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A Study on Inappropriate Conservation Regime of Siheyuan and Hutong In Beijing, China : A Case Study of Nanchizi Precinct, Beijing.

JOWYN OOI YIN YI LOH SHU WEI LOOI KYE MENG TAN ZHI YING TOH YI LIN YEOW WAN YEE VOON SAY LOON

0330897 0331016 0327703 0327853 0327984 0331154 0331708

INTRODUCTION

SIHEYUAN AND HUTONG Siheyuan is a traditional residential courtyard house which symbolise classic Chinese vernacular architecture.

Hutong is an alley or lane lined with rows of Siheyuan which stretch out in all four directions that connects Siheyuan from wall end to end.

It is a clear representation of the ritualistic and traditional ideas of China which contains rich cultural connotations.

NANCHIZI PRECINCT, BEIJING Nanchizi precinct is located in the inner city of Beijing. In 1987, Nanchizi was designated by the municipal government as a heritage quarter, later in 1998 it was listed as one of Beijing’s 25 historically and culturally significant precincts. The case of Nanchizi will provide a lens to investigate the conservation and urban planning processes in Beijing. Nanchizi was designated as a pilot project in late 2001; demolished in 2002 and rebuilt by the middle of 2003.

BEFORE

Timeline of Nanchizi Conservation Plan Late 2001

Designated as pilot project & planning process

2002

Demolishment of Siheyuan

Mid of 2003

Reconstruction

AFTER

SIGNIFICANCE 1. How does the conservation of Siheyuan and Hutong plays a significant role in conserving heritage in terms of social, cultural and historical context?

CONTEXT Hutong forms a small neighbourhood which bonds within residents living Have a hierarchical organization and classification system of big street (DaJie), small street (Lu) and alleyway (Hutong) run east-west in parallel line

COMMUNITY Form the grid network within the larger metropolis of Beijing and Form a close knitted social network among residents

ORIENTATION Pattern based on Feng Shui Example : - North-south orientation - Two building at the side forming a U shape as a symbol of “tiger and dragon hill�

HARMONY Courtyard act as a link between Heaven and Earth - Offering sacrifices to Heaven and Earth in courtyard to bring harmony and good fortune

HIERARCHY According to Confucius, spatial organization of siheyuan arranged based on hierarchical system of Chinese society Most honoured building with highest roof and largest size, following the order to the inner quarter and outer quarter

OPEN SPACE Permit good natural light and ventilation Provide full privacy for the family by isolate it from interference while preventing noises inside the house passing to adjoining houses.

STRATEGIES AND POLICIES 2. What are the conservation strategies and policies implemented to secure the existence of Nanchizi Precinct during its conservation process?

Beijing Municipal Planning Commission formulated guiding principles for the conservation plan for the Historic Areas in the Old City of Beijing.

The guiding principles were:

Regulatory guidelines for the conservation areas based on the principles : ●

New or renovated buildings must be compatible with the style of the key conservation areas and cannot negatively impact the environment of the area to be conserved

●

When embarking on renovation, careful consideration must be given to the nature of the land use, the height, the scale, forms and colour of the architecture, as well as the floor area ratio and the proportion of green space

●

To preserve the traditional cityscape and hutongs

●

To ensure the authenticity of the preserved heritage

●

To implement preservation using a gradual and measured method

●

Renovations must not result in large scale demolition and special attention must be paid to historic continuity

●

To improve the infrastructure and living condition of the local residents

●

Valuable historic architecture, hutongs and old trees must be preserved

●

To encourage public participation

STRATEGIES AND POLICIES OVERVIEW FOR NANCHIZI PROJECT

BEFORE Dilapidated Siheyuan in the narrow alleys of Hutong

AFTER Erection of new two-storey courtyard apartments,, Sihelou, obeying the principle for the Conservation of Heritage Sites in China but failed to conserve the intangible aspects of Nanchizi.

STRATEGIES AND POLICIES The principles in the table below shows the principles obeyed when conservation of Siheyuan is done.

ARTICLE

AGENDA

5.2.4

Take the courtyard as a basic unit, remain the courtyard system and hutong structure.

15.0.1

The form and colour of the buildings must comply with the overall style in Old City.

15.0.3

The colour of the roof tiles must comply with the traditional grey colour tone.

17.0.2

The renewal building must restore their traditional style and features.

STRATEGIES AND POLICIES Apart from the heritage legislative framework, professional guidelines are also available, the most authoritative being the China Principles.

Nanchizi project : ◦ Did not comply with the China Principles but deviate from the China Principle position of minimal intervention by tearing down too many Siheyuan ◦ Rebuilding instead of Restorating of dilapidated SIheyuan

‘Minimal intervention’ rule The ‘minimal intervention’ rule is the response to the unsympathetic treatment of the monuments and sites.

