Page 94 - JCAU-7-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Computational urbanism on Dashilar

Figure 6. Different programs evolve and integrate under the influence of time and the urban force field. Source: Drawing by the authors

their homes in the old neighborhoods, leading to an Subsequently, wing rooms and inverted dwellings were
influx of migrants from various cities and countries who enlarged and repurposed as storage spaces, bedrooms, or
adapted to these areas. Agrarian settlement patterns were bathrooms (Yu, 2017) (Figure 9).
thoroughly dismantled, and hutongs were modified to
maximize living space within confined boundaries. The 3.1. Cell aggregation
traditional Confucian enclosure-style courtyards, once The commercial renovation of the Dashilar area in Beijing,
central to family construction, rapidly diminished and China, required comprehensive analysis and reconstruction.
nearly vanished. Hutongs subsequently became stages for The extensive demolition and redevelopment of Qianmen
diverse groups competing for living space, resulting in Street sparked significant debate. In line with the vision
new settlement patterns that emerged from the cultural of creating a vintage-style street, the original commercial
remnants of the existing urban fabric. This transformation main street was completely demolished and rebuilt to
shaped a cityscape characterized by distinct generational restore an architectural form and ambiance reminiscent of
layers (Figure 8). the Qing dynasty’s commercial street.
Close observation of changes on a larger scale During the renovation, the architectural heritage
reveals that, alongside the dramatic population increase, of the Dashilar area was systematically dismantled and
most courtyard houses have lost their original spatial discarded. The vibrant urban life that once flourished
configurations. This alteration has led to the widespread in the area could not be revived, as contemporary
emergence of large, mixed-use courtyards. Haphazardly residents lacked the memory and understanding of
constructed private residences have proliferated within the city’s historical identity. The sense of place and
these courtyard houses, further fragmenting family spaces. subjective experiences within the neighborhood were
Over time, these already disorganized courtyard areas entirely obliterated as planners sought to channel
have become even more fragmented as the next generation popular emotions into fabricated narratives through
matures (Rudofsky, 1964). The initial alterations primarily new construction and commercial mediums. The once-
affected annex rooms and surrounding walls, which vibrant spaces were transformed into entirely artificial
were expanded to accommodate additional residents. collective memories, with the commercial area serving

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2025) 5 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4056