WUSTL-Additional Research Proposal

People people / labor identification

2-3

Policy & Political System period policy changes

4-5

working group typology study

6-10

how policy drive People's Commune design

11-12

Research Proposal: Power and Policy Drive Space Design William Yiming Liu 2023.12

Place

one day in People's Commune typical housing type research from 1949 to now

13 14-15

The history and law of housing development in modern China found that the spa�al composi�on and form of housing were closely related to the policy and background of each period. In the early days of the founding of the People‘s Republic of China (PRC), under the general direc�on of realizing collec�ve ownership, people began to live collec�vely, and architectural space was naturally designed to meet the needs of collec�ve life, with the emergence of the task force People’s Commune, where the state uniformly distributed housing; with the implementa�on of the Reform and Opening Up Policy, collec�ve life began to disappear gradually, but the social structure of the unit as the primary model s�ll allows people to live and work in a rela�vely collec�ve space. State-owned enterprises provided housing for free or at a low rent. With the implementa�on of reform and opening up, collec�ve living began to disappear, but the unit-based (Danwei) social structure s�ll allowed people to live and work in a rela�vely collec�ve space, and housing was provided by state-owned enterprises to workers free of charge or at very low rents; a�er the implementa�on of the marke�za�on of land and the commodi�za�on of housing in China in 1992, housing became almost purely private property, with households separated from each other, and with an emphasis on privacy and individual space.

People are required to purchase housing at exorbitant prices, a rarity in socialist countries. Nonetheless, the land remained state-owned, and people were only given the right to use it, not to possess it.

As policies changed, so did China’s social structure. In the early years of the country’s founding, which emphasized the collec�ve, people existed in a collec�ve life based on produc�on, where almost everything belonged to the collec�ve, and the collec�ve will was much higher than the individual. When housing was commercialized, the individual or family became the main component of the social structure. The diversity and individuality of individuals began to develop, and the need for space became diverse, with space needing not only an unchanging collec�vized character but also the ability to carry different individually directed func�ons.

01

Power and Policy Drive Space Design people / labor identification

"Who is LABOR / PEOPLE?" "RENMIN (the people)" generally refers to all members of society, and the people mainly refers to "the basic members of society with the working people (main blue collar labor) as the main body.

"The concept of the people at this stage refers to all socialist workers, builders, and supporters of the socialist cause. Socialist patriots and patriots who support the reunification of the motherland."

---Mao Tse Tung

02

Power and Policy Drive Space Design people / labor identification

Yet, based on my fieldtrip, I find that today's middle-income workers are leading a very difficult life. Their housing environment is poor, their workspace is backward, social welfare is lacking and their salaries are below average. labors working photos in Wenzhou, 2023.10

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Power and Policy Drive Space Design period policy changes

In China, the policies formulated by the government representing all citizens determine almost everything. It can even be said that all phenomena that occur on this land are closely related to policies.

PRC housing development histroical diagram

Feudalistic China and Wars

Communism China 1949-1951 Land reform and socialist transformation

1949

04

1956-1958 Great Leap

Land was taken back into state ownership People could cultivate on the land or the collective could use the land to build factories and housings.

Communist Capitalism China

1966 (-1969) -1976 Cultural Revolution

1976

1978-1979

work group country People's Commune urban People's Commune People's Commune

1979 Reform and opening-up active economic policy

Danwei

Capitalist Communism China 1992 Land reform policy and housing commercialization policy

1992-1998

Housing, as a benefit, is provided by state-owned enterprises to people free of charge or at a very low price.

Land can be sold by the government Housing commercialized Real Estate

???

2008 Nationwide infrastructure development policy

2023

2019-Now Real estate was further stimulated when shantytown began to be renovated and the government handed out large amounts of cash to demolition households.

Real estate prices were so high that the government initiated a moratorium and many private real estate companies went bankrupt.

