+ Chapter4.3 | Si He Yuan:
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Beijing Siheyuan(Chinese quadrangles) is the classical residential building type of traditional Chinese architecture in northern China. The idea of feudal class and patriarchal system was clearly reflected in the arrangement of the space arrangement of Siheyuan. Typically, a Siheyuan is in a rectangle shape, Si means the number of four in Chinese, it represent the buildings located along the four sides in the rectangle space. The buildings in different sides have different functions with unified specification. The buildings lies along the north side are always the main living room, and the bedroom for the head of the family(normally the old members). The buildings on the east are always the living rooms for the female members, and the buildings on the west side for the male members. Normally it has the main entrance and the buildings for guest and servants at its south. The plan of a Siheyuan is always symmetrical, and the number of buildings that contained in a Siheyuan is always an odd number. The smallest Siheyuan has one building on each side but south if the family can’t afford the servants. This regulation is always the same of all Siheyuan type of residential buildings. At the center of a Siheyuan is a rectangle courtyard which contains greens and sometimes a small pool at the center. The plan of a Beijing Siheyuan fits well with the regular structure of a Chinese family. Also the different size, numbers of buildings, and roof types shows the different position of its owner.
An old Beijing Si He Yuan now use as a Primary School