studying shichahai
the restorative city
城市的新生
Shichahai is a network of pocket parks that support personal and community health, sustenance, social gathering, memory and storytelling, and emotional reattachment to the natural environment. This network accommodates both tourists and local residents in order to foster intercultural understanding and common ground. Key spaces help tourists understand local culture, while the majority of sites are reserved for locals to seek refuge, nourishment, and to be nourished by the plants and other elements that provide restorative connections to the natural world. Personal spaces transition to a large scale communal space that is organized around Beijing’s central axis, effectively linking and restoring Chinese that define this historic city.
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to enhance the hutong area’s cultural identity by creating diverse gathering spaces that combine natural and human elements to develop views and vantage points as way finding elements to bridge the connection from the hutongs to the central axis and drum and bell towers to accommodate different users’ needs and preferences by creating experiences that support tourism development while also giving local residents much-desired personal and community space
*terms to know siheyuan - traditional Chinese courtyard houses sometimes referred to as quadrangles hutong - alleyways created by the close placement of multiple siheyuan
the team
zenan guo
architecture
california state polytechnic university, pomona
north china university of technology, beijing
lorena jauregui
alan hu
landscape architecture
arturo ortuno
joseph jamoralin
urban&regional planning
julianne pineda
architecture
urban&regional planning
landscape architecture
mutsawashe chipfumbu architecture
cyndi feris architecture
vanessa lin architecture
umurinzi serge architecture
mary wang architecture
cinnamon zhang architecture
eddy solis architecture
area of study
methodology
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area o
area of study
Type of study: Observational study through photography and sketching Unit of analysis: Green elements of traditional buildings Locations: Dashibei Hutong and Yaer Hutong In urban planning, green elements of a city have irreplaceable importance as it deeply impacts people’s daily life. From conserving natural ecosystems values and functions to sustaining clear air and water. In order to identify the challenges and opportunities of green elements in Yaer and Dashibei hutongs, a survey was required. This observational study focused on the green elements of traditional Chinese housing in Hutongs.The survey was conducted within the Yaer and Dashibei Hutongs. In this observational study, several significant green typologies were identified. This survey is illustrated with diagrams and images. The typologies are differentiated by locations of the plants and methods of planting. For example, the green roof and the green façade are two various typologies as the plants are located on different locations of the buildings. Also, flower pots along the Hutong and the trees grown inside the courtyard are different typologies because the planting methods are not the same. Through systematic observation, researchers distinguished six types of methodologies that the residents in Hutong used to include green elements into their daily lives. 1. Green façade - plants attached to the outer walls of a building through wire or the plant’s natural growth. Green facades or “green walls” encompass all forms of vegetated wall surfaces. This typology enables home or building owners to fully cover their facade with plants to make it feel more natural. There is not a lot of street space existing in the Hutong area, therefore planting on walls allows for a lot of green without taking up too much space. 2. Green roof - planting on the roof of the buildings. Green roofs are becoming a trend in the modern design, especially in populationdense cities. Because land is more valuable if companies build buildings instead of landscapes, plots of land are usually used for so, leaving no more room for landscape on the ground. The solution in major cities is to instead plant on the rooftops. This occurs in major cities such as Los Angeles or New York, and seeing the same solution in Beijing brings more modernism into the area. The drawback, however, is that these spaces are usually more private since people cannot access them straight from the street. Some benefits of green roofs are improving air quality, creating biodiversity
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and wildlife, and able to reducing the impact of run off water on storm water drainage systems. 3. Traditional Hutong – inner courtyard space used to plant trees. In the past, the Hutongs were narrow, leaving no space for outer planting. Instead, many residents choose to grow trees inside their courtyards. As the trees mature, they provide shade for both residents and pedestrians outside the yard. 4. Roadside planters – newer wooden planter boxes along the streets in the Hutongs. This typology takes advantage of the width of the new renovated Hutong and provides pedestrians green elements as they walk through the Hutongs. While the intent is good, the boxes actually acted as a obstacle for people to move around because of its awkward placing. Because it took up more than half of the sidewalk, people were forced to walk in the street where cars were also frequently passing by. 5. Wall Planter Boxes – small wooden planter boxes installed on the walls of the buildings. Similar to the green façade, planting on the walls takes advantage of unused space. The smaller boxes only jutted out about one foot from the wall, and were about two feet long. This typology was only seen once within this area, and in the newly renovated area, showing the evolution of green elements. 6. Plants on Cables – planting on cables that ran from one rooftop to the next. The only plant able to grow through this typology are vines. Again, this typology takes advantage of unused space while also providing a canopy for people walking below. In addition to the focus on green spaces, we looked at the relationship of the street to the people walking, biking, or driving on it. The Shichahai area was filled with pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular traffic, in addition to the rickshaws and motorbikes. However, many of the streets felt crowded because they were too narrow to accommodate the amount of traffic. In order to calculate this, we measured the street from building to building and compared by interesting people, bicycles, and cars in section view. Through these sections, one can see the condition pedestrians experience as they walk through the area.