Power and Policy Drive Space Design

period policy changes: Profit flows under the two models

labor present generation

next generation

working

living

factory manufacture order

raw material

government guide self-consumption

self-resourse external resources

production

living & public spaces

profit

self-consumption

jobs & investment

housing & welfare

population basis capital source

design and construction public services

People’s Commune and Danwei System

government central government policy

industrial bureau production team labor union

labor factory

market

living & public spaces salary

manufacture order

raw material

jobs & investment

housing & welfare

market needs multifarious client

industry chain import

staff recruitment expand production and increase profits

commercialization of housing mixed operation mode

production

profit

Wenzhou Model System

Private entrepreneur/private enterprise government

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Power and Policy Drive Space Design working group typology study

labor reproduction space 1

1

1

1

1

1

Housing --- labor dormitory --- home for labors with families

1

1

1 1 1

1

22

2 22

22

3 2

produce space

3

3 1950s Large Cotton Textile Printing and Dyeing Combined Factory

06

0

15 30 45 60

1

Housing

2

Factory

3

Services

Railway

Power and Policy Drive Space Design

production space

working group typology study

3

3 3 1

6

1 2 2

2

1

1

4

3

1

3 2 4

3

2

2 2

1

3

2

3

1

4

6

6

6

5 6

6 1960s Hongxin Production Village

0

15 30 45 60

1 2 3 4

Housing Factory Services: school, hospital, market , canteen...

Offices 5 Store 6 agriculture

07

Power and Policy Drive Space Design working group typology study

1

3

1

3

labor reproduction space

2 3 2

2

3

1

1

1

1

1

Housing --- labor dormitory --- home for labors with families

2

2 3

production space

1970s Harbin Measuring & Cutting Tool Factory

08

0

15 30 45 60

1 Housing 2 Factory 3 Services: school, hospital, market , canteen...

Power and Policy Drive Space Design working group typology study

1-a 1-a

1-a 3

1-a 3 2

2 2 2 2 2

1-a 2

2

2 1-b 1-a

2

2 3

2

1980-90s Wenzhou Industry Area 1-a 1-b 2 0 15 30 45 60 3

Low Factory Wigwam

High Rise Housing Village & Labor Tenemental Housing Factory Housing & Factory

Production Space

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Power and Policy Drive Space Design working group typology study

2

1

2

2

1 2

2

1

3

2

2

2010s Wenzhou Ruian Industrial Area 1-a 0

10

20 40 60 80

Production Space

1-b 2 3

High Rise Housing Medium Labor Dormitory Housing Factory Primary School

Power and Policy Drive Space Design how policy drive People's Commune design

Regulations on the Planning and Construction of People's Communes (Central Government 1956)

Chapter Entries

Contents of the Charter

Institutional framework

Spatial Response

Authority

Congress of members, unity of government and society, universal armed forces

Administrative office building, party school

Ownership

All property belonged to the commune, and privately owned means of production such as house foundations, livestock, and trees were transferred to the commune as a whole.

Elimination of household-based production and life style

Management

Centralized leadership, hierarchical management, food supply system.

Commune, production brigade, production team 3 levels

Membership

Literate, skilled, and all-rounded laborers

Amateur agricultural high school cram school

Type of settlement

Management was divided into three levels: commune, production brigade, and production team.

Divided into 3 levels: people's commune community center, human team center settlement, brigade satellite settlement

Residence

Overall, long-term planning and gradual implementation of community-wide settlement arrangements and housing construction; small settlements can be merged appropriately and gradually.

Residential area, cottage unit, single dormitory

Living Facilities

To set up public canteens, nurseries and sewing groups on a production team basis; the commune to set up happiness gardens and cemeteries, and when conditions are ripe, the commune to set up sanatoriums.

Youth canteens, public bathhouses, welfare gardens, hospitals, clinics, sewing departments, nurseries, kindergartens

Colleges and Universities

Establishment of specialized schools or universities suited to the needs of the commune.

Politcial College, Amateur Workers' and Peasants' Vehicle

Elementary and Secondary Schools

Implementing universal compulsory education that is closely integrated with labor

Elementary schools, middle schools

Commerce and Finance

The commune establishes a supply and marketing department, the production team establishes a store department, the commune establishes a credit department of the People's Bank, the brigade establishes a branch, and the production team establishes a service station.

Banks, credit unions, markets, department stores

Culture and Sports

Mass cultural, recreational and sports activities, and the gradual realization of communes with libraries, theaters and film projection teams.

