4. What economic class do you identify as?
5. What is your cultural background?
6. What is your race?
7. What is your ethnicity?
8. What languages do you know? If Chinese, please specify dialect.
9. What is your level of fluency and literacy in these languages?
10. Which system of Chinese characters do you know and which do you prefer (traditional or simplified)?
11. Where did you grow up (name of city or town)?
12. What type of neighborhood/community did you grow up in? If in the US, was it in a Chinatown?
13. Did you have a Chinatown in your hometown? If
18. What type of place did you grow up in? (e.g. single-family home, apartment, etc.)
19. List all the Chinatowns you have visited.
20. Which Chinatowns that you’ve experienced did you like the most and why?
21. What are some of your fondest memories in Chinatown?
22. What aspects of Chinatown make you feel most at home or welcoming or give you a sense of community?
23. In your experience with Chinatowns, what physical aspects did you not like and why?
24. Is there anything you would want to improve about Chinatown or feel is lacking?
25. What negative stereotypes do you feel exist about/in Chinatowns?
26. Is there anything you can find in Chinatown that
you cannot find elsewhere?
27. In your opinion, should Chinatowns be inclusive to only Chinese communities or should they also provide spaces for the Pan-Asian community?
28. As a member of the Chinese diaspora, what would you like to see in a Chinatown?
29. What do you think would celebrate this identity in a positive way?
30. Today we walked through mostly commercial spaces. What would you like to see in Chinatown within a residential context?
Note: All quotes integrated throughout the thesis are derived from walking interviews unless otherwise stated.
(Tin-U, Sara. “Walking Interviews.”
2023.)
Tanuki Games
Snowball Riceball
Hallyu Cosmetics
Sazan Steamies
Rivery Dental
Resolution Eyecare
Avis Car Rental Pink Box
H&R Block
Taqueria Los Jaliscienses K BBQ
85° Bakery Cafe
Ngoc Tran Jewelry
Kat Cargo
Phở Saigon
Kim Son Jewelry
Unknown (Antique Shop)
Bambu Desserts & Drinks
Baguette House & Cafe
Fresh Tofu
Austin Cargo
Art Hair Salon
Kim Hoān Jewelry
Austin Rainbow Bouquet
JP Autotitle
Austin Nail Supply
Foot Relax
MT Supermarket
MT Supermarket Storage
Texas Bakery
Family Insurance
Mimi Spa Nails Supply
Hoa Phat
Maxline Salon
First Chinese BBQ
Happy Foot Spa
Silkcut Hair Salon
Korean Grill
Taste of Home
Farmers Insurance
Hang Fung
Unoccupied
PARTICIPANT A
• FAVORITE EXPERIENCE
• Monterey Park
• Entire space is fully in Chinese
• Space feels natural “as if they carved a piece of my home community [...] and placed it in the US.”
• FONDEST MEMORIES
• Visiting restaurants with family
• Grocery shopping
• Purchasing bread at bakery
• Visiting temple
• WELCOMING ASPECTS
• The people
• Chinese signages
• Food
PARTICIPANT B
• FAVORITE EXPERIENCE
• Philadelphia
• Pedestrian friendly
• Wide variety of food
• Colorful
• Franklin Square nearby
• FONDEST MEMORIES
• Trying restaurants in Philadelphia with friends (small dishes)
• Dou fu nao (tofu soup) in Houston with family
• WELCOMING ASPECTS
• Hearing the language
• The smells
• Seeing Chinese characters + art
PARTICIPANT C
• FAVORITE EXPERIENCE
• Vancouver
• Best Chinese food in the world
• Huge Asian population
• Feels like a safe space
• Beautiful sights
• FONDEST MEMORIES
• Chinese martial arts in Dallas
• Grocery shopping with parents
• Appreciated Chinatowns more at a later age
• WELCOMING ASPECTS
• Restaurants
• Grocery shopping
PARTICIPANT D
• FAVORITE EXPERIENCE
• New York City
• Most familiar space - always made it a point to visit
• Flushing - really good food
•
FONDEST MEMORIES
• Hong Kong egg waffles
• Street vendors
• Dim sum with family
• Grocery shopping
• WELCOMING ASPECTS
• Seeing people socialize/crowds
• Food
• Grocery shopping
PARTICIPANT E
• FAVORITE EXPERIENCE
• Montreal
• Familiar - “looks the most American without being in America”
• San Francisco
• Queens
• FONDEST MEMORIES
• Hearing the language (all different dialects even if unfamiliar)
• WELCOMING ASPECTS
• Hearing the language - “homey” feel
• Food - noodle dishes and dumplings
PARTICIPANT F
• FAVORITE EXPERIENCE
• New York
• Easy to explore by foot
• Close to home - near grandfather
• FONDEST MEMORIES
• Food - roast duck, pork
• Bakeries, meat shops, fresh produce
• Dim sum with family
• WELCOMING ASPECTS
• Familiar food
• Social aspect - restaurants + people selling fresh produce
What environmental cues informed the participants’ sociospatial imaginaries?
