Capture the spirit of historic urban landscape--contemporary development in Shichahai, Beijing, China

Ref.: 80
Key theme: 01 Physical integrity of historic urban landscapes
Date of reception: 14/11/2008

AUTHORS (*Main author)

WANG, Yao * (Australia) - Rmit University
ANSELMI, Paul (Australia) - RMIT University

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on a historic urban landscape in Beijing's Old City, the largest and best preserved capital of imperial China. One of the most controversial issues regarding the conservation policy of this historic context is the maintenance of the traditional laneway (Hutong) fabric and vernacular courtyard dwelling areas. Numerous of them were demolished through urban regeneration in the past 20 years. In recent years, many of the courtyard dwellings have been converted to commercial use to profit particularly from the tourist and entertainment industry. Consequently, the physical form, space and local identity are being rapidly altered according to programmatic changes and changes in values. In turn these changes impact the cultural sustainability and historical identity of this urban landscape.

Hence, the aim of the paper is to explore the limits of contemporary architectural intervention in a historic urban landscape regarding the maintenance of its local uniqueness and historic identity. The main concern of the paper is how to balance the development and conservation of the Hutong area in Beijing's Old City.

The selected site is Shichahai, the largest waterscape and urban open space in Beijing's Old City. Its unique character comprises of three lakes, (Qianhai--front lake, Houhai--back lake and Xihai--western lake), small courtyard dwellings, Hutong, ancient temples as well as large aristocratic houses and gardens. This area has become an attractive place-to-go in recent years to both tourists and locals due to the many old courtyard dwellings that have been converted into teahouses, bars, small restaurants, boutiques and other commercial functions. It is an example of both the contrasts and contradiction of the traditional and contemporary cultures of Beijing.

Firstly, the paper will discuss the historic character of Shichahai and its value as an urban open space. This area used to be occupied by native Beijinger as an entertainment area during several feudal dynasties. The historic character of the site and the positive effects of the new development will be discussed. However, several most well-known spots (especially Hehua Market and Yandaixie Street) in Shichahai are suffering due to the non-organized and tourist-oriented development. Their physical integrity and authenticity have been affected. The investigation of these spots will be presented and the negative influences of the new commercial buildings will be discussed and identified. It is assumed that the main factors affect the physical integrity of these spot is the uncontrolled excessive commercial developments and their disorganized arrangement. Another main factor would be the lack of elaborated design guidelines for the individual buildings. The final part of the paper will explore (discuss) the way of control the number, arrangement of commercial development as well as their architectural forms regarding the physical integrity of Shichahai.

Guidelines for the arrangement and design of commercial building in Shichahai will be concluded in this paper. We will attempt to establish the possibility of maintaing a balanced relationship between the conservation and commercial development in a historic urban landscape.

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