Design on life

Baitasi is another old courtyard area in Beijing that will undergo regeneration. The developer of the project says the transformation will take three to five years.[Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/China Daily]

Experts study ways to breathe new life into Baitasi hutong area

After a successful start at transforming the Dashilar hutong area, Beijing Design Week has focused on another old courtyard area, Baitasi.

The design-week committee announced on Sept 24 that it will embark on Baitasi Remade, a collaboration between the government, enterprises, designers and local residents eager to regenerate the area.

Located near the West Second Ring Road, one of Beijing's busiest thoroughfares, the Baitasi settlement dates back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). It remains of the last few low-rise residential areas in Beijing today, highlighted by the White Pagoda Temple and the Beijing Lu Xun Museum.

Like most of the old hutong communities, old residents have moved out, while immigrants have occupied the segmented spaces. Both the social and cultural textures of the area are withering.

Rather than massive destruction and reconstruction, the area will see an organic way to revitalize through design innovation, the committee says.

The project will be directed by Xicheng district government with support from Beijing Huarong Jinying Investment & Development. Locals are encouraged to participate.

More than 40 exhibitions and forums will take place through Oct 7, all centered around the theme of Baitasi Remade. They are scattered across four venues, namely the Info Hub, Making Hub, Reading Hub and Sales Hub, allowing visitors to explore the area in different ways.