• Multilingual Signage
• Size of languages in relation to each other
• Presence or lack thereof Chinese
• Font style
• Materiality + Color + Form
• Red clay tiles, limestone, black and white
• Similar form + color/ lack of distinguished spaces
• Landscaping
• Parking infrastructure - dominant car culture
• Lack of pedestrian infrastructure
• Security signs
• Cultural icons/symbols (statues, figurines, etc.)
“There isn’t quite the infrastructure needed forpeopletodo[...]whattheyneedtodo as they’re visiting businesses. It’s much moresetupfor[...]carculture.Iwould lovetoseesomethingthat[...]offersmore opportunityforpeopleto[...]linger.”
What negative stereotypes do you feel exist about/in Chinatowns?
• PARTICIPANTS’ RESPONSES
• Hostile and mysterious depiction in media
• Sense of isolation and seclusion
• Dirty/lack of cleanliness + off-putting smells
• Dangerous + high crime rates
• NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE CRESCENT
• Lack of Chinese signage (design, translations, etc.)
• Catered more towards a tourist demographic
• Inefficient parking
• Questions of safety/security
• NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS ABOUT CHINATOWN CENTER
• Issues of exoticism and orientalism in design (temple/ imperial architecture typology)
• Lack of maintenance (dead plants, poor paving, dented gutter, etc.)
• Lack of pedestrian access - geared towards car culture
• Distant + unsafe location
whatthey’lllike,ratherthan[...]something morecomplicated.Itfeels[...]likean aestheticslappedon[...]itdoesn’tfeel nuanced or interesting or pleasing.”
“It’s definitely signaling what cultures they’ll encounter here, but it also feels like it’s not foreverybody.[...]yougetthesensethat they[developers][wanted]tomarketitto peoplelikeus[so]theydecide[...]thisis
• Site: Austin’s Chinatown Center
• Intervention: Extension + Renovation
As a response to the findings in Parts I and II, an urban and architectural proposal was developed to address the primary question: how can the architectural typology of an Austin Chinatown be reimagined and what are the implications in relation to positive placemaking and cultural identity within the Chinese diaspora?
For the design intervention, the Chinatown Center, one of the walking interview locations, was selected for an extension and renovation of the site. By no means does this study aim to invalidate the existing structures, but instead, extend and renovate the existing space with the intention of reinforcing cultural identity, fostering positive placemaking, and revitalizing existing businesses onsite.
center with over 20 Asian-owned businesses and organizations. As a result of the pandemic and the loss of one of its anchors, New Chinese Seafood Restaurant, the Chinatown Center has suffered a significant loss of customer traffic. As evident by the walking interviews and site analysis, much of the space is underutilized, with multiple large spaces available for lease and a sparsely filled parking lot. However, the Chinatown Center remains an important resource for the Chinese community in Austin, and has incredible potential to serve as a pedagogical tool, provide housing, enable community members to participate in the mainstream economic sector, and become a center of celebration and festivities, thus making it the perfect site to transform into the Chinatown Austin deserves.
Located in Austin at the intersection of North Lamar and West Braker Lane and established in 2006, the Chinatown Center is a 180,000 square foot retail
Much of the Chinatown Center’s architectural language embodies the highly stylized Chinese architecture seen in many of its preceding Chinatowns with its red tiles, pagoda-style roofs, and ceremonial gates. This vernacular, akin to imperial Chinese architecture and temples, has long persisted in Chinatowns year after year. However, it is important to acknowledge and evaluate the
current typology of Chinatowns and transform it into something entirely new in order to move away from the oriental pastiche first established by the San Francisco Chinatown after the earthquake and fire in 1906.
of Austin?
