A&D ANNUAL 2021

Yanyue Ren

Yanyue Ren's work aims to address spatial scarcity by exploiting subterranean architecture to alter historical and cultural sites in the urban environment within the context of 21st century rapid urbanisation. In many cities, old houses and sites remain in the city centre that cannot be demolished. One million Beijingers, for example, live in unsafe and unsanitary illegal underground spaces due to population growth and excessive pressure on property prices. Yet, in the centre of Beijing, many derelict old homes cannot be demolished for policy reasons. Tiaozhou Hutong is located in the centre of Beijing and near the Forbidden City, in the Da Zha Lar area. Da Zha Lar has become the longest-running and largest traditional urban cultural district. Tiaozhou Hutong 22 is a typical small courtyard house that has been abandoned for a long time due to its poor layout and structure. This project aims to transform this building into a comfortable and suitable building for human habitation or use through renovation and expansion.