ELEVATE THE CITY

ELEVATE THE CITY; Beijing has become one of the most polluted cities in this decade. The people long for a change back to nature and a new awareness of mankind in cities. Though the city cannot grow furthermore and existing structures cannot be replaced permanently, the solution for this problem should be an organic structure, which intercauses with the existing structure without doing a cut-through. The structure set as a new layer on top of the existing structure given in Beijing gives the inhabitants of Beijing new space for their leisure time. This green lung is representing the new awareness of the inhabitants to their environment and embody the relation to the nature. Forgotten traditions and structures shall be revitalized and the society will get stronger by creating new spaces for communication. On the new city layer the housing is arranged in groups, which is organized in court yards to re-establish new little communities. The status of the individual is transferred into a new interpretation of family life, organized in the new courtyards. The housing is broken down to minimal requirements for each individual, but the whole complex is maintaining the full functionality for daily life. The shifting of the common room is made from the inside of the apartment to the public space in the courtyards and the new layer. These structures make the society stronger and gives the inhabitants a vision of sustainable living inside a mega city. The traditional Hutongs are new interpreted on the city layer and enhanced by creating a green space around them. The existing city is conserved as far as possible and is supporting the new structure and is maintaining the access. The aim of this vision is to enlarge the microcosms of the individual inside the macrocosms of a mega city like Beijing will be.