Courtyard Renovation at the White Pagoda Temple / Tsinghua University School of Architecture + maison h

Courtyard Renovation at the White Pagoda Temple / Tsinghua University School of Architecture + maison h - Image 11 of 42
© Martijn de Geus

Courtyard Renovation at the White Pagoda Temple / Tsinghua University School of Architecture + maison h - Image 2 of 42Courtyard Renovation at the White Pagoda Temple / Tsinghua University School of Architecture + maison h - Image 6 of 42Courtyard Renovation at the White Pagoda Temple / Tsinghua University School of Architecture + maison h - Image 3 of 42Courtyard Renovation at the White Pagoda Temple / Tsinghua University School of Architecture + maison h - Stairs, Facade, HandrailCourtyard Renovation at the White Pagoda Temple / Tsinghua University School of Architecture + maison h - More Images+ 37

  • Courtyard Design Supervision: maison h, Martijn de Geus, Han Zhang, Huixin Loo, Simon Henstra
  • Sponsor: Baitasi Redevelopment Group, School of Architecture at Tsinghua University
  • Urban Design Studio Students: Laurene Belcour, Yingyan Boey, David Vargas, Mohammed Sairally, Alessandra Coppari, Huixin Loo, Deelip Kumar, Deandrea Smith, Chengfung Chiun, Ahmed Elmelegy, Jamar Rock, Gyoung Min Ko, Xiaowen Zhang, Ricardo Simmons, Katja Toivola
  • Tsinghua Program Director: Xiaodong Li
  • Urban Design Studio Tutors: Yue Zhang, He Huang, Martijn de Geus
  • City: Xicheng Qu
  • Country: China
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Courtyard Renovation at the White Pagoda Temple / Tsinghua University School of Architecture + maison h - Facade
© Martijn de Geus

Text description provided by the architects. This project is located in Beijing’s historic center, in an area full of hutong laneways and ancient courtyards. It’s a hands-on academic project, conceived by master students from Tsinghua University, in which they investigate how to ‘lever social change in China through design’. Students deal with issues from a grounded, built reality, which complements what they learn in the design studio. Surrounded by authentic hutong life, the proximity of the site to the White Pagoda Temple provided a unique experience for our students to investigate.

Courtyard Renovation at the White Pagoda Temple / Tsinghua University School of Architecture + maison h - Stairs, Handrail
© Martijn de Geus
Perspective section
Courtyard Renovation at the White Pagoda Temple / Tsinghua University School of Architecture + maison h - Windows
© Martijn de Geus

After starting with an 8-week long urban design studio called Sharing Cities, the local government allocated a dilapidated courtyard for us to regenerate, as a test case for the student’s ideas. The design was inspired by the opportunity to bring a new perspective to the traditional hutong experience. People can now explore the courtyard in three dimensions, including quiet corners, a skywalk and small amphitheater, and is implemented as a usable addition to the neighborhood, not as an abstract stand-alone installation.

The new structure creates a very direct connection with the renovated courtyard house, and opens up never-before seen perspectives. This has allowed visitor to interact with the traditional architecture very close-up, including a skywalk and tea-drinking platform offering amazing sunset views of the temple. An elevated view of the Buddhist, white pagoda that been standing quietly above the neighbourhood since the 13th century, or Yuan Dynasty.

Courtyard Renovation at the White Pagoda Temple / Tsinghua University School of Architecture + maison h - Stairs
© Martijn de Geus

The Sharing Cities studio aims to provide urban and architectural proposals to emerging concept of sharing, and responds to the idea of public space sharing and sustainable urban development from social, economic and humanitarian perspectives. The studio emphasizes a holistic and collaborative approach and the project is a physical example of this abstract idea. After the urban design studio, the students worked within the tutor’s architecture practice to combine their research and ideas into a singular design intervention for the courtyard, build together with a local contractor.

Courtyard Renovation at the White Pagoda Temple / Tsinghua University School of Architecture + maison h - Stairs, Handrail
© Martijn de Geus
Sunset platform diagram
Courtyard Renovation at the White Pagoda Temple / Tsinghua University School of Architecture + maison h - Image 3 of 42
© Martijn de Geus

Understanding the social impact of a design is critical for architecture education, and by seeing a project through from drawing to actual construction, students learn that their ideas can change the world around them.

The courtyard was unveiled at the opening of Beijing Design Week 2017 and visited by countless visitors over the course of the week. The courtyard addition was especially enjoyed by the surrounding residents as an interactive addition to their neighborhood; for young and old.

Courtyard Renovation at the White Pagoda Temple / Tsinghua University School of Architecture + maison h - Image 2 of 42
© Martijn de Geus

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Project location

Address:171 Fuchengmen Inner St, Xicheng Qu, Beijing Shi, China

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
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Cite: "Courtyard Renovation at the White Pagoda Temple / Tsinghua University School of Architecture + maison h" 05 Mar 2018. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/890056/courtyard-renovation-at-the-white-pagoda-temple-tsinghua-university-school-of-architecture-plus-maison-h> ISSN 0719-8884

© Martijn de Geus

白塔寺院落更新 / 清华大学建筑学院 + 汉荷设计

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