“BEFORE/AFTER” documents the drastic changes, both physical and psychological, which took place during the renovation of Beijing’s Fangjia Hutong in the months between April and September 2017. In 2019, OPEN Architecture was invited to participate in “Unknown City: China Contemporary Architecture and Image Exhibition”, the opening exhibition of the Pingshan Art Museum, with their work “BEFORE/AFTER”.
After the renovation, the diverse storefronts that used to record the joyful moments of life were removed and replaced with rows of uniform building façades. The Hutongs that used to hold numerous cafes, restaurants, bars, and featured shops suddenly lost its own identity.
OPEN Architecture’s “BEFORE/AFTER” attempts to use image comparisons to encourage people’s reflection on a series of critical urban issues—of freedom and authority, progress and nostalgia, inclusivity and exclusivity, collectivity and individuality, and ultimately, the future of our cities. Through this study, OPEN Architecture hopes to encourage discussions around the definition of the ideal urban living and urban fabric.
