As part of the study of the Xiegong Memorial hutong, we created an interpretive model of the open space at the historic neighborhood. Rather than construct a conventional model, we were instructed to build a creative interpretation of the hutong's open space. Upon visiting the site and collaborating in the studio, we determined there are three major themes which contribute to successful open spaces. These major concepts are personified in our interpretive model of the Xiegong Memorial hutong as ratio and dimension, sense of identity, and function.
Ratio and Dimension
First, in exploring and interpreting our site, we noticed that the dimensions of an effective open space follow a ratio that is both pleasing to the human eye and human comfort. We noticed that the dimensions of the General Xie hutong closely followed the "golden ratio" or 1:1.6. Of course, this terminology is borrowed from Western literature, and it may seem esoteric to Chinese designers. Also, it isn't a rule of thumb for designing outdoor space, however, it indicates that this proportion exists in nature and connects humanity regardless of cultural differences or location. In essence, both balanced in width and height, the Xiegong courtyard/pathways and Fayuan Park remain accessible as the buildings and courtyard are neither too high nor too long. We chose to recreate the interpretive model with this ratio in mind.
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| The human scale of the buildings and roads foster community events and activities in the open spaces. |
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| An example of a balance in the width and height of roads and buildings according to human scale. |
Sense of Identity
Second, impressionable open spaces foster a sense of identity and belonging. This idea is expressed through the movable and elevated pieces, revealing the floorplan underneath.
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| Greg plays with the model, revealing the floorplan as the base. |
By showing the floorplan, we wanted to symbolize the imprint of the buildings if the hutongs were demolished. Thus, if the entire Xiegong Memorial neighborhood were to disappear, the footprint would represent the legacy and history of generations who have lived there.
Similarly, there is a piece of the model which is on a hinge and can swing back and forth. Left in its initial place, the piece covers the floorplan beneath it. However, once the user rotates it, they will see the floorplan. This part of the model goes with concept of identity and is actually based on an observation encountered at the site. Indeed, with the hutong, we noticed how buildings were built over the years on top of existing foundations. Some were placed directly on top, others were shifted a little from the original foundations. Likewise, in the model, the user may shift the piece, but regardless of the case, he or she will always see the underlying footprint. The message here is that regardless of how the hutong develops, its past will always be a part of its present.
Function
Lastly, the types of use in an open space range according to season. Although cold weather may prohibit people to go outside, open spaces are certainly still used for other reasons; possibly, children can play outside in the snow or adults can have a hot drink and socialize. Hence, we expressed the transformational uses of the courtyard and Fayuan Park by including cross-sections, elevations, and sketches on top of the buildings. Viewers are able to focus on specific drawings, and at the same time, look at floor plan of the entire Xiegong Memorial neighborhood. Additional tools used to strengthen our argument for the hutong’s success in open spaces included scoring the courtyards and alleys in relation to the building heights, giving the viewer a sense of spatial recognition. The use of photos reflects the activities that occur in a specific open space in the site plan. Function
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| Notice the scoring of the photograph, each rectangular unit represents one person's standing space. |
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| The overlapped photos and sketches create a feeling of commotion and vitality. |
The density of the sketches is analogous to the concentration of trash, unused building materials, and the loss of open space. It can also represent the commotion and vitality of a historic district, bursting with human life. In any case, crowded outdoor spaces would be an imbalance between the open space and built space, which would alter the principles of traditional Chinese architecture. Essentially, this would equate to losing the Xiegong Memorial neighborhood as a historic relic.
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| Our translation of the hutong's open space; the foam pieces create a scaled 3-D version of the siteplan. |
This video clip provides a fluid experience of the interpretive model.
