REHABILITATING THE OLD CITY OF BEIJING: a project in the Ju'er Hutong neighbourhood.REHABILITATING THE OLD CITY OF BEIJING: a project in the Ju'er Hutong neighbourhood By Wu Liangyong. Vancouver: UBC UBC Uniform Building Code UBC University of British Columbia UBC Union of the Baltic Cities UBC United Brotherhood of Carpenters UBC Universal Battery Charger UBC Union of Baltic Cities UBC Universal Bibliographic Control UBC Used Beverage Cans Press. 1999. $75 This long awaited and scholarly book by Wu Liangyong contributes to fulfilling the immense dearth of literature on the traditional and contemporary architecture and city planning city planning, process of planning for the improvement of urban centers in order to provide healthy and safe living conditions, efficient transport and communication, adequate public facilities, and aesthetic surroundings. of China. The book first discusses the historical development of the City of Beijing and its morphology and grid-form city pattern, particularly in relation to the generic ancient Chinese List of ancient Chinese is a list of noteworthy people of ancient China. Different definitions of "ancient" China exist, but most agree that it is before the Tang dynasty. Related lists A general listing of existing lists related to this topic. concept of the 'ideal form of the royal city'. Having established this context, Wu proceeds with a critical evaluation of the renewal of the traditional courtyard house A courtyard house is a type of house - often a large house - where the the main part of the building is disposed around a central courtyard. Many houses that have courtyards are not courtyard houses of the type covered by this article. fundamental to the Chinese city, followed by a description of his preference for the 'organic approach' to renewal and rehabilitation of the old City of Beijing. He gives a thorough historical and formal analysis of the traditional Chinese courtyard house, which then leads to his own ideas and design proposals for a mid-rise new prototype courtyard house for contemporary conditions. The prototype was built in the experimental and award-winning Ju'er Hutong project in Beijing. The book concludes with an instructive post-occupancy evaluation of this project followed by a useful discussion on the lessons to be learnt. This book is vital for those interested in Chinese architecture Chinese architecture, the buildings and other structures created in China from prehistoric times to the present day. Early Architecture As a result of wars and invasions, there are few existing buildings in China predating the Ming dynasty , in what can be learnt from Chinese housing and in the immense possibilities that the traditional Chinese courtyard built form can offer by adaptation for today's housing solutions. The book is profusely pro·fuse adj. 1. Plentiful; copious. 2. Giving or given freely and abundantly; extravagant: were profuse in their compliments. illustrated with beautiful line drawings, accompanied with statistical data. Wu Liangyong is a seasoned and consummate academic and architect. More of his books should certainly be translated into English for the worldwide dissemination of his ideas and work. |
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