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Type of study: Observational Unit of analysis: Good Housing Condition, Deteriorating Housing Condition, Vacant lots, Residential greenery, Temporary trash, Construction trash, market locations. This studied focused on identifying exiting conditions through the residential area up to the waterfront located on the North West area of the bridge. We looked at housing conditions, residential greenery, trash, and market locations. The goal in observing these elements was to identify what the area is lacking and how can the area improve to further enhance the personal environment connection between plants and people.
determined if property lot was empty or houses seemed unoccupied.
Green space was identified if an area showed evidence of large space devoted to plants. At first glance, the area seemed to lack any signs of green space so identifying the current conditions would make the claim stronger.
Another key data point recorded was visible waste Part of the study intended to analyze the existing located amongst the streets causing pedestrian to take detours. The sub categories for wastes were: hutong conditions in three subcategories: Good Condition Deteriorating Condition Vacant Condition
Temporary Waste Construction Renovation Waste
Temporary waste was determined if it seemed to be Good Conditions were determine if the building should created by local businesses or residential waste. signs of occupancy and maintenance on the exterior Construction renovation waste was determined by faรงade. Deteriorating conditions were indicted through location and type of waste. This type of waste was buildings that have faรงade damages such as non- generally found in the vicinity of buildings being repaired broken windows, rotting wood, or exposed renovated. Waste included building materials. wood behind peeling paint. Vacant conditions were
Type of study: Observational study on pedestrian circulation Unit of analysis: Pedestrians Locations: Dashibei Hutong and Gulou West Street. This survey observed the circulation of pedestrians on Dashibei Hutong and the frequent pedestrian crossing area from the parking lot, located on the south end of Gulou West Street, to the Drum Tower. This study would not only identify who uses the space but how they move through the space. The study will categorize pedestrians into three types; local residents, tourists, and workers. To identify how pedestrians move through Deshibei Hutong; vehicles, motor bikes, and bicycles will be the main categories.
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at a time and counting every person was challenging. The main indicator that will distinguish a motor bike from a bicycle is if it has a powered motor, either by battery or engine on the bike. Any person that physically pedals the bicycle will be considered a bicyclist.
There will be three points to observe pedestrians. The first 2 will be on Dashibei Hutong. Both surveyors will stand at the intersection of Dasbibei Hutong and Xiaoshibei Hutong. One surveyor will measure how The main indicator used to distinguish a tourist from a many people travel West on Dashibei Hutong and the local resident was whether the pedestrian was holding other surveyor will measure how many people travel a camera. Another indicator is if the person was East on Dashibei Hutong. The last location will be on looking on their phone to find their destination. And the north side of Gulou West Street, West of the Drum the last indicator was if the pedestrian was walking Tower and directly across from the parking lot. There slowly and looking around as if they aren’t sure which will be one person at each location that will count way to go. Local residents were distinguished if they pedestrians and how they moved each area. seem to be in a hurry or have a sense of direction. And workers were distinguished if they are wearing Each location will be surveyed twice, each for 45 uniforms, name badges or construction hats. minutes. The first time slot will be from 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm, during the operation of the Drum Tower. And The main limitation in getting an accurate count was the second time slot will be from 7:15 pm to 8:00 pm. the high density of pedestrians. There were intervals of large groups of people walking through each section
人类自然，自然传统 naturally human, traditionally natural
stre e tsa c pe typol o g i es One of the first things that distinguish Shichahai from surrounding areas is the mix use zoning of businesses and residential housing. There was constant movement from more than just pedestrians and vehicles, but also bicycles, motorbycicles, rickshaws and other forms of transportation. In order to study this, sectional studies were taken in three different types of places around the shichahai area: along the river, through the commercial area, and through the hutong area. The studies showed not only the varying street widths and the “crowdedness� of the street, but most importantly the human relationship to the streets and how it feels to walk through them.
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a lon g th e r i v er Sections taken along the river had the most variation. In the first section “a”, one can see that although there is a sidewalk to separate people from the vehicles, the tree overpowered the space and people were forced onto the streets. In the second, an elevated plaza allowed people to sit and relax away from any interference of vehicular traffic. In section “c” and “d”, there was the busyness of the streets packed with cars, people, and bicycles. Because of this, pedestrians had to constantly watch for this traffic, which prevented them from standing and enjoying the lake.
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co mme rc ia l Within the commercial area, the walkable width depended not on the street itself, but on the width of the sidewalks. The street was a consistent 3-3.3 meters (10-11ft) across, but the sidewalk would widen and narrow depending on how far the building was pushed back. Although no cars were allowed through this area, it was very busy with people moving in and out through the shops.
