Discover The Hidden Memories in Hutong

How could we preserve the local culture while advancing architecture? Beijing natives love to use the common area in between the buildings. They used the Hutong as their shared garden, tea house, playground, etc, and these activities formed and inherited the local culture as well. However, the illegal building additions and occupation of public areas for private use are running rampant and killing the local culture. My project aims to provide a new possibility for communities in Hutong while balancing the modern lifestyle and local culture.