Reasons for the Decline of Beijing’s Courtyard Houses and the Problems Associated with Large-Scale Old City Redevelopment

doi:10.26863/JKARG.2025.5.31.2.225

All Issue

2025 Vol.31, Issue 2 Preview Page Next Page

Reasons for the Decline of Beijing’s Courtyard Houses and the Problems Associated with Large-Scale Old City Redevelopment 베이징 사합원의 쇠퇴 원인과 구시가지 대규모 재개발의 문제점: 김 걸
Kim, Kirl; 한국교원대학교 지리교육과 교수

Professor, Dept. of Geography Education, Korea National University of Education

31 May 2025. pp. 225-242

PDF

Abstract

This study examines the causes behind the decline of Siheyuan (courtyard house), the traditional residential typology of Beijing, China, and elicits the problems stemming from large-scale redevelopment within the Old City (specifically inside the 3^rd Ring Road) from a policy perspective. The findings indicate that the rapid decline of Siheyuan is fundamentally attributed to Beijing municipal government policies during the planned economy era, particularly the confiscation of private property rights and poor management. Furthermore, the Old and Dilapidated Housing Redevelopment Project, implemented since the 1990s, accelerated this decline. Coupled with real estate developers’ pursuit of maximizing economic profits, the prevalent method of large-scale demolition and high-rise construction led to irreversible damage to Beijing’s historical urban spatial structure and social networks within the Old City. Key problems identified include the relaxation of redevelopment criteria, the ineffectiveness of historical district preservation policies, and a large-scale redevelopment approach prioritizing development profits. This research contributes to understanding the complex impacts of urban policy and market logic on historical urban landscapes and communities, aiming to offer significant implications for guiding future urban regeneration strategies.

Keywords

Beijing

Siheyuan

redevelopment

Old and Dilapidated Housing

historic district preservation

이 연구의 목적은 중국 베이징의 전통 주거양식인 사합원(四合院)의 쇠퇴 원인과 3환로 내부의 구시가지에서 진행된 대규모 재개발이 남긴 문제점을 정책적 관점에서 고찰하는 데 있다. 연구 결과, 사합원의 급격한 쇠퇴는 근본적으로 계획경제 시기 베이징시 정부의 사유재산권 몰수와 관리부실 정책에 기인하였다. 1990년대 이후 추진된 노후불량주택재개발 사업은 사합원의 쇠퇴를 촉진하였고, 부동산 개발업자들의 경제적 이익 극대화 추구와 맞물려, 대규모 철거 및 고층건물 건설이 진행됨에 따라 베이징 구시가지의 역사적 도시공간구조와 사회적 관계망은 크게 훼손되었다. 특히, 재개발 기준의 완화, 역사지구보전 정책의 실효성 부재, 그리고 개발이익에 집착한 대규모 재개발 방식 등이 주요 문제점으로 도출되었다. 이 연구는 도시정책과 시장논리가 역사적 도시경관과 공동체에 미치는 복합적인 영향을 이해하고, 향후 도시재생 방향 설정에 중요한 시사점을 제공하고자 한다.