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hutong Although one may think residential areas would be far less dense than commercial areas, the vehicular traffic throughout the site cause limitations to pedestrians ability to walk freely. Vehicles are not only driving through crowds of people but also are parked along the streets causes further limitation of pedestrian circulation.
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t rad i t io n a l h u t o n g Because of the original Hutong design, residents were forced to plant within the courtyard because the streets did not accommodate for green space. Today the original trees planted arched over to provide shade both within the courtyard and to the adjacent street.
pla nts on c a ble s By connecting cables from one rooftop to another, the cables acted as a new space for vines to grow. This connection not only added green elements to the Hutong, it also provided a canopy for the people walking below.
v eg e t at io n t yp o lo g ies Because majority of the Shichahai is paved over, opportunity for vegetation is very limited. In the absence of planted green spaces, residents and business owners improvised different ways to add green elements into the area. From this study we found 6 typologies of natural elements throughout the shichahai area.
wal l p l an ter b o x es Within the newer developments, wooden planter boxes were attached to the wall to allow for planting space without taking up any walking space.
green ro o f Typically seen on top of residential high-rises within cities, green roofs treat rooftops as garden space. Again, residents were taking advantage of spaces to plant for themselves.
roa dside pla nte rs Newly implemented in the Hutongs, these planters were a way to add vegetation without breaking into the ground. However, many of these were too bulky and took up too much of the sidewalk, forcing pedestrians into vehicular traffic.
g reen f acad e By growing plants along the walls, residents and business owners were able to create a lot of green space without taking up any street space.
soc ia l spa c e s
l arg e trees
sm a ll t re es
signa ge
p eo p l e an d n atu re The last element studied was the relationship between people and nature. The most important factor looked at was the different social spaces that existed within the hutong and what relationship that space had with natural elements. large trees small trees signage social spaces
资源潜能，潜在资源 resource potential, potential resources
go o d co n d it io n There entire area had a predominant amount of good condition housing. All the good condition housing seemed wellmaintained and showed signs of occupancy. Also the housing was spread throughout the area, mixed with commercial use buildings. This gives an insight to how the presences of tourists integrate with the locals.
de te riora ti n g co n d i ti o n There was a small amount of deteriorating housing through out the area. This was a good sign that the site doesn’t need much effort in restoring existing buildings. More attention can go towards connection between locals and tourists or elements that the area is lacking.
vacan t lo ts There was a significant amount of vacant lots. This creates an opportunity to use these lots for potential green space since there is a small amount in the area. All the vacant lots are fenced and closed off to the public. Using these lots for potential green space could also open up space along some of these busy narrow alleyways or create more resting areas to balance the already fast pace setting.
ma rk e ts The markets are primarily located on the outer surface of the site, along the lakefront and the axis. This creates a high density of not only markets but also pedestrians walking up and down the road. Identify where these markets are located can help determine where is the need to place more green space and how can it affect the pedestrian circulation along the alleyways.
green s p a ce There was small amount of green space within the area if compared to the size of the area. This gives a clear indication on the need for more green space. Using other information such as vacant lots can spark ideas into how can more green space be integrated in the area.
tra sh The southeast area of the site contained the most trash. And there was a balance between temporary trash and construction trash. There were a couple homes being renovated in that area which could explain the construction trash. This information shows the need for more maintenance along the less dense alleyways. Locals are left to deal with the trash as tourists are able to enjoy the trash free alleyways close to the markets.
Overall the area has great potential in enhancing the relationship between the green environment and the pedestrians that occupy the space. With the amount of good condition homes, effort can go towards other elements such as greenery and trash. The site is mainly composed with hardscape and lacks any form of green elements. Identifying the vacant lots has created options in where these green spaces can emerge. And finally, knowing how pedestrians circulate through out the area, determining where potential green spaces may arise can prevent from disturbing that fast pace circulation. trash green space markets vacant lots deteriorating condition good condition
确定的，变化的 f i x e d
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f l u c t u a t i n g
s u r v ey p ro ces s The main goal of this survey was to identify the different types of users that walk through the market and how the move through the space, other than walking. Locals, tourist, and workers will categorize the types of users. Locals will be identified if they have a steady pace and not looking at their surroundings, as if walking with a purpose. Tourists will be identified if they seem unsure where to go and looking at their mobile device would be a big indicator. Also if the person has a camera taking pictures, they will be categorized as a tourist. A worker will be anyone that has a business uniform or construction workers. The different forms of transportation will be self-explanatory; with an exception that if any bike is powered motorized it will be considered a motorbike. Also the number of people on a bike, motorbike, or vehicle will not go into account, only the number of whatever form of transport pedestrians use.
