With the establishment of the Beijing office, we are concerned that the rapid urbanization process has broken down the boundaries between cities.It is not only the boundaries of the city, but also the appearance of the city. The large-scale demolition and construction have made the city the same. Not only has the city’s unique context been lost, but more importantly, the city residents’ sense of belonging has been lost.
Architecture, one of the important elements of the city, Although it includes many types, the meaning may be the same for each of us. It carries the emotions of each of us, and it builds the memories of each of us.
Have you had any of the following experiences?
When you look through the photos, you no longer have the contact information of the giggling friend standing next to you. With anticipation, you return to the alley where you once chased and played together, only to find that it has long been turned into ruins and is waiting for construction.
When you are frustrated at work, you get drunk and remember the heroic words you once said when you were in school. With expectation, you return to the pavilion on the top of the mountain where you once dreamed of the future with your classmates, only to find that it has long been fenced off and built into a private high-end villa.
When you start a family and start a business, and want to relive your growth with your children, you return to the university campus where you once worked hard with great expectations, only to find that it has been transformed into residential apartments rising from the ground.
When you receive the news that your father has passed away far away in your hometown, the scoldings, conversations, and companionships come to your mind. When you return to the familiar city, you find that it is no longer familiar to you. Your growth, your youth, and your past can only be found in memories, but there is less support. As time goes by, our memories will become hazy and eventually blurry.
This should not be the price of urban development. In 2014, we proposed the “SAVING THE BUILDINGS” plan, trying to save the cultural context that is being lost, reshape the appearance of the city, rebuild the sense of belonging of urban residents, so that emotions can be carried and memories can be supported.
© 2024 SPACTOR