Now this unique type of residential development is rapidly disappearing, but it is not always replaced by multi-storey office complexes and condominiums: sometimes, on the site of hutongs, outwardly reminding them appear, designed for wealthy owners. But, in any case, residents of the demolished neighborhoods are massively relocated to sleeping areas on the outskirts of Beijing. However, for them, this is not an unambiguous change for the worse: in hutongs they usually live very crowded, each resident has very little personal space, and showers and toilets are on the street.
The architects of MAD seem to have found a Solomon solution: they propose to add ultramodern additions to historical houses, where bathrooms, children's rooms, stairs and other functional spaces necessary for the modernization of such buildings will be located. Thus, hutongs will become more convenient for their permanent residents, as well as attract wealthy owners who will not require their demolition and rebuilding. With the help of these “objects”, the lifestyle of a modern Beijing citizen will be coordinated with the historical buildings without loss for both sides.
The first example of such a strategy was Hutong Bubble 32, a mirrored volume attached to an existing wall of a historic residential building. Inside there is a bathroom and a staircase leading to the garden on the roof of the house.