Factor that influence ‘Minimal Intervention’ Rule -

The complexity of the protection of urban cultural landscape The high pressure for urban modernisation

CONCERN 3. What are the main concerns in terms of construction, urban infrastructure and living conditions that need to be considered when conservation efforts are being done?

CONSTRUCTION INFORMAL EXTENSION AND CONSTRUCTION

Lack of knowledge about appropriate methods of repairing historical architecture further worsen the physical condition and reduced the historic value of Siheyuan as cheap modern materials used were incompatible with the original architectural style.

CONSTRUCTION MAINTENANCE AND RESTORATION COST

Gradual method of rehabilitating Siheyuan and installing the infrastructure without widening the hutong is extensively complex, time consuming and not cost efficient in the case of Nanchizi. Due to the lack of private property ownership, government had to finance the installation of the infrastructure renovation.

Example of proper restoration and maintenance method

Result of improper maintenance

URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE WIDTH OF HUTONG

To upgrade the physical infrastructure means that all utility pipes must be added underground. Hutongs have to be widened. Before the hutongs can be widened, the housing alongside had to be demolished in entirety.

Example of space constraint due to narrow lane of Hutong

URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE LACK OF URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE

Inconvenient living conditions without basic building services Example : natural gas and heating network system, the sewage, electricity, communication networks and blocked sewage pipes.

Lack of designated parking spaces and narrow lane makes it impossible for ambulances, fire engines and other vehicles to drive through in case of emergency, it does not correspond to the needs of inhabitants in modern times.

Dilapidated condition of Siheyuan

LIVING CONDITION POPULATION DENSITY IN BEIJING

Rapid population growth in Beijing resulted in a shortage of housing supply Beijing Municipal Government allow the residents to build additions to their existing homes.

RESULTS : Reduced circulatory space of narrow Hutong and bring damage to the traditional layout of the Hutongs.

Informal extension which damage the overall layout of the Siheyuan

FAILURE 4. What are the factors that contributed to the failure of the Nanchizi pilot project ?

FAILURE LOSS IN GENIUS LOCI Drastic demolition, rebuilding and relocation of residents of the old Nanchizi has loss of main idea of human interaction with their environment

Indication of demolition “Chai� painted on the walls of Siheyuan in Nanchizi

HUGE DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES Original : Low Income Residents New : Rich and Wealthy Residents - Relocating residents cause in the change of the original identity of the place - Less than one third of the original households returned, with the rest being relocated due to inability to afford the high cost

FAILURE MAJOR DESTRUCTION OF HISTORIC FABRIC AND INAPPROPRIATE CONSTRUCTION Original : courtyard houses were demolished in entirety New : The double storey courtyard apartment, Sihelou has changed the conventional ratio of the building and the open space

Traditional single story Siheyuan

New type of two-storey unit buildingsSihelou

ABSENCE OF LEGAL PLANNING SYSTEM

Lack of legally bind regulations to bide with the conservation plan objective

FAILURE LOW VALUE COMPENSATION Relocation policy compensate the residents at relatively low value differs from the actual value of the Siheyuan market price

A resident watching over their home from getting demolish

TRANSFER ON IMPLEMENTATION RIGHTS TO DEVELOPER’S COMPANY Lack of budget to balance the cost Results - Step 1 : Relocated the original residents Step 2 : Destroying the existing fabric Step 3 : Rebuilding new development

Destruction of historical fabric of Siheyuan

RECOMMENDATION 5. What are the suggested recommendation to ensure the fate of Nanchizi will not be repeated in the other conservation districts?

RECOMMENDATION LIMITATION OF DECISION MAKING

ESTABLISHMENT OF PLANNING LEGISLATIVE

Implementation of rights for parties with financial and political resources to be controlled when making significant decision for conservation planning

Regulation should have open documents with clear accountability and legal weight to prevent being arbitrarily changed

Nanchizi : Decisions made are being outweighed by political benefits of improving the living standard living in the quickest time possible

Nanchizi : No one accountable for failure of execution of conservation plan

RECOMMENDATION INTEGRATED APPROACH TO CONSERVATION PLANNING Preservation the best possible environment consideration of the political, economical and social implications

MANAGEABLE TIME AND COST

To allow careful investigation of the site and rigorous testing of the alternatives Financial of conservation needs should be thought of at all levels of government Nanchizi : Overall process from planning to demolition took 3 years

CONCLUSION

CONCLUSION Nanchizi Precinct : Conservation planning of Siheyuan and Hutong (2001) Acts as a threshold to limits of the baseline for the future renewal and conservation projects in China Main Issue : Focus : Redevelopment and Replacement of Historic Buildings instead of Restoration Intention should be treating the designated precinct as a whole instead of merely preserving individual structures in order to safeguard the spirit of historical landscape of Nanchizi

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