1. dashibei hutong (west)
2. dashibei hutong (east)
3. gulou street
locals 17%
tourists 20%
vehicles 7%
workers 8%
During the day there was no significance between pedestrians walking through Dashibei Hutong and pedestrians using other modes of transportation such as vehicles, motorbikes, or bicycles. Within the pedestrians that were walking, there also wasn’t any significance between tourists and locals using the Street. During rush hour, there is a high amount of pedestrians using the space with a total of 158 within 45 minutes. It’s easy to say that West Dashibei is a high traffic street with a variety of users. Any design proposal will have to accommodate all types of users.
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locals 30% tourists 28%
vehicles 2%
Towards the evening there was an increase of pedestrian activity by 16 percent. There still wasn’t and significance between types of users. Locals and tourist both evenly share the space. Also there still was no major difference if pedestrians either walked or used other forms of transportation. Though in both time periods, vehicle counts were very low. On the west side of Dashibei Hutong there are a few restaurants that could account for the consistency of tourist still using the street during the evening.
locals 23% bicycles 7%
vehicles 2%
tourists 49%
workers 6%
2. 16:00-16:45 19:15-20:00 bicycles 7%
During the day there was significant amount of pedestrians walking east on Dashibei Hutong, rather than pedestrians using another form of transportation. Also there was a greater amount of tourists walking than locals. This could be by the denser businesses that can be seen from the intersection so pedestrian might be more inclined to follow. The most used form of transportation was the motorbike with 13 percent. The very least was vehicles, which was very similar on the west of Dashibei Hutong.
Towards the evening the amount of activity stayed the same. But during the evening pedestrians mainly walked though the space with 88 percent of all activity. The low number of pedestrians using a bike, motorbike, or vehicle on Dashibei Hutong was far lower during the evening than during the day. The low number of vehicles throughout the day can be used as an opportunity to limit access and create a safer route within the hutongs.
vehicles 2% workers 6%
locals 38%
tourists 48%
workers 4%
During the day there was no significance between tourist and locals crossing the non-crosswalk area. The number of pedestrians crossing towards the towers was 58, which is a high number considering the dangerous environment of the street. Considering the towers are still in operation hours, the number of tourist crossing can explain the demand to see the towers. There is residential surrounding the towers and a large plaza in between them, which could explain the high number of locals crossing.
3 16:00-16:45 19:15-20:00 workers 10%
Towards the evening there was a greater amount of pedestrians crossing towards the towers and 59 percent of them were locals. If the towers close at 5 pm, there only reason for this amount of locals crossing towards the towers is that most of them live in the area. 31 percent were tourist, which is difficult to understand if the towers are closed during this time. Nonetheless, both times show a high demand to create a safer access to the towers due to the large amount of pedestrians crossing in dangerous conditions.
剎海拾贝 stories of the people
i n ter v i ew p ro ces s In addition to our site observations, our group also conducted surveys that were based on a convenient sampling method. We first analyzed the site, gathered information, and came up with general questions that we would ask each group within the Shichahai area. The process was done to get a better understanding of the area from the perspective of the residents, tourists, and businsess owners around the area. With the information that we collected we wanted to have a clear vision for our project and be able to understand the planning process. The Shichahai area has many Siheyuan buildings and Hutongs that are located throughout the area. Shichahai dates back as far as the Jin dynasty and to this day has succeeded as a travel destination that offers a glimpse of Old Beijing. Today, the area exists as a blend between the old and the new lifestyle. There are many successful businesses along the Houhai Lake and the Yandai Byway that has attracted many tourists to the location. However, not all are happy with this influx of population. The success of the businesses and the increased influx of visitors has brought upon a burden to the residents that want a quieter area that is safe. With the incoming tourists, it is important to accommodate both the local residents and visitors among our site area. The results of the interview helped give direction for our design portion.
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Zhang Yi Ran lives close to the bell tower. He visits the park in between both towers to spend quality time with his baby boy. Zhang feels he is responsible for raising his child to learn the customs of the country. If one is rooted to their culture, they will learn more about themselves and their family. From the knowledge of one’s a n c e s t r y a n d c u l t u r e , his son will be proud of where he comes from along with the people that raised him. Through these towers, he believes there is a lot to take in and appreciate. Along with the history and culture, Zhang acknowledges that passing on dishes that are significant to the Chinese people is important to one’s nutrition. The reason he only visits the towers and avoids the markets is because there are n o g r o c e r i e s accommodating the locals. The markets seem to only offer goods targeting foreigners.
zhang yi ran, 65 drum & bell towers
Zhang loves the community he lives in. He feels there is no need for change and this community would be perfect for his future grandchildren to grow up. As he travels from home to the towers, he feels safe regardless of the heavy traffic.
