From hutong to hi-rise : explaining the transformation of Old Beijing, 1990-2002

Abstract

This thesis attempts to explain the redevelopment of Old Beijing during the period 1990-2002. During this time, at least one third of the Old City was transformed from an urban fabric consisting principally of courtyard houses (siheyuan) and narrow lanes (hutongs) to one comprised of wide roads and hi-rise buildings. This thesis starts from the premise that this redevelopment has had devastating social and cultural costs in terms of excessive relocation and destruction of the historic urban fabric and that it is possible to develop a pattern of redevelopment that better balances the social, cultural and economic needs of Beijing's citizens. Understanding the driving forces of the current pattern of redevelopment is a necessary preliminary step towards doing so. This thesis therefore attempts to explain the course of redevelopment in the Old City, arguing that is has been enabled by a series of market reforms but is predominantly shaped by the political objectives of the politicians controlling the development process. Accordingly, redevelopment is carried out with the principle goal of advancing visible economic development notwithstanding the social and cultural cost. Two case-studies are examined to test this proposition: the development of Finance Street, a 105 he CBD and Nanchizi, a smaller conservation area. The thesis concludes that both case-studies demonstrate the failure of planning policies in the face of political objectives, and suggests a series of possible directions for improving the redevelopment process in Beijing.