Tentative Study On The Preservation And Small-Scale Transformation Of The Dashila Area In Beijing

The Dashila area has always been a sensitive spot in the UrbanRenewal of Beijing. Through all these years' argument and study,the Consevation, Preservation and Develpment Planning Schemefinally turned out today. However, through thorough investigationon the historical and cultural background and practical situation ofthe Dashila area, the difficulties of the job were conceived,questions were raised toward the current planning scheme, intrinsicvalues were found in the self-built behaviors of local residents. Urban Renewal is conceived as a process of self-perfection andmetastasis. To overviw the process of Urban Renewal in Beijing,large-scale reconstruction has exposed its disadvantage and harmwhile on the other hand, with the diversity of economy andincreasing income of people, the inside impetus of urban renewalhas never stopped. The historical urban sites, with their richheritage and diverse structures, should be respected, and shouldmake use of the impetus to develop. The thesis spreads in two clues: housing and commerce.Through evaluation of forms and values of traditional housing andcommerce in the Dashila area, a kind of smal-scale renewal methodshows its feasibility, focusing on the small-scale transformation oflocal traditional habitats and Meishi street--a typical commoncommercial street in this area. Inspired by the self-built behaviorsof local people and other similiar examples in South China,summarized and purified, innovative, tentative and practicalhousing renewal methods are explored; As to the commercialpreservation and transformation, several open-ended questionsbased on the small-scale commerce are raised to illumine thoughts. IIIn the end of the theis, the self behavior is raised up to thecommunity level of participation and corporation. Referencing thethoughts of the Community Architecture Movement, the thesisdiscusses the key elements of community renewal such as publicparicipation and NGC, and concerns policy, economy aspects ofsmall-scale preservation.