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Qiaoxi Block will receive massive face-lift
By Xu Wenwen |
August 19, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A famous industrial area in Hangzhou will become a protected historical area after extensive renovations. The city's blueprint calls for a return to traditional Chinese architecture, two pedestrian streets and height restrictions on buildings, writes Xu Wenwen.
The Qiaoxi Historic and Cultural Block in the north of Hangzhou is to be protected and renovated by the city government.
The Hangzhou Urban Planning Bureau has posted the plan and has invited residents to make suggestions until the end of this month.
Qiaoxi Block is in the west of Gongchen Bridge, which crosses the Grand Canal, and was originally an industrial area built in 1631. The block represents the history of local industry.
The program calls for the protection of old streets and buildings, to control the height of new construction, keep the block's original features, including landscapes along the canal and historic architecture, as well as improve the living environment.
The uptown area of Qiaoxi Block is heavily related to Hangzhou's modern industry. In the 1880s, it was rebuilt because business flourished since Gongchen Bridge and the canal made transport convenient.
Since the People's Republic of China was founded, light industry developed and many national factories opened in the area, including the noted Tongyi Cotton Mill, which later was renamed Hangzhou No. 1 Cotton Mill.
A cultural quarter emerged in the area in 2007 as some factories had been converted into museums and studios for artists. Some warehouses, workshops and docks remain as symbols of what the area once represented.
The block, which covers around 51 hectares, also features the best-preserved ancient residences along the Grand Canal. These homes were once lived in by workers and commoners and reflected Hangzhou's grassroots culture.
To conserve the traditional look and culture, the protection program partitions the block into three parts with different levels of protection. The three areas are the key protection region, construction control zone and environment coordinating region.
The key protection region covers 12 hectares and includes the China Umbrella Museum, China Knives and Scissors Museum and the former site of Tongyi Cotton Mill.
According to the plan, the width and direction of traditional streets and lanes will be retained in the key protection region. Qiaoxizhi Street and Qiaolong Street will be renovated into pedestrian strips.
Meanwhile, traditional Chinese architecture is required in the key protection region in order to blend in with the old houses in the area.
Black, grey and white - the three classic colors of traditional Chinese architecture - are the dominant hues. Black roofs and white walls are requested, while vivid colors will be banned. Cobblestone roads, Chinese-style tiles, stone door frames, as well as wooden windows and doors are all recommended.
The outdoor part of air conditioners are supposed to be covered.
Meanwhile, the project also attaches great importance to the height of buildings in Qiaoxi Block.
First, the original height of all historical and cultural sites under government protection must be maintained.
Secondly, in the key protection area, three stories is the maximum number of floors for any building to be renovated or rebuilt. The maximum height for eaves is 12 meters.
Additionally, the continuity of the landscape must be guaranteed.
In the construction control zone that encircles the key protection region, all new buildings should be between 12 and 24 meters. This will ensure the block has taller buildings around the perimeter with the low buildings in the center.
Any building above the specified height restrictions in the key protection region and construction control zone will be either renovated or tore down.
The original height of all historical and cultural sites under government protection must be maintained.
In the key protection area, three stories is the maximum for any building to be renovated or rebuilt.
In the construction control zone that encircles the key protection region, all new buildings should be between 12 and 24 meters.
The Qiaoxi Historic and Cultural Block in the north of Hangzhou is to be protected and renovated by the city government.
The Hangzhou Urban Planning Bureau has posted the plan and has invited residents to make suggestions until the end of this month.
Qiaoxi Block is in the west of Gongchen Bridge, which crosses the Grand Canal, and was originally an industrial area built in 1631. The block represents the history of local industry.
The program calls for the protection of old streets and buildings, to control the height of new construction, keep the block's original features, including landscapes along the canal and historic architecture, as well as improve the living environment.
The uptown area of Qiaoxi Block is heavily related to Hangzhou's modern industry. In the 1880s, it was rebuilt because business flourished since Gongchen Bridge and the canal made transport convenient.
Since the People's Republic of China was founded, light industry developed and many national factories opened in the area, including the noted Tongyi Cotton Mill, which later was renamed Hangzhou No. 1 Cotton Mill.
A cultural quarter emerged in the area in 2007 as some factories had been converted into museums and studios for artists. Some warehouses, workshops and docks remain as symbols of what the area once represented.
The block, which covers around 51 hectares, also features the best-preserved ancient residences along the Grand Canal. These homes were once lived in by workers and commoners and reflected Hangzhou's grassroots culture.
To conserve the traditional look and culture, the protection program partitions the block into three parts with different levels of protection. The three areas are the key protection region, construction control zone and environment coordinating region.
The key protection region covers 12 hectares and includes the China Umbrella Museum, China Knives and Scissors Museum and the former site of Tongyi Cotton Mill.
According to the plan, the width and direction of traditional streets and lanes will be retained in the key protection region. Qiaoxizhi Street and Qiaolong Street will be renovated into pedestrian strips.
Meanwhile, traditional Chinese architecture is required in the key protection region in order to blend in with the old houses in the area.
Black, grey and white - the three classic colors of traditional Chinese architecture - are the dominant hues. Black roofs and white walls are requested, while vivid colors will be banned. Cobblestone roads, Chinese-style tiles, stone door frames, as well as wooden windows and doors are all recommended.
The outdoor part of air conditioners are supposed to be covered.
Meanwhile, the project also attaches great importance to the height of buildings in Qiaoxi Block.
First, the original height of all historical and cultural sites under government protection must be maintained.
Secondly, in the key protection area, three stories is the maximum number of floors for any building to be renovated or rebuilt. The maximum height for eaves is 12 meters.
Additionally, the continuity of the landscape must be guaranteed.
In the construction control zone that encircles the key protection region, all new buildings should be between 12 and 24 meters. This will ensure the block has taller buildings around the perimeter with the low buildings in the center.
Any building above the specified height restrictions in the key protection region and construction control zone will be either renovated or tore down.
The original height of all historical and cultural sites under government protection must be maintained.
In the key protection area, three stories is the maximum for any building to be renovated or rebuilt.
In the construction control zone that encircles the key protection region, all new buildings should be between 12 and 24 meters.
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