DnA turns beijing hutong building into a contemporary art gallery

DnA design and architecture has converted a two-storey building in a beijing hutong into an art gallery in the city’s baitasi district. located in close proximity to the 700-year-old buddhist temple that gave the area its name, the project contains artist residences and hosts community exhibitions that cater to the needs of creatives living and working in the emerging neighborhood. ‘the building is a connection of historical context with future programs and will provide new possibilities into the hutong community life,’ explain the architects.

all images by xiazhi

most of the cement buildings in the area were built after the 1980s, when some local residents tore down their courtyard residences to construct larger living spaces. as a result, cement block buildings are a common typology within the area’s urban fabric. beijing’s hutong preservation regulations dictated that the original building volume had to remain intact. however, in realizing the ‘baitasi hutong gallery’ DnA significantly reorganized the structure and layout to include the new programs.

new spaces include a double-height gallery facing north, a salon and office at ground level, and artist rooms above. in order to bring sufficient light into the gallery, a system of vertical voids was developed. small courtyards remain open to the sky, while strategically positioned apertures illuminate other areas of the scheme. finally, the rooftop serves as a public space with areas that encourage the growth of plants.

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project info:

name: baitasi hutong gallery
location: gongmenkou 4th alley, xicheng district, beijing,
program: exhibition/ artist residence
client: beijing hua rong jin ying investment & development co. ltd.
architects: DnA design and architecture
structure engineer: china academy of building research
lighting design: zhang xin studio, architecture department of tsinghua university
structure: hybrid structure
gross floor area: 236 sqm (after), 306 sqm (before)
building foot print: 158 sqm
design period: 2015.11-2015.12
construction period: 2016.3-2017.12
photography: xiazhi