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Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Borneo Post
From crumbling to captivating: Japanese architect reviving hutong alleys in central Beijing
Japanese architect Shuhei Aoyama gives an introduction on a hutong near the centuries-old Miaoying Temple, also known as the White Stupa Temple, in downtown Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xiaopeng) BEIJING (June 8): When Japanese architect Shuhei Aoyama dropped by a bakery near the centuries-old Miaoying Temple, also known as the White Stupa Temple, in downtown Beijing, he was delighted to see his latest project buzzing with people. With its cozy porch and grey brick walls, the bakery blends seamlessly into the surrounding hutong alleys and courtyard houses of the historical district. The building's exterior wall features a big mirror, attracting numerous passersby to take photos. Inside, a well-positioned window offers seated diners the perfect view of the iconic white pagoda, a Buddhist structure designed by a Nepalese architect and built in the early Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). By skillfully weaving together traditional elements and modern aesthetics, Aoyama has created a space that is at once inviting, artistic, and deeply connected to the city's cultural roots. 'I didn't expect so many customers when designing it,' Aoyama told Xinhua in fluent Chinese with a mild smile. The Japanese architect first visited China as a teenager, and returned in 2005 after earning a master's degree in architecture. Amid Beijing's vibrant architectural boom ahead of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Aoyama decided to make the city his home. The next 10 years would see him living in the hutongs, and drawing inspiration from these ancient alleys. In 2014, he co-founded an architectural studio at a Beijing startup hub. REINVENTING HUTONG LIFE Aoyama first rose to public attention through a television show in which he transformed aging hutong residential buildings. One notable project involved an L-shaped house of less than 40 square metres in Dengshikou Hutong. Aoyama reimagined the space into a functional and desirable home, much to the delight of its returning residents. Having lived in the hutongs himself, Aoyama developed a deep appreciation for the lifestyle. 'I realised that in the hutongs, buildings are in constant dialogue with their environment,' he explained. But what impressed Aoyama most was the strong sense of community. 'For example, my neighbour's child would wander in and out of my house and into others', and my neighbors would clean the shared courtyard and even help me collect the laundry when it's raining,' he said. 'They did this because they believed the shared space was part of their home. In their minds, the entire hutong was home.' To Aoyama, architecture is a vessel for memory, preserving the traces of time and history. 'I don't want to see old neighborhoods turned into museums – preserved, but empty because people move out when they get the chance. We aim to use modern design to turn them into places people actually want to live in.' By employing new materials and techniques, Aoyama's team has joined the local endeavor in addressing common issues in hutong living: cramped spaces, poor insulation, inadequate bathrooms, and limited ventilation and daylight. He believes it's vital for a city to keep such diverse communities in the old town where people of different ages and backgrounds can interact with each other. INSIDER TO CHINA'S ARCHITECTURE As a Japanese architect based in China, Aoyama has had a unique vantage point on the country's architectural development. Rather than joining a large global firm, he chose to begin his career with a Japanese company in China. 'I felt there was more I could contribute here,' he said. In 2005, the company's projects were mostly mega ones in major cities, such as large commercial complexes and residential buildings. After establishing his studio, Aoyama shifted his focus toward urban renewal: revitalizing old neighborhoods and historical districts nationwide. Official data showed that from 2019 to 2024, China initiated the renovation of 280,000 old residential communities, benefiting 48 million households and over 120 million people. More recently, Aoyama's team has taken on rural revitalization projects, transforming traditional countryside homes into guesthouses and boutique hotels. Aoyama notes that China's architecture industry has become more standardized and professional over the years. 'Clients now evaluate firms, domestic and foreign alike, based on their work, philosophy, and values.' With its vast population and many growing cities, China, which now pursues the building of quality homes that are safe, comfortable, eco-friendly, and smart, remains a fertile ground for architectural innovation. 'There are still so many opportunities,' Aoyama said. ARCHITECTURE AS CULTURAL BRIDGE 'Architecture is not like selling a product but a creative pursuit,' Aoyama remarked. 'If I want to design something in Beijing, I need to understand the local climate, culture, terrain, and how people live. The process is a great way to truly get to know a place.' Over the past two decades in China, Aoyama has traveled to every provincial region — more than many Chinese people. During these trips, he collected not only building materials like ancient bricks that interested him, but also books on local architecture, to better understand the country. Traveling across borders frequently, he was surprised by how deep the exchanges between China and Japan had gone. 'Twenty years ago, few people around me had been to Japan. Now, many of my Chinese friends have visited, and some know it even better than I do,' he said, adding that they also have Chinese clients who asked his team to renovate properties they purchased in Japan, incorporating traditional Chinese courtyard elements into the design. While pursuing his doctorate at Tsinghua University, Aoyama joined a collaborative project that brought students from both countries together to work and learn. That experience left a lasting impression. 'I hope more young people from China and Japan can connect through architectural projects,' he said. 'For me, architecture is an important medium for cultural exchange.' – Xinhua architect architecture China hutong
