Floating above the urban hustle stands the Baiziwan Social Housing. It is not just a bridge but a testament to Beijing’s evolving approach to social living. This is a place where architecture meets community. It is where design fosters a more humane environment.
Let’s delve into the story of this unique complex. The Baiziwan Social Housing is MAD Architects’ first foray into affordable housing in Beijing. Ma Yansong led this project. He envisioned something beyond the typical residential design.
The Baiziwan Social Housing spans 93,900 square meters. Its total construction area reaches 473,300 square meters. It is located near Beijing’s CBD. The complex comprises twelve residential buildings. Together, they provide 4,000 apartments. Almost 3,000 families have already moved in since its completion. This includes dwellings for welfare recipients and young professionals.
Ma Yansong’s research into social housing began in 2014. His research explored the historical development and design of social housing across different countries. Beijing’s Public Housing Center invited Ma Yansong to design the Baiziwan Social Housing in 2014. MAD aimed to improve living conditions for low-income communities. They wanted to introduce a fresh perspective to residential design in China.
MAD divided the site into six blocks. A main avenue cuts through the center. This design fragments the large site creating a more human scale. The central avenue features commercial spaces like shops and cafes. You will also find kindergartens, pharmacies, and bookstores. Elder care facilities are also available. This arterial route fosters connections between the neighborhood and the city.
The ground level is open to the public. The second level is for residents only. Here, a communal outdoor landscape awaits. A red-colored pedestrian circuit weaves around all six blocks. It forms a large above-ground park. A gym, community gardens, and a badminton court are all available. Children’s playgrounds and ecological sanctuaries are present. Communal support services are also available.
The Baiziwan Social Housing incorporates staggered half-floors. Semi-opened gray spaces of various scales add to the design. The scheme provides green coverage on the ground level. The second-level park and the rooftop also contribute. Residents enjoy strong connections to nature. Green coverage reaches 47%. The blocks have Y-shaped footprints. They combine with gradual stepping forms and staggered heights. This creates a mountain-like topography across the site.
The interface between buildings forms semi-enclosed spaces. This promotes a sense of intimacy and community. From afar, the simple white façade and undulating mountain form enrich the city skyline. The project’s 4,000 residential units come in six typologies. Three of these are ultra-low energy consumption designs. They span areas of 40, 50, and 60 square meters. Light-coated board is used for room partitions. This allows for easy maintenance. Residents can also easily decorate.
MAD sought to ensure every room gets sufficient sunlight. The design adopts a Y-branch building form. Communal corridors are on the north face of each building. This enhances sunlight exposure in the residential units. Over 80% of the building components were prefabricated off-site. This allows for higher quality housing production. The scheme contains two ultra-low energy consumption buildings. These buildings reduce energy consumption by 90%.
China’s residential design has shifted dramatically. Rapid real estate development led to homogenization. MAD aspires to offer a humane and vibrant living environment. The design integrates affordable housing with a universal ideal for dignified living. This project represents an important step forward for ideal living in China.
As you stand here, consider the broader implications of Baiziwan Bridge Social Housing. It embodies a vision of community. It shows a commitment to improving lives through thoughtful design.