• How can traditional elements of Chinese architecture be integrated in a contemporary manner with regard to its cultural and historical significance?
In order to expand and transform the typology of Chinatowns in a contemporary context, an inventory analysis of existing Chinese typologies, traditional elements, architectural features, regional styles, materiality, and construction techniques were examined and cataloged in a “Kit of Parts.” This “Kit of Parts” served as the first step in the design process to meld traditional and modern Chinese architectural aspects in the urban fabric of Austin. The following questions were considered throughout this process:
How can existing typologies be reinvented or hybridized?
• What identifies modern Chinese architecture?
What programs will be included in this new Chinatown?
• What existing spaces from the Chinatown Center will remain?
• What is the temporal relationship of the architectural aesthetic?
How can traditional Chinese architecture techniques be applied in a new way in the context
Throughout the design process, the idea at the forefront was the coexistence of old and new: this included the hybridization of traditional and modern Chinese architectural elements (e.g. siheyuan, sanheyuan, tulou, wood, tiles, brick), the integration of different cultural programmatic elements (e.g. food trucks, night market, garden, teahouse, tea bar), the insertion of intergenerational spaces (e.g. senior housing, daycare), the mixing of both new and legacy businesses to increase customer traffic, and the temporal phenomena of Chinatowns in relation to the immigrant experience.
sense of nostalgia or comfort within a Chinatown space because of the presence of familiar foods, despite their lack of reference. Multiple temporal experiences can occur within Chinatown, though they are all framed by the same architectural backdrop.
It is important to note that this extension and renovation of Austin’s Chinatown Center is targeted towards the elderly demographic, immigrants, and new arrivals in order to aid those who are typically at a disadvantage or have limited English proficiency with a safe space.
To clarify, the temporal phenomena is that the Asian immigrant experience freezes their cultural reference to their homeland. Because they leave their homeland at a certain time and come to America, their memory of their homeland may not be what their homeland actually looks like now. However, they may still view Chinatowns as “a second home” because of the presence of older typologies or familiar smells and sounds. In addition to this, those who may have never been to their parents’ or grandparents’ homeland and have only grown up in America, may still have this
In addition to this, there are a multitude of business and employment opportunities generated onsite, with ghost kitchens for emerging restaurants, open exhibition spaces for local artists, business incubators for entrepreneurs, and outdoor stalls for vendors. Additionally, business owners are provided with a certain level of agency to distinguish their storefronts through varying signage styles held by the architectural design. Above all, multilingual signage in both Chinese and English is present throughout the entire project to enable easy navigation and wayfinding for all.
The following drawings will illustrate the urban and architectural design intervention conceptually and visually. All quotes integrated are taken from walking interviews conducted in Part II. The following further outlines the conceptual and architectural ambitions intended: Conceptual Ambitions:
Reimagine Chinatown typology - shift away from oriental pastiche
Improve quality of life for elderly demographic
Enable those with limited English proficiency
Create a safe space for Asian Americans
Provide employment and business opportunities
Build common ground between groups within the Chinese diaspora
Serve as a pedagogical tool
Evoke sense of nostalgia while maintaining modernity
Create and reinforce connection to heritage
Celebrate the diversity and identity of Chinese culture
Architectural Ambitions:
Increase walkability and accessibility of site
Generate business opportunities onsite
Activate the edges by engaging streetscape with activity hubs
Position businesses onsite to enable activity at all hours in all areas
Provide moments of pause/gathering within the site
Engage users with businesses through visibility
Utilize a modular language but still maintain individuality of businesses
Encourage meandering while maintaining clear navigation
Layer suburban and urban textures to create a community space
Hybridize modern and traditional aspects of Chinese architecture
With design being as subjective a matter as it is, how do we measure the success of this extension and renovation?
Overall, this urban and architectural intervention acts to uplift the underserved, specifically the elderly demographic, as well as enable immigrants and new arrivals. By prioritizing the elderly demographic, immigrants, and new arrivals, other users in the space are accommodated for as well, with multilingual signage, walkability, accessibility, and easy wayfinding. It is important to note that this is a truly intergenerational space, with much to offer to those of all ages — parents, kids, grandparents, and so on.