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Does this ghostly glass house for sale give mausoleum vibes? Judge for yourself
A glass house that looks like it should have its own soundtrack of creepy songs belted out by a children's choir has landed on the real estate market in Harvard, Illinois. In all its glory the home sits in a vast field with looming trees serving as its backdrop. All that privacy for $499,000. And the peaceful surroundings aren't the only highlight of this futuristic little place — the interior is just as riveting. 'Welcome to Casina, a remarkable example of intellectual architecture designed by the late architects Alfred Swenson and Pao-Chi Chang. Constructed with concrete, metal, and glass, Casina is built to endure well beyond our lifetimes,' the listing on Zillow says. 'Alfred and Pao-Chi studied under Mies van der Rohe at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and Mies' influence on modern architecture is evident in this masterpiece. The home is named Casina, derived from the Latin word for 'small cabin,' and took several years to complete.' The house was built for folks who, well, clearly hate other folks intruding on their space. 'Set on 10 serene, rolling acres, the house is intentionally positioned to maintain a sense of detachment from its surroundings, allowing the landscape to be admired from a distance,' the listing says. 'The architects drew inspiration from a Yuan Dynasty scroll depicting two scholars contemplating the vast landscape from an open-fronted pavilion.' With one bedroom and two bathrooms, the 1,500-square-foot residence is modernism at its finest, with beige walls and a smooth, frosty teal look that makes the inside all the more sophisticated. Downstairs; a kitchenette with hidden cabinets and floor-to-ceiling windows. Upstairs; the loft area. 'The second-level open bedroom loft includes dual porches on each side, a full bathroom, and discreet built-in cabinetry. The loft comfortably accommodates a king-size bed,' the listing describes. Other features, per the listing, include: FireplacePartial basementFull upstairs bathroomOpportunities to walk around in the buff The special house was featured on Zillow Gone Wild, a popular real estate Facebook page that highlights quirky houses on the market all around the country. People were impressed … and a little bit terrified. 'Looks like a great place to store 13 ghosts,' one person joked. 'Is it a mausoleum? Is it a potato shed? How do you get to this?' another chimed in. 'I feel like this may have been used in a psychological horror film. If not it definitely should be…' someone said. 'Was this a prop from 'Andor?' The building is tiny with all that open field.? Do you fly your star ship on the lawn? Then what?' one person asked. 'I actually like this house. It has a lot of potential and the right furniture and artwork could make it fabulous,' another noted. 'I've seen jazzier hospital decor,' someone joked. Harvard is about an 80-mile drive northwest from Chicago.
Miami Herald
18-04-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
What lies in hidden passage of Mexico cave — and four other mysteries solved
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Throughout history, cultures have left behind a trail of breadcrumbs for archaeologists to follow. New sites and artifacts are found all the time, revealing forgotten secrets of the past. Here are some of the latest discoveries: Prehistoric mammoth-ivory artifacts challenge experts to explain their use In western Ukraine, archaeologists uncovered mammoth ivory artifacts dating back around 400,000 years near Medzhybizh. These ivory pieces, showing signs of intentional modification, may represent the earliest evidence of deliberate ivory processing, possibly crafted by children as imitations of tools. The discovery raises questions about the purpose of these artifacts, as ivory is less durable than stone for toolmaking. | Published April 10 | Read More | Cave guide enters unknown passage for first time — and helps make ancient discovery In the Guerrero mountains of southern Mexico, cave guide Adrián Beltrán Dimas and Russian speleologist Yekaterina Katiya Pavlova discovered a hidden room in Tlayócoc cave. They found centuries-old artifacts, including shell bracelets and stone discs, linked to the Tlacotepehua ethnic group from the Postclassic period. These artifacts, found in a cave considered part of the underworld, may be connected to ideas of creation and fertility. | Published April 11 | Read More | Ancient military tomb — with ceiling of murals — discovered in China. See inside In Linfen, China, archaeologists uncovered a Yuan Dynasty tomb with a domed ceiling adorned with murals. The tomb, belonging to Lieutenant Liu, contained human remains, grave goods, and inscriptions detailing Liu's life as a commander. This discovery provides insight into the burial practices and artistic expressions during the Mongol rule in China. | Published April 14 | Read More | 175-year-old theory about riverside ruins in Austria turns out to be true In eastern Austria, the ruins known as 'Ödes Schloss' were confirmed to be a Roman bridgehead fort, validating a 175-year-old theory. Excavations revealed well-preserved Roman ruins, including walls and artifacts like bricks stamped with Roman military units. This find is the first of its kind in Austria and sheds light on Roman military strategies and their influence in the region. | Published April 16 | Read More | Shepherd finds bones sticking out of hill in Romania. It was an ancient grave In Urlați, Romania, a shepherd named Cosmin Florin Dumitrache discovered an ancient grave exposed by a landslide on Vârful Scoruș hill. The grave, dating back about 5,000 years to the early Bronze Age, contained the well-preserved remains of an adult male buried with a possible stone ax and ceramic pieces. This discovery adds to Dumitrache's history of finding ancient remains, as he previously uncovered medieval bones in 2024. | Published April 16 | Read More | McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery of intriguing archaeological discoveries from around the globe. Check back to see the latest finds.
