PUZZLE OF INVERTED TERRACES
Introduction.
​
This project seeks to address the issue of overpopulation and poor qualities of outdoor space in traditional courtyard dwellings through an inversion of a traditional courtyard dwelling where enclosed volumes and the outdoor spaces are inverted with one another. The proposal seeks to bridge a social and physical relationship between the gated residential community to the north and the Hutongs to the south by creating a new public realm that benefits the local residents and existing local business owners in and around the site.
​
Community & Context.
The site is in the Ping An Li area of Beijing, within the 2nd ring road and northwest of the Forbidden City, at the heart of the city. The site is a vacant parcel of land that straddles the boundary between a residential enclave of 5-6 storeys utilitarian housing blocks built in the 1980s, and a large area of traditional courtyard neighbourhoods (Hutongs) surrounding a historic buddhist temple. The plot of the site itself also once stood a large market hall where local grocers could set up their own stalls to sell, however, it was demolished in recent years, causing stall owners to scatter to other sites or setup their own gazebos to sell their groceries from on site. The location of the site can be seen equivalent to zone ½ of London and the average cost of property in the site can exceed prices seen in Chelsea and Kensington. The residents within the site are therefore seen as asset-rich but income-poor. This is because they live in highly-valued property passed to them by the government or ancestors but their income is sub-par. The Ping An Li area of Beijing is also based within the Xi Cheng district. Living in certain districts means your child can gain access to good schools within the district, therefore the site is also highly desirable to those that can afford to purchase property in the district.
​
Brief & Users.
Pro-grammatically the proposal imagines a new narrative of inhabitation where local residents living around the site, locally-based business owners and families of mixed socio-economic backgrounds can coexist and engage with each other. To support those mentioned, different programmes are introduced for example; all parties can take advantage of a new public realm that houses units for existing local business owners to occupy. Simultaneously, these local businesses can be supported by both, local and new residents at no expense of convenience. This adjacency was developed from my research into the site condition post the demolition of the market hall. The loss of the market hall resulted in many outcomes. These include; loss of jobs and business for local business owners and employees, loss of convenience to local residents and the social and physical disengagement between the north and south communities. However, the issues have also lead to a positive outcome where vehicular access through the site has dropped significantly. Through the bringing together of these users in this programmatic narrative, it is imagined that a new public realm will reignite life to what was once a bustling and active part of the site. This can be done in a looped process where the project stems from the opportunity for local businesses to thrive from. This allows them to constantly support and be supported by local customers.
​
Ideas & Concept.
These ideas are resolved tectonically. At an urban level, the introduction of a new pedestrianised public realm, series of north-south thoroughfares and new vehicular route significantly improves convenience and accessibility to the site. This benefits all parties, such as; shipment delivery men loading/unloading goods to shops ranging to local and new residents living on site not needing to walk more than five minutes to complete a week’s worth of grocery shopping. At building level, the proposal provides sufficient density without hindering daylighting for the residents and public around the project. At a dwelling level, the project addresses poor outdoor spaces by offering both private and communal terraces to all flats and residents to have access to. The private terraces allow private occupants to personalise their own terraces whereas the communal terraces provide fixed programmes for the residents to enjoy, these include an outdoor gym, seating/pausing space, mahjong play area, children’s playground and tai chi/dance space. The mixture of programmes benefit residents by giving space for them to accomplish their lifestyle activities.
​
Practical resolution.
Approaching from the southeast corner of the site, the residents can reach the market and retail units via the new pedestrianised street. This is where most of the human activity between residents and the wider community occur. To access the residences, there are five residential cores accessed from the north edge of the site, away from the main pedestrian frontage. Wrapped around each core are 8 units comprising of a mix of single-story, duplex and a triplex apartment. Only the triplex apartment is accessed directly from the ground level, the remaining units are accessed from their respective cores. On the first floor, the core gives access to three flats, one duplex and two single story flats. The second floor…The third floor has access to a single story flat and a duplex from one side of the core however, on the other side of the core is one of the communal terraces, depending on the core, the communal terrace is catered to either; a seating/pausing space, mahjong play area, children’s playground, tai chi/dance space or an outdoor gym. Every communal terrace is accessible to all residents living on site.