han fang, 21
drum & bell towers
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Han Fang, a university student, visits the towers by bus to study its cultural and historical significance. He found the area to be safe, and as he was waiting for the bus he stated, “This bus stop n e e d s m o r e b e n c h e s a n d s o m e t r e e s to compliment the area.” He believes that trees create a welcoming environment by providing shade on hot days and are good for the eyes. Many people overlook the idea of plants in cities. Humans once lived without altering much of the environment, but as urban areas become built and developed, many of these green spaces are lost. Having grown up in an environment full of green spaces, Han Fang became attached to a few plants in his old neighborhood. His mother loves gardening and they have found it convenient to
grow their own fruits and vegetables. As a child, he was not familiar with going to the market to buy their groceries as he would pick whatever he needed off their garden or trees. Overall, Han Fang felt safer eating his home grown food since he knew where they have been. He hopes the bell and drum towers preserve what is left of its green space for future generations. “G r e e n i s e s s e n t i a l t o l i f e . ”
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Xu Bao Fang from Guangdong Province, came to visit Beijing in hopes to find the historical and cultural significance behind the drum and bell Towers. Her interests were influenced by advertisements she encountered on her daily route to work. When on her daily routine, she set a goal for herself to visit these towers before she passed away. She would save her spare change in hopes to travel and see the two towers. As time passed, her dreams of visiting these towers grew into anxiety. An opportunity arrived when the government made it convenient to travel from her rural town to Beijing. She finally bought her ticket and headed over to see the towers. On Thursday of July 2, 2015, she arrived at the capital and began to explore the city.
xu bao fang, 37 drum & bell towers
To accompany her visit at this cultural and traditional landmark, she wishes to experience the northern Chinese culture in Beijing by having traditional northern style dishes with her family. During her travels she encountered h e a v y t r a f f i c . As she set foot onto the streets of Beijing, she felt her life was at risk. She believes that the traffic is horrible and disorganized, as the pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, and automobiles all share the same lane in some areas of the city. There is no clear direction, therefore everyone mixes and lives are put in danger.
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Sitting outside the gate of a small siheyuan near Shichahai, Grandma Sun enjoys the evening by watching people pass by. She is a friendly and hospitable elderly woman who sometimes offers refreshments to the visitors. Having lived in the area for over forty years, she has seen the transformation of the small waterfront change into a busy commercial district. In her opinion, she feels the area has improved greatly over the years, although the in c r e a s i n g n u m b e r o f t o u r i s t s raises a concern. Between the waterfront and the bell and drum towers, Grandma Sun prefers to go walk by the lake as it has plenty of greenery and a beautiful view. It is also much closer to her home and she would not have to cross the congested streets to get to the towers. According to Grandma Sun, groceries are easily accessible by the towers, however access to daily necessities are difficult to come by. As the roads of Shichahai are typically flat, Grandma Sun has no problem traversing to her destinations, however stairs become quite a challenge. Grandma Sun mentioned that she would love to have a garden, but there is no space inside or outside her home. If she were able to have a garden, she would g r o w h e r o w n f o o d as it is more convenient and it would give her something to tend to. She is also very fond of two particular trees, Populus polar and Ailanthus altissima as they were abundant in the siheyuan courtyards near Shichahai when she was younger. Due to the restoration of many siheyuan and hutongs in recent years, lower levels were constructed below the buildings which consequentially led to the removal of these trees. Grandma Sun would sometimes find herself reminiscing about them when relaxing outside her home.
grandma sun, 82 intersection of hutong
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grandpa he, 60 intersection of hutong
Grandpa He is a native of the Shichahai area in Beijing, having lived there for over sixty years. He has become accustomed to the life in Shichahai and enjoys his time in his siheyuan and the hutongs. He prefers the t r a d i t i o n a l b u i l d i n g s in the area over the modern ones because he believes that the siheyuan has a connection to the land, which in turn makes him feel safe. He also believes that they allow people to live healthier lives. Grandpa He prefers the Shichahai area over the drum and bell tower area because he feels it is a bit too c r o w d e d over there. When asked how the government could improve the quality of life in the siheyuan and hutongs, he replied saying he would prefer if less people lived in the area.
Reducing the population would make the community he lives in a quieter, more comfortable place. Grandpa He recalled memories of his youth when food was scarce. He said that there were many times when he had to resort to eating leaves off the trees, and does not wish to relive those experiences.
grandpa yu, 55 hutong
13 Grandpa Yu is a native of the Shichahai area in Beijing, having lived there since he was born. He enjoys life in the siheyuan because “China is a country with a long history and an ancient civilization.” He states that the old buildings in the city reflects the c u l t u r e in the capital. Grandpa Yu enjoys going for walks in the evening as the weather is cooler. He does not like d r a s t i c c h a n g e in his neighborhood as it will “destroy the feeling of this ancient city.”