Miami Herald
14-04-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Ancient military tomb — with ceiling of murals — discovered in China. See inside
At the beginning of the 13th century, infamous leader Genghis Khan united the Mongols under a common goal — invading the Chinese empire. The land fell to the Mongols in an era that would later be named the Yuan Dynasty, and the conquerors established centralized bureaucracy, trade, taxation and a capital. In 2024, archaeologists working at a construction site for a plaza development project unearthed 51 ancient tombs dating to the Tang, Jin and Yuan dynasties, according to an April 10 news release from the Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology and the Linfen Cultural Relics and Archaeology Station. One tomb was not like the others, and was made of carved bricks creating a circular dome at the bottom of a long stairwell, archaeologists said. This tomb was from the Yuan Dynasty, or the age of the Mongols. The entrance to the tomb is about 24 feet long and made up of 13 steps carved directly into the earth, according to the release. The top of the domed tomb was damaged, archaeologists said, but the main structure remains intact. The tomb itself is wood-like in structure but constructed with blue bricks, archaeologists said. Its interior has four walls that arch toward the ceiling and are covered in painted murals, according to the release. Painted pillars separate each section of wall and include painted architectural pieces, photos show. The lower level of the murals include doors and windows, as well as artwork and ink scroll paintings. There is a bamboo bird picture and a carved, rectangular table on the south side of the tomb, according to the release. The room looks as if it were decorated in real life, archaeologists said, including curtains painted above a door. Items decorated the table, and archaeologists found carvings of washstands, basins and lamp stands and lattice patterns near the windows. Human remains that had been burned were also found inside the tomb, along with grave goods like a black-glazed porcelain basin, a white porcelain cup, a bronze mirror, a jade hairpin, a wooden comb and an epitaph, or tombstone. The tombstone has ten lines of inscriptions and identified the man laid to rest inside the tomb, according to the release. The tomb belongs to Lieutenant Liu, the inscription says, and he was described as brave and resourceful during his time as a commander in the army. Liu died at the age of 61 and was buried by his three sons, including two of his sons who went on to their own leadership roles, archaeologists said. The inscription says the commander was buried in 1270, five years after his death in 1265, according to the release. The site was found in Linfen, a city in east-central China. Google Translate was used to translate the news release from the Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology and the Linfen Cultural Relics and Archaeology Station.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia Deepen Multilateral Cooperation to Forge a Shared Future
HONG KONG, April 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This is an analysis report by Amelie from Hong Kong Commercial Daily: Against the backdrop of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)'s deepening implementation, China's multilateral cooperation with Southeast Asian nations—Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia—has entered a new phase of synergy. Rooted in ancient trade ties, these partnerships draw on historical connections: Vietnam maintained close exchanges with China since the Qin and Han dynasties as a key node on the Maritime Silk Road; Cambodia's Angkor Empire engaged in tributary trade with the Yuan Dynasty; and Malaysia's Malacca historically served as a pivotal hub for East-West commerce. These legacies now bolster modern collaboration. In recent years, China and the three nations have established comprehensive cooperation frameworks. Vietnam remains China's largest trading partner within ASEAN, with bilateral trade hitting $260.65 billion in 2024—the fourth consecutive year exceeding $200 billion. Malaysia, home to the BRI's flagship East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, is advancing partnerships in digital innovation and green energy. Meanwhile, Cambodia's Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, a model of industrial collaboration, has attracted 202 enterprises and generated approximately 32,000 local jobs. Multilateral mechanisms continue to strengthen. Under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), over 90% of goods traded among the four countries will eventually enjoy zero tariffs. The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) framework has spurred breakthroughs in cross-border economic zones and agricultural projects involving China, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Collaboration now extends to emerging sectors like digital technology and renewable energy, reflecting evolving global dynamics. Marking the 10th anniversary of the BRI, accelerated strategic alignment is underway. Key connectivity projects—such as the China-Laos Railway's planned extension to Cambodia, Malaysia's ECRL set for completion in 2026, and smart cross-border ports between China and Vietnam—are poised to elevate regional economic integration. With digital and green economies emerging as growth engines, this quadrilateral cooperation is expected to inject fresh momentum into building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. View original content: SOURCE Hong Kong Commercial Daily Sign in to access your portfolio
