by Donia Zhang (Author)
Classical courtyard houses of Beijing as a housing typology have attracted interest of people from all walks of life. Due to deterioration, the large-scale demolition of these houses in the last few decades has aroused heated debates and protests, nationally and internationally. In this book, the author traced the history and philosophy of the classical Chinese courtyard house design; introduced, evaluated, and examined some modern interpretations of the classical Chinese courtyard houses, including the projects built at Juer Hutong (Chrysanthemum Lane), Nanchizi (South Pond), and Guantang (Cathy View). She further proposed a standardized design of New Courtyard Garden House for ordinary citizens or middle-income families in Beijing. The scheme is grounded on the "Nine Squares" land ownership system in ancient China, urban design studies on robust blocks dimensions, the optimum courtyard dimensions, and the surveys. The book is intended for scholars and architectural students who care about the past, present, and future housing development in Beijing; it is also for architects and developers who would like to pursue the construction of the New Courtyard Garden House