Cinemas, libraries, science palaces, exhibition halls, cultural palaces, Xinhua bookstores

�ealthcare�

The implementation of cooperative medical care, with communes having central hospitals and brigades having outpatient clinics.�

�ospitals and clinics�

Political System

Living

Educational Facilities

Public Facilities�

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Power2 and Policy Drive Space Design how policy drive People's Commune design

3

2

Mountain

1-a

2 1-b

1-b 13

3 9

1-b 13

2

3 4

1-b

1-b

1-b

1-b

1-b

5

1-b

8

12

6

13 11

9 13

1-b

7

9

1-b

1966 Meishan Steel Manufacturing Plant-Living Area

1-b 10

0

12

20 40 60 80

Production Space

Living Space

1-a 1-b 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Single Labor Dormitory Housing Labor Dormitory Housing Factory Kindergarden, Primary or Middle School Call Center Indoor Theater Post Office and Bank Shop and Market Civil Square Canteen or Club Bus Sataion Hosptail and Nursing Institution Administration Center and Labor Union Outdoor Suqare or Crop Market

Power and Policy Drive Space Design Place: one day in People's Commune

Sleep - 8 hours Get up - 10 mins Morning exercises - 15 mins Wash up - 5 mins Make up - 5 mins Walk to canteen - 5mins Breakfast - 15mis Walk to the factory - 5 min Security inspection preparation

22:00 06:00 06:10 06:25 06:30 06:35 06:40 06:55 07:00

1-a 1-b

Single Labor Dormitory Housing Labor Dormitory Housing

13

Outdoor Suqare or Crop Market

9

Canteen or Club

Work - 8 hours Return to commune - 10 mins Change clothes - 10 mins Rest / Chat / Sport

15:00 15:10 15:20 15:30

2 1-a 1-b 13

Factory Single Labor Dormitory Housing Labor Dormitory Housing Outdoor Suqare or Crop Market

Walk to cacnteen - 5mins Dinner - 60 mins

17:20 17:25

Go to a club, entertainment program, cultural development, evening school, go to a show, continue playing sports, take a bath or swim

18:25 3 9 4 5 6 7 8 11 13

Kindergarden, Primary or Middle School Canteen or Club Call Center Indoor Theater Post Office and Bank Shop and Market Civil Square Hosptail and Nursing Institution Outdoor Suqare or Crop Market

1-a 1-b

Single Labor Dormitory Housing Labor Dormitory Housing

This period of free time needs to be allocated according to the situation of different communes, refer to the facilities.

Free

Late night snack, chatting, getting ready to rest 25 mins

21:50

Sleep - 10 mins

22:00

13

Power and Policy Drive Space Design

Contribution Space

Sharing Space

Storage Space

Private Space

Place: typical housing type research from 1949 to now 0m

3

6

9

12

People’s Commune / Danwei Housing Type One (Communist China)

Family: A couple with one child (under 12 years old) an older couple

People’s Commune / Danwei Housing Type Two (Communist China) Family: A couple with one or two children (under 12 years old) A couple with one teen (12-18 years old) Single: Two young couples with two singles Four singles

People’s Commune / Danwei Housing Type Three (Communist China) Family: A couple with one or two children (under 12 years old) A couple with one teen (12-18 years old) Single: Two young couples with three singles Five singles 14

Power and Policy Drive Space Design

Contribution Space

Sharing Space

Storage Space

Private Space

Place: typical housing type research from 1949 to now 0m

3

6

9

12

People’s Commune Housing Type (Communist China) Family: One couple in one suit Single: One single in one suit

State-owned Social Housing in Wenzhou (Communist Captalism China) Family: A couple with one or two children (under 12 years old) A couple with one teen (12-18 years old) Single: Two young couples with two singles Four singles Indemnificatory Housing in Wenzhou (Captitalist Communism China) Family: A couple with one or two children (under 12 years old) A couple with one teen (12-18 years old) Single: Two young couples with two singles Four singles 15

Research Proposal: Power and Policy Drive Space Design William Yiming Liu 2023.12

This independent research project began in the fall of 2021, and in the fall of 2023, I had the opportunity to consider my research systema�cally. Throughout the history of the People‘s Republic of China, the status of the collec�ve home has ebbed and flowed with the �mes but has never disappeared in this land. When faced with the current state of economic difficul�es in the world and within China and the mass bankruptcies that have begun in China’s real estate sector, the issue of housing has become more and more prominent in China.

It seems to me that the a�empts made by the central government to look back to the beginning would be the poten�al for the future development of housing in China.

However, due to the limited resources and �me available during my undergraduate studies, I did not have the opportunity to take this meaningful research project to a deeper level, which was one of my greatest expecta�ons in graduate school. My professors and recommenders, Luo, Le, and Leung, Richard, have inspired this independent research project in me, and I express my deepest gra�tude to them.

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