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Mr. Zhang has lived in his siheyuan in Shichahai his entire life. He knows everyone that lives in the area and enjoys his life there because he feels connected to the hutongs and his neighbors. Mr. Zhang is currently retired and when he is not selling water to the locals or tourists, he enjoys p l a n t i n g v e g e t a b l e s a n d f l o w e r s in his courtyard. The plants create a comfortable environment to live in and he has been able to save money on groceries. When the weather is good, he often takes walks around the area of the drum and bell towers. He prefers the more traditional buildings than the modern ones because it allows him to feel connected with the land.
mr. zhang , 53 yaer hutong
To preserve the historic culture of the siheyuan and hutongs, he wishes to promote building more traditional buildings. During certain hours, vehicles in Shichahai are prohibited from using the streets. Because of this, they are forced to drive through the nearby hutongs. Mr. Zhang believes that the r o a d s a r e t o o n a r r o w to accommodate pedestrians and motorists at the same time, and that vehicles in the hutongs will threaten his way of life. In the future, he hopes to have more pedestrian friendly hutongs that focuses on safety and also provides more shading and seating for people.
equal, 30
edge of hutong
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On the edge of the hutongs, there is an antique shop run by a man dressed as a woman who is anonymously known as Equal. She considers herself an a r t i s t , with a majority of her clients being other artists, students from art schools, and pop singers from the local bars, people who she feels can appreciate her work. As such, her shop opens around three o’clock in the afternoon when there are l e s s t o u r i s t s . Selling antique clothing from the past as well as a few custom designed suits, Equal is critical of contemporary fashion. As traditional designers were very skilled and patient in their craft, she feels modern works focuses too much on making money. Equal has been in business for over three years and first opened her doors back in 2012, and would like to see cleaner restrooms in the area.
qu yi jia, 28
chen li, 32
li ming, 46
wang hui juan, 82
Qu Yi Jia, a teacher from Australia, was on her way to Wangfujing Street. She felt her life was in danger when crossing the streets because the traffic was chaotic. Growing up in an environment where the population is smaller and there are fewer vehicles on the roads, Qu shared the differences she encountered. Apparently, she was almost ran over when crossing the street because the traffic continues even though the crosswalk symbol said it was safe for her to go.
Chen Li comes all the way from Nei Menggu, also known as Inner Mongolia. He came to specifically visit the Drum Tower and the Bell Tower after hearing his friends speak so highly of it back home. In Chen’s opinion, the most interesting aspect of these towers is the historical value, having been used centuries back. He also complimented on the fact that you could see these towers from far away, and it was convenient for him to take the bus and stop directly in front of these towers. He thought that the surrounding neighborhoods were beautiful, especially at Shichahai with all the people doing their daily activities. He believes that the most beautiful moments are captured amongst the ones you love in beautiful green spaces..
Li Ming lives in Harbin located in the Dongbei District. He is a rickshaw driver and his daily routine depends on the location his customers wants to go. Many foreigners prefer to walk the area as opposed to being driven around. As a rickshaw driver, Li Ming encounters heavy traffic with both pedestrians and automobiles, but despite this, he still feels safe because he knows the routes of the area well. His largest competitors are automobiles. Seeing that they are taxis, pedestrians feel safer inside a car than a rickshaw. He feels as if the foreigners miss out on experiencing the real culture by taking a taxi as opposed to the rickshaw. Li Ming believes that his business would increase if there was karaoke, as they attract more attention to the public. He enjoys the evening the most because of the nightlife. Even though he has to go home once the sun sets, he has a larger pool of customers due to the beautiful sceneries during this time. He believes that trees and other vegetation can enhance the beauty of an area. Without nature, there would only be buildings and it would make the area seem empty and dead. Nature is often taken for granted and not appreciated until it is gone. Trees not only complete a scenery, but they can also provide shade, air, and food to eat.
Wang Hui Juan is an eighty two year old resident of Shichahai. She spends her afternoons sitting in the hutong in front of her home. Born in Beijing and having lived in the siheyuan her entire life, Grandma Wang has no plans of leaving her home as she enjoys living in the area. She believes that the traditional siheyuan is more pleasant to live in than a newer building. The open space in between the buildings in the siheyuan allows for more trees to be planted. These trees provide shade for residents which is desirable in the summer. Grandma Wang mentioned the relocation of a nearby market. The market she shops at were once located near her home in what is now a tourist area near the lake. The increased tourism caused the owner to relocate the market further from her home to an area near the Drum Tower and Bell Tower. This relocation has increased the time it takes Grandma Wang to shop for groceries. She now averages about an hour per trip to the market. Grandma Wang has also explained that there are few young people who live in the neighborhood. The neighborhood’s population is comprised of elders and children. Young adults generally prefer not to live in the area as the facilities are not up to their living standards. In addition to a dwindling young population, there is currently a lack of greenery in the area. Grandma Wang enjoys plants and watching flowers bloom and she wishes to beautify her community with plants and vegetables. The density and a lack of space in the area, however, have prevented her from doing so.
