Heritage plays an important role in promoting urban physical and cultural diversity, as well as social cohesion in a changing context.
In the context of Beijing, Hutong is the traditional residential area consists of regularly arranged courtyards. All buildings with slope roofs reflect the traditional Chinese architectural principles.
According to historic pictures, trees and micro green space are the main landscape of original "Hutong-courtyard", and they provide large amount of public space in good quality which can promote social interaction. The public space system is including public space, semi-public space, semi-private space and private space.
Accordingly, Hutong is not only a heritage object, but also a narrative of how public space transition in changing context. Moreover, it also helps to understand how public space effecting human approach in context of Beijing. Hutong contains huge tangible and intangible value, and it is one of the most representative heritages in Beijing, since its preservation is benefit to both physical and social sustainability.
However, booming population and inappropriate urban renewal policy had changed the original physical and social structure, resulting in Hutong demolishing.
Existing Hutong preservation are more focus on heritage object. This report tries to explore the new approaches of Hutong rehabilitation, the people, public space system of Hutong and their relationship will be seen as heritage. Therefore, this report will be focus on people and space instead of only object, and provide them sustainable development in Hutong context.