키워드

베이징

사합원

재개발

노후불량주택

역사지구보전

References

김 걸, 2017, 톈진의 도시공간구조, 한국도시지리학회지, 20(2), 59-69. 10.21189/JKUGS.20.2.5
_____, 2018, 상하이의 도시공간구조, 한국도시지리학회지, 21(2), 17-28.
_____, 2019, 베이징(北京)의 도시 기원과 역사적 발전과정, 한국도시지리학회지, 22(1), 13-25.
_____, 2020, 베이징의 도시공간구조, 한국도시지리학회지, 23(2), 31-42.
손우정·김용성, 2024, 중국 전통주거 사합원의 질서의식에 의한 공간구성 연구, 한국실내디자인학회논문집, 33(3), 1-10. 10.14774/JKIID.2024.33.3.001
여문정·윤지영, 2015, 중국 사합원의 보전 및 현대적 응용에 관한 연구, 기초조형학연구, 16(5), 329-339.
여화선·서주환·주림, 2010, 한·중 전통주택의 색채특성에 관한 비교연구, 한국전통조경학회지, 28(3), 53-59.
왕문군·이용희·김현섭, 2025, 중국 신사합원의 유형 분류-2004~2024년 북경 구성(舊城) 내 사례를 중심으로, 건축역사연구, 34(1), 81-94.
임선우·최경란·성윤정, 2011, 중국 사합원의 외부장식 유형과 상징적 특성 분석-북경과 산서성 사합원을 사례로, 디자인학연구, 24(4), 239-250.
진즈룬·조항만, 2019, 북경사합원의 공간 변화 분석, 대한건축학회논문집, 35(12), 75-82.
최장순, 2003, 중국 사합원의 평명유형과 공간구성의 특징에 관한 개괄적 연구, 한국주거학회논문집, 14(5), 19-26.
표응석, 2011, 한국전통주택과 북경사합원에 관한 비교 연구, 동북아문화연구, 1(26), 81-97. 10.17949/jneac.1.26.201103.004
한남수, 2014, 影壁에 나타난 중국인의 심리표상, 동아시아문화연구, 56, 69-98. 10.16959/jeachy..56.201402.69
허소녕·박선경·하재명, 2009, 사합원 체계가 도입된 북경 저층집합주거지 공간구조에 관한 연구-북경 노후주거지의 소규모 재개발 사례를 중심으로, 대한건축학회논문집, 25(6), 205-212.
Chen, S., 2004, Courtyard House and Some Thoughts about Courtyard houses, Journal of Beijing Union University, 2(1), 46-48.
Fang, K., 2000, Contemporary Redevelopment in Beijing’s Old City: Survey, Analysis and Investigation, China Architecture and Building Press, Beijing.
Hu, S., 2004, An Analysis of the Development of Storey Numbers for Buildings in Beijing, Architecture Technology, 35(9), 706-707.
Jiang, T., 1999, A Review of the Redevelopment of the Southern City of Beijing: the Case of Niujie, Beijing Real Estate, 4, 25-27.
Li, B. and Pu, X., 2000, Considering the Redevelopment of Xicheng District in Beijing, Beijing Planning Review, 3, 14-16.
Li, Z., 1995, The Fourth Research on Historical and Cultural Conservation Districts: A New Discussion of the Old Story of Beijing’s City Planning, Beijing Planning Review, 6, 1-3.
Liu, Y. and Wang, X., 2004, Problems of Transportation in Beijing’s Old City and Measures for Improvement, Beijing Planning Review, 2, 16-21.
Lu, X. and Wang, Q., 1996, Beijing Siheyuan, China Architecture and Building Press, Beijing.
Ma, B., 1999, Beijing Courtyard House, Tianjin University Press, Tianjin.
Ping, Y., 1999, The Redevelopment of the Old City and the Conservation of the Historic City in Beijing after the Establishment of PRC, Beijing Planning Review, 5, 8-12.
Skinner, W., 1997, Urban Social Structure in Ch’ing China, in Skinner, W. (ed.), The City in Late Imperial China. Stanford University Press, California.
Wang, S., 2001, Thoughts on the Conservation of Courtyard Houses in Beijing, Beijing Planning Review, 6, 16-17.
Wang, Y., 2016, A Century of Change: Beijing’s Urban Structure in the 20th Century, Springer, New York.
Wei, K., 1998, Resident, Hutong, Courtyard Houses and Commercial Redevelopment: Thoughts on the Urban Renewal of Dongcheng District in Beijing, Beijing Planning Review, 6, 47-48.
Wen, Z., 1998, Thoughts on the Large-scale Redevelopment of Beijing’s Old City and the Conservation of its Traditional Cityscape, Beijing Planning Review, 3, 14-17.
Wu, L., 1998, Being Cautious to Conserve Beijing’s Old City: Some Suggestions on Control Detail Planning of Beijing’s Old City, Beijing Planning Review, 2, 1-5.
Zhang, J., 1997, Informal Construction in Beijing’s Old Neighborhoods, Cities, 14(2), 85-94. 10.1016/S0264-2751(96)00046-7
_________, 2002, The Current State and Problems of the Urban Conservation and Redevelopment of Beijing, City Planning Review, 26(2), 73-75.
Zhou, L., 2002, Thoughts on the Currently Large-scale Old and Dilapidated Housing Redevelopment in Beijing, Beijing Planning Review, 4, 43-47.
北京市统计局, 2024, 北京市统计年鉴, http://tjj.beijing.gov.cn/

Information

Publisher :The Korean Association of Regional Geographers
Publisher(Ko) :한국지역지리학회
Journal Title :REGION AND GEOGRAPHY
Journal Title(Ko) :지역과 지리
Volume : 31
No :2
Pages :225-242
DOI :https://doi.org/10.26863/JKARG.2025.5.31.2.225

[1] 김 걸, 2017, 톈진의 도시공간구조, 한국도시지리학회지, 20(2), 59-69. 10.21189/JKUGS.20.2.5

[2] _____, 2018, 상하이의 도시공간구조, 한국도시지리학회지, 21(2), 17-28.

[3] _____, 2019, 베이징(北京)의 도시 기원과 역사적 발전과정, 한국도시지리학회지, 22(1), 13-25.