bell tower
Her life threatening experience led her to believe that drastic changes needs to be implemented in order to assure pedestrian safety. In her opinion, the drivers in the city drive recklessly and the government could implement methods to make them more aware of their surroundings. She suggests to add more signage emphasizing the presence of pedestrians and helping them understand that sharing the road is crucial for a country with such a large population
bell tower
bell tower
hutong
kate & grace, pittsburg university students in beijing
Kate and Grace are university students currently studying in Beijing. Both of them had just come from the commercial area of Shichahai near Yinding Bridge. They were passing by the bus stop to the south of the Drum Tower and Bell Tower on their way to Beihai Park. Kate and Grace agreed that the area was a safe place for pedestrians. Kate has never felt unsafe walking through the area during the day or night. Though both said crossing the street and navigating through the area was a concern, they were reassured that the cars would also try and avoid hitting pedestrians. Some of the problems Grace pointed out were the amount traffic and the lack of parking in the area. The multitude of
cars parked on the sidewalk is a problem and have forced them to walk on the road where cars pass since the parked cars block off the sidewalk. Kate also listed people spitting on the sidewalks as another large problem of the area as it makes her uncomfortable. Kate and Grace both agreed that there was little room for improvement since they felt the area had everything for tourists. What they would like to see, however, are more areas which cater to westerners, including more western restaurants and places were English is spoken. Since there is a language barrier, Kate and Grace find it difficult to communicate with the shop owners who do not speak English.
logan & emma, sydney tourist
Logan and Emma are tourists visiting from Sydney, Australia, and came to Beijing with a group of other tourists. After visiting Tiananmen Square, their tour bus brought them to Shichahai. Logan felt that this area is very safe place for pedestrians. He feels comfortable crossing the street with a crowd, but otherwise said that crossing could become a dangerous task. Logan and Emma both
agree that the area seemed dirty and needed the participation of the community to maintain cleanliness. Also, they wished there were more western style toilets for the tourists since they were not used to the local ones. Logan would like to see more ATMs around the commercial areas for withdrawing money, and Emma felt there could have been more seating for pedestrians.
Do you prefer old/traditional or new/modern? What are your reasons for this preference? Do you know where the Drum Tower and Bell Tower are located? How often do you visit these sites? How do you typically travel from home to these sites? Would you prefer living in high rise or courtyard style buildings? How can the government improve the quality of life in the hutongs?
Do you grow plants? If so are these plants decorative, food sources, or both?
What is your connection to land/trees?
t r a v el e r s Where are you coming from? Where are you going to? Do you feel safe walking on the street?
Do you have any suggestions for improvement?
What do you think about the current conditions of businesses or services?
Where are you coming from? Where are you going to? Do you feel safe walking on the street?
Do you have any suggestions for improvement?
What do you think about the current conditions of businesses or services?
b u s i n es s e s Are you native/non-native? How long has your business been here? Why did you open your business in Shichahai instead of the business district? What time are your business hours?
Mr. He
Liu
Zhang
Grandpa Yu
82 years
60 years
10 years
53 years
55 years
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Traditional
Traditional
Traditional
Traditional
Traditional
More trees to provide shade
Safety and good health
More trees to provide shade
Safety and good health
The culture and historic traditions
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Frequently
Frequently
Frequently
Frequently
Frequently
Yandai Xiejie
Yandai Xiejie
Yandai Xiejie
Yandai Xiejie
Yandai Xiejie
Courtyard style
Courtyard style
Courtyard Style
Courtyard style
Courtyard style
Reducing cars to enhance safety and add more trees for shade
Reducing changes and restoring the feeling of an ancient city
N/A
Yes, he enjoys planting vegetables and flowers in his courtyard
No, there is no space to grow plants He feels connected through trees and plants. He loves lotus flowers because it preserves moral integrity
Providing closer markets and more trees
Reducing population to make it Reducing cars to make it more quieter of a walkable area
No, there is a lack of space
No
She enjoys watching flowers bloom and trees that provide shade
Trees were a source of food during his youth and they provide comfort
She would like to have more areas for growing plants
Trees provide more shade and they enhance the health of the environment
Kate and Grace
Logan and Emma
Ethan
Zhang San
Li Ming
Near Yinding Bridge
Sydney, Australia
Nearby the Bell Tower
Ha Er Bin in Dong Bei District
Beihai
Drum Tower and Bell Tower
Drum Tower and Bell Tower
Bell Tower
Bell Tower
Yes, because cars try to avoid pedestrians
Yes, but it is dangerous when not using crosswalk
Hutongs are relatively safe, but not the streets
Yes, regardless of heavy traffic
Yes, because he is accustomed
