Organic renewal of historic residential areas in Beijing within the background of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration

Abstract

This thesis will focus on exploring possible approaches for the successful renewal of historic residential areas of Beijing within the context of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Integration. The historic residential areas located at the center of Beijing are composed of traditional Siheyuans and Hutongs and form the basic urban texture together with the unique culture of Beijing. However, today, these areas are faced with urgent threats posed by the rapid economic growth and resources over centralization. Many historic buildings have been demolished, traditional urban texture has been rewritten, residents have been forced to move away from places that they have called home for centuries.

This thesis will focus on how one can best conserve the tangible values in historic residential areas such as houses and streets and furthermore, the intangible values, for example, the culture and lifestyle unique and specific to only these areas. Valuable progress in heritage conservation from the Juer Hutong Renovation Project led by Professor Wu Liangyong will also be well studied. The core of the Organic Renewal Theory, a theoretical foundation in the Juer Hutong Renovation Project proposed by Professor Wu, is small-scale renovation approach which could be applied in the renovation of historic residential areas today.

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Integration is a national strategy proposed by Xi Jinping, the President of China, in order to transfer Beijing’s economic and administrative resources which Beijing to Hebei and Tianjin to achieve huge economic development with these resources. The renewal of historic residential areas is significantly relevant to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Integration because it is the economic and administrative resources which Beijing is going to transfer that keep destroying the historic residential areas. This integration which aims to upgrade the regional economy is also a gospel plan for historic residential areas as it will fundamentally remove the greatest threat. With the opportunities brought by Integration and lessons from the Juer Hutong Renovation Project, historic residential areas of Beijing will be able to enjoy a promising future