Additionally, this design aims to create and host all kinds of communities. Though it is a space with the sentiment of “by us, for us,” it serves as a pedagogical tool and welcoming environment for those outside the Chinese diaspora, with a myriad of programs and opportunities to form connections.
customer traffic will increase, allowing for a safe and secure area with activity at all times. By having temporary vendor spaces, business incubators, ghost kitchens, and exhibition spaces, it is hopeful that these will reduce costs for emerging small businesses and allow them to increase brand visibility. Architecturally, this project imports traditional Chinese architectural typologies and forms into the Austin fabric with respect to its historical and social context. Much of my design takes inspiration from architects like Amateur Architecture Studio, Urbanus, and Neri&Hu (just to name a few) who have all created a dialogue between traditional and modern elements in order to create something entirely new while also maintaining its cultural identity. Other architectural movements I drew from include the preservation of hutongs (lines of siheyuans), in which these traditional residential spaces are renovated, transformed into commercial spaces, or buttressed by the addition of commercial spaces.
With the addition of new businesses in proximity to legacy (existing) businesses, it is likely that
While my project is not necessarily a preservation
of a specific space, it is a preservation and reinforcement of cultural identity through the extension and renovation of the Chinatown Center. With the use of residential typologies (e.g. siheyuan, sanheyuan, tulou), adaptation of cultural programs (e.g. night market with food trucks, garden with teahouse), abstraction of forms (e.g. sweeping roof form), and incorporation of traditional materials (e.g. wood, clay tiles). I believe this design successfully hybridizes traditional and modern Chinese architectural elements in the context of Austin. These design strategies, derived from precedents and driven by the empirical psychosocial data collected in Part II, come together to reinforce positive placemaking and cultural identity in the Chinatown Center.
Though this thesis is ultimately speculative in nature, it is my hope that Austin will one day have a Chinatown that both embodies the spirit and embraces the diversity of the Chinese diaspora, serving as a space for all to connect, organize and flourish as a collective community. Welcome to Austin’s new Chinatown!
“I think [Chinatowns] do have a special responsibility not only to those of the Chinese community, but really to the Pan-Asian community and to the community of the city asawhole[...]theydoplay a special role in negotiating identity, in providing education, and also opening people’s eyes up to different types of cultures and ideas.”
“About Us.” Chinatown Center, 17 Feb. 2022, https://chinatownaustin.com/about-us/.
Alleyne, Caleigh. “The Gardens of Suzhou.” NUVO, 17 Dec. 2019, https://nuvomagazine.com/whats-new/ the-gardens-of-suzhou.
“Appendix F - Traffic Analysis.” City of Austin.
“Asian Americans.” Directed by Renee Tajima-Peña, WETA-TV, PBS, 2020, https://www.pbs.org/show/ asian-americans/.
“Asian Americans in Austin.” YouAreHereATX.org, https://www.youarehereatx.org/asian-americans-in-austin/.
“Asian Pacific American Data.” Asian Data - Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce, TX, https://www. austinasianchamber.org/asian-data#:~:text=Asians%20in%20Austin%20are%20the,Austin%209th%20in%20 the%20country.
Beauty and the East: New Chinese Architecture. Gestalten, 2021.
Brown, Todd Levon. “A Critical Assessment of the Place of Post-Occupancy Evaluation in the Critique and Creation of Socially Responsible Architecture.” Intelligent Buildings International, vol. 10, no. 3, 2018, pp. 182–193., https://doi.org/10.1080/17508975.2018.1437708.
Brown, Todd Levon. “Architecture, Environmental Semiotics & Socioracial Perception: Meaning-Making in Gentrified Space.” RISD Lecture.
Brown, Todd Levon, “Environmental Cues and the Sociospatial Imaginary: An Examination of Spatial Perception and Meaning-Making in a Gentrifying Neighborhood” (2021). CUNY Academic Works. https://academicworks. cuny.edu/gc_etds/4385
Chen, X., Hu, Y., Xu, Q., and Xie, Y. “Aging in Chinatowns: the Meaning of Place and Aging Experience for Older Immigrants.” Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, vol. 37, no. 4, Dec. 2022, pp. 375-391. DOI: 10.1007/ s10823-022-09463-1.
“Chinatown | The Story of Chinatown.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, https://www.pbs.org/kqed/chinatown/ resourceguide/story.html#:~:text=In%201853%20the%20neighborhood%20was,fresh%20fruits%2C%20 vegetables%20and%20flowers.
“Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association.” Chinatown Book SF, https://www.chinatownbooksf.com/ chinese-consolidated-benevolent.
CNBC Make It, director. Is the U.S. Losing Its Chinatowns? YouTube, YouTube, 28 May 2021, https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=oh5WVFK2lhE.
“Covid-19 Fueling Anti-Asian Racism and Xenophobia Worldwide.” Human Rights Watch, 28 Oct. 2020, https:// www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/12/covid-19-fueling-anti-asian-racism-and-xenophobia-worldwide#.
“Culture: Global Exchange.” National Postal Museum, https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/ pacific-exchange-china-and-us-mail-culture/culture-global-exchange.
De Wet & Jin. “Pengzhen: The Best Hidden Chinese Tea House in Chengdu.” Museum of Wander, 31 Aug. 2021, https://museumofwander.com/chinese-tea-house-chengdu/.
Frearson, Amy. “Zhang Ke Slots Work and Play Spaces into Beijing’s Hutong Courtyards.” Dezeen, 3 Feb. 2022, https://www.dezeen.com/2016/10/11/zhang-ke-zao-standardarchitecture-micro-hutong-renewal-courtyardsbeijing-design-week/.
Guo, Qinghua. A Visual Dictionary of Chinese Architecture. Images Pub., 2002.
Haupt, Melanie. “Crescent at North Lamar and Airport Now Offers Unique Asian Dining Options.” The Austin Chronicle , https://www.austinchronicle.com/food/2018-09-21/ crescent-at-north-lamar-and-airport-now-offers-unique-asian-dining-options/.
Hawley, Kristen. “Ghost Kitchens Are the Wave of the Future. But Is That a Good Thing?” Eater, Eater, 9 Nov. 2020, https://www.eater.com/21540765/ghost-kitchens-virtual-restaurants-covid-19-industry-impact.
Hernandez, Marco. “The Dougong: A Nailless Chinese Construction Method.” South China Morning Post, https:// multimedia.scmp.com/culture/article/forbidden-city/architecture/chapter_02.html.
“Immigration and Relocation in U.S. History: Exclusion; Building Communities.” The Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/chinese/exclusion/.
“Impact Study (2022).” Welcome to Chinatown, https://welcometochinatown.com/impact-study.
“I. M. Pei’s Ground-Breaking Fragrant Hill Hotel, Revisited: M+.” I. M. Pei’s GroundBreaking Fragrant Hill Hotel, Revisited | M+, https://www.mplus.org.hk/en/ magazine/i-m-peis-ground-breaking-fragrant-hill-hotel-revisited/.
Lam, Sharon. “Dougong: The Enduring Appeal of an Ancient Chinese Building Technique.” CNN, Cable News Network, 1 Sept. 2017, https://www.cnn.com/style/article/dougong-chinese-building-revival/index.html.
Lee, Erika. “The making of Asian America : a history.” New York, NY : Simon & Schuster, 2015.
Li, Chuo. “Interrogating Ethnic Identity: Space and Community Building in Chicago’s Chinatown.” Traditional Dwellings and Settlements Review, vol. 27, no. 1, 2015, pp. 55–68, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24720000.
“Life Before Exclusion.” Chinese American Museum, https://camla.org/chinese-exclusion-act/.
Li, Xiangning, and Yanfei He. Contemporary Architecture in Cina: Towards a Critical Pragmatism. The Images Publishing, 2018.
Li, Y., Kao, D., and Dinh, T.Q. “Correlates of Neighborhood Environment With Walking Among Older Asian Americans.” Journal of Aging and Health, vol. 27, no. 1, 2015, pp. 17-34. DOI: 10.1177/0898264314535636.
“Population by Age & Sex.” Austin Chamber of Commerce, https://www.austinchamber.com/ economic-development/austin-profile/population/population-by-age-sex.
Preiser, Wolfgang F. E., and Jack Nasar. “Assessing Building Performance: Its Evolution from Post-Occupancy Evaluation.” ArchNet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, vol. 2, no. 1, 2008.
Ramesh, Sanjana. “History of San Francisco and the Chinatown.” RTF | Rethinking The Future, 27 Sept. 2021, https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/city-and-architecture/ a5029-history-of-san-francisco-and-the-chinatown/.
“Repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act, 1943.” U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, https://history. state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/chinese-exclusion-act-repeal.
Sage, St. Louis. “Which Chinese Royal Visited the World’s Fair?” St. Louis Magazine, 14 Jan. 2020, https://www. stlmag.com/history/which-chinese-royal-visited-the-worlds-fair/.
“Sanheyuan.” Spectral Codex, https://spectralcodex.com/collections/sanheyuan/.
Schittich, Christian, and Joe O’Donnell. China’s New Architecture: Returning to the Context. Birkhäuser, 2019.
Shey, Brittanie. “New Entertainment Complex Featuring Tiger Woods-Designed Golf Courses Sets Sights on Katy.” Eater Houston, Eater Houston, 13 May 2021, https://houston.eater.com/2021/5/13/22432622/ popstroke-entertainment-complex-katy-grand-tiger-woods-designed-golf-courses.
“Spot the Sacred Animals in the Imperial Palace - Google Arts & Culture.” Google, Google, https:// artsandculture.google.com/story/spot-the-sacred-animals-in-the-imperial-palace-the-palace-museum/ zwXBu2RtdGQKUA?hl=en.
“The Asian Community in Austin: a Demographic Snapshot.” City of Austin, 15 Jan. 2016.
“The Eight Great Crafts – Construction Techniques of the Forbidden City.” China Cultural Center Sydney, https:// cccsydney.org/2021/05/12/the-eight-great-crafts-construction-techniques-of-the-forbidden-city/.
“The History and Reinvention of Hutongs, a Dying Architectural Typology in China.” Edited by Martin Teo, Lifestyle Asia , 26 Apr. 2019, https://www.lifestyleasia.com/kl/culture/architecture/ history-reinvention-hutongs-dying-architectural-typology-china/.
Tin-U, Sara. “Walking Interviews.” 2023.
“TPP District Traffic Web Viewer.” ArcGIS Web Application, https://txdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/ index.html?id=06fea0307dda42c1976194bf5a98b3a1.
The Try Guys. “We Need to Talk About Anti-Asian Hate.” YouTube, 24 Mar. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=SlM9L5BhJeo.
Tsui, Bonnie. “Chinatown Revisited.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 24 Jan. 2014, https://www. nytimes.com/2014/01/26/travel/chinatown-revisited.html.
Uffelen, Chris van. China: The New Creative Power in Architecture. Braun Publishing, 2021.
Venturini, Tommaso. “Diving in Magma: How to Explore Controversies with Actor-Network Theory.” Public Understanding of Science, vol. 19, no. 3, 2009, pp. 258–273., https://doi.org/10.1177/0963662509102694.
Vox, director. The Surprising Reason behind Chinatown’s Aesthetic. YouTube, YouTube, 10 May 2021, https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=EiX3hTPGoCg.
Wilson, Kathryn E. “ʺWe Are the Ones Who Should Be Telling the Storyʺ: Representing Chinatown.” Ethnic Renewal in Philadelphia’s Chinatown: Space, Place, and Struggle, Temple University Press, 2015, pp. 155–86, http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt14jxv76.12.
Xiachun, Zhang, and He Yanfei. Beautiful Villages: Rural Construction Practice in Contemporary China. Images Publishing, 2018.
Yang, Eugene Lee, director. We Need to Talk About Anti-Asian Hate. YouTube, YouTube, 24 Mar. 2021, https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=14WUuya94QE&t=2s.
Hailing from Houston, Texas, Sara Tin-U is a fifth year dual degree Plan II Honors and Architecture student at the University of Texas at Austin. Throughout her undergraduate career, Sara has focused on cultivating relationships both within and beyond the UT community: she has had extensive involvement in the Asian American community through the Miss Chinatown Pageant and Texas Wushu. Her other community involvement includes PlanTutoring, Alpha Rho Chi, Dance Outreach, and UTSOA’s mentorship program. Sara has been nominated for Design Excellence in Fall 2020, published in UTSOA’s Issue
XVII, and is a 2023 Plan II Distinguished Graduate. In her free time, she enjoys journaling, dancing with Redefined Dance Company, and spending time with loved ones. Following graduation, Sara hopes to further her creative and professional development, as well as continue to explore her interests in storytelling, the intersection of race and space, and developing inclusive and equitable communities.