Providing more parking spaces so cars don't park on sidewalks
More trash cans, western style toilets, seating, and ATM machines
More crosswalks for pedestrians and maps and information for tourists
More markets to get groceries for locals
More trees and nature in the area. Also, more karaoke businesses to attract more people and increase business as a rickshaw driver
They would like more western restaurants and places where english is spoken
The area is unclean
He enjoys the nightlife as it The conditions of the buildings The businesses in the area cater more towards foreigners than provides more customers when are sufficient. There just needs the sceneries are beautiful residents to be more wayfinding
Chen Li
Han Fang
Qu Yi Jia
Xu Bao Fang
Nei Meng Gu
University
Australia
Guang Dong Province
Bell and Drum Tower
Bell Tower
Wang Fujing Street
Bell Tower and Drum Tower
Yes
Yes
No, because she was raised in a smaller and more pedestrian environment
No, she feels that traffic is horrible and streets are disorganized
More benches for the bus stops Expand crosswalks to make Increasing safety for pedestrians More green spaces as it and more trees to enhance the them more noticable to drivers and motorists alike enhances the beauty of the area culture The current conditions of the neighborhood and towers are beautiful Equal Non-native 3 years The business is further away from all the tourists Opens at 3:00 pm to 11:00pm
Who are your customers?
Art students, artists, and pop singers from local bars
What needs improvement?
Improving the area by providing more trees
N/A
N/A
N/A
Decorations
History
Agriculture Courtyard De Shade
Residen
Cultural Traditions
Drum Tower Markets
Vegetables
Y
Safety Less
Bell Tow
Flowers
Do you want to live/stay here?
Wong Hui Juan
Ancient City
How many years have you lived here?
Health Peace
re s i d en t s
Quiet
i n ter v i ew an al y s i s Both diagrams, the interview analysis and word diagrams illustrate the questions that were answered and the various answers that we collected. The interview analysis showed the questions we asked for each specific group and how each of the residents and visitors either related or differed in their answers. The word diagrams illustrate the common words, phrases, concerns, and locations that were mentioned during each of the surveys for the residents and the travelers. So what do people tend to talk about? Some of the keywords were
T
Traditional Style
Pedestrians
Bell Tower Unorganized
Lack of safety
Wayfinding Dirty
Drum Tower Behai
obvious to the common tourist/resident – Drum tower, Shichahai, Bell Tower, etc. Others gave a sense of place and culture – Western restaurants, Courtyard design, cultural traditions, etc. And others were anecdotes that give personality and also general opinions of the area – unorganized, dangerous streets, lack of safety, etc. These diagrams give a more in-depth view into the existing identity and culture of the Shichahai area. With the data that we collected as a group, we were able to weigh
Tourists Western restaurants
More trash cans
Benches
Americanized Lack of ATM machines
Yandai Byway
Shichahai
Wang Fujing Street More parking spaces
More parking spaces
wer
Trees
Yandai Byway Comfort s cars
Toursits shops
Walkability
Dangerous streets Karaoke bars
nts
More space
Western toilets
esign
Expand crosswalks Historic information
Green spaces
our options and reach a consensus on how to respond to the public through the design process. After we conducted our onsite surveys we were able to interact with the tourists, residents, and business owners that are within the various spots in the Shichahai area. Following the interview process, we learned that both the local residents and visitors would like to preserve the historic and cultural importance of Shichahai. However, each group would rather make do
without the other. While the visitors would like more public amenities and western accommodations, the residents would like to have a more private space where they can grow plants. There was a definite clash between the groups that we interviewed, but with their opinions we were able to facilitate the social issues and incorporate an inclusive design within our project. With our findings, we understood how each groups builds a sense of ownership within the Shichahai area.
conclusion
With its rich history and beautiful culture, the Shichahai area has many amenities, which attracts both residents and tourists. In many ways it also defines the current state of China, where there are historical relics of the past with the thriving businesses of the present. With our site analysis, our group was able to see the issues and amenities that exist within the Shichahai area. After having found these issues, we were driven to design a plan that would solve problems within the built environment and implement sustainable solutions for the future while preserving the historical amenities.
Our group was able to see exactly how valuable the Shichahai area is to Beijing’s past and to its future growth. After analyzing the site, we found that site analysis is a vital part of the planning process because we would not have been able to envision how the environment would function without analyzing the area and conducting surveys. As we group, we decided that we should not accommodate one group over the other. Rather, we felt that we would need to design spaces specific to each group and incorporating different ideas into our design.
env china study abroad program california state polytechnic university, pomona + north china university of technology summer 2015