A New Renovation Proposal for Yanshou Street, Dashilan

As the city of Beijing has rapidly grown and transformed using tabula rasa development strategies, hutongs – the narrow streets or alleys traditionally formed between courtyard residences – constitute a unique space within the urban fabric. Although hutongs have seemingly remained untouched, they have evolved into an area comprised of several generations of local and immigrant Chinese, diverse types of businesses, and often very messy and organic layers of urban growth and formations.

After three rounds of large-scale urban renewal, it is a pity to note that most of the historic districts in Beijing have been demolished and cannot be restored. Among the existing hutong areas, this project focuses on the Dashilan Hutong area. The results of the latest renovation experience in Dashilan, which began in 2011 and gradually stopped in 2017, will be analysed and a new design proposal will be put forward.

Based on the study of the site conditions and interviews with the local residents, this project proposes a set of design strategies and concepts that hope to provide a model for sustainable development and improve the current condition of Yanshou street, which is the most active and lively street in the Dashilan community.