Eco-Hutong – Beijing (China)

With “Eco-Hutong” we have proposed a new approach for the renovation of Beijing’s historic houses.

For an eco-compatible renovation, we have created a new method, called the “Tool Kit”, which involves the use of the “sustainability meter”, which identifies in a schematic way the most important phases concerning the analysis and the design, and the application phase.

The bio-architecture project involved the renovation of two “siheyuan”, historical housing units, in the Dashilar district in Beijing, as an example of standard recovery for the whole district, to improve the quality of life of the citizens, providing them with primary services (bathroom and kitchen) and a new living comfort using sustainable techniques and technologies.

Being a site of great importance and historical value with a strong identity, we have acted in accordance with local traditions and culture, identifying four aspects from which the architectural concept is developed:

• the Court: the center;
• the Wall: the protagonist of all the hutongs;
• the Green Roof: the vegetation on top of the roofs, possible thanks to the seeds put by the inhabitants;
• the Box: the covering of the interior walls of houses with cardboard and recycled materials, used as a method of protection from cold during the winter.

The concept of “Eco-Hutong” is therefore born.

More information

• Project Team: Eleonora Bertolotto, Veronica Maggini
• Tutor: Arch. Valter Scelsi, Arch. Renata Morbiducci
• Residential Renovation
• 2012
• Thesis
• Beijing (China)