[4] _____, 2020, 베이징의 도시공간구조, 한국도시지리학회지, 23(2), 31-42.

[5] 손우정·김용성, 2024, 중국 전통주거 사합원의 질서의식에 의한 공간구성 연구, 한국실내디자인학회논문집, 33(3), 1-10. 10.14774/JKIID.2024.33.3.001

[6] 여문정·윤지영, 2015, 중국 사합원의 보전 및 현대적 응용에 관한 연구, 기초조형학연구, 16(5), 329-339.

[7] 여화선·서주환·주림, 2010, 한·중 전통주택의 색채특성에 관한 비교연구, 한국전통조경학회지, 28(3), 53-59.

[8] 왕문군·이용희·김현섭, 2025, 중국 신사합원의 유형 분류-2004~2024년 북경 구성(舊城) 내 사례를 중심으로, 건축역사연구, 34(1), 81-94.

[9] 임선우·최경란·성윤정, 2011, 중국 사합원의 외부장식 유형과 상징적 특성 분석-북경과 산서성 사합원을 사례로, 디자인학연구, 24(4), 239-250.

[10] 진즈룬·조항만, 2019, 북경사합원의 공간 변화 분석, 대한건축학회논문집, 35(12), 75-82.

[11] 최장순, 2003, 중국 사합원의 평명유형과 공간구성의 특징에 관한 개괄적 연구, 한국주거학회논문집, 14(5), 19-26.

[12] 표응석, 2011, 한국전통주택과 북경사합원에 관한 비교 연구, 동북아문화연구, 1(26), 81-97. 10.17949/jneac.1.26.201103.004

[13] 한남수, 2014, 影壁에 나타난 중국인의 심리표상, 동아시아문화연구, 56, 69-98. 10.16959/jeachy..56.201402.69

[14] 허소녕·박선경·하재명, 2009, 사합원 체계가 도입된 북경 저층집합주거지 공간구조에 관한 연구-북경 노후주거지의 소규모 재개발 사례를 중심으로, 대한건축학회논문집, 25(6), 205-212.

[15] Chen, S., 2004, Courtyard House and Some Thoughts about Courtyard houses, Journal of Beijing Union University, 2(1), 46-48.

[16] Fang, K., 2000, Contemporary Redevelopment in Beijing’s Old City: Survey, Analysis and Investigation, China Architecture and Building Press, Beijing.

[17] Hu, S., 2004, An Analysis of the Development of Storey Numbers for Buildings in Beijing, Architecture Technology, 35(9), 706-707.

[18] Jiang, T., 1999, A Review of the Redevelopment of the Southern City of Beijing: the Case of Niujie, Beijing Real Estate, 4, 25-27.

[19] Li, B. and Pu, X., 2000, Considering the Redevelopment of Xicheng District in Beijing, Beijing Planning Review, 3, 14-16.

[20] Li, Z., 1995, The Fourth Research on Historical and Cultural Conservation Districts: A New Discussion of the Old Story of Beijing’s City Planning, Beijing Planning Review, 6, 1-3.

[21] Liu, Y. and Wang, X., 2004, Problems of Transportation in Beijing’s Old City and Measures for Improvement, Beijing Planning Review, 2, 16-21.

[22] Lu, X. and Wang, Q., 1996, Beijing Siheyuan, China Architecture and Building Press, Beijing.

[23] Ma, B., 1999, Beijing Courtyard House, Tianjin University Press, Tianjin.

[24] Ping, Y., 1999, The Redevelopment of the Old City and the Conservation of the Historic City in Beijing after the Establishment of PRC, Beijing Planning Review, 5, 8-12.

[25] Skinner, W., 1997, Urban Social Structure in Ch’ing China, in Skinner, W. (ed.), The City in Late Imperial China. Stanford University Press, California.

[26] Wang, S., 2001, Thoughts on the Conservation of Courtyard Houses in Beijing, Beijing Planning Review, 6, 16-17.

[27] Wang, Y., 2016, A Century of Change: Beijing’s Urban Structure in the 20th Century, Springer, New York.

[28] Wei, K., 1998, Resident, Hutong, Courtyard Houses and Commercial Redevelopment: Thoughts on the Urban Renewal of Dongcheng District in Beijing, Beijing Planning Review, 6, 47-48.

[29] Wen, Z., 1998, Thoughts on the Large-scale Redevelopment of Beijing’s Old City and the Conservation of its Traditional Cityscape, Beijing Planning Review, 3, 14-17.

[30] Wu, L., 1998, Being Cautious to Conserve Beijing’s Old City: Some Suggestions on Control Detail Planning of Beijing’s Old City, Beijing Planning Review, 2, 1-5.

[31] Zhang, J., 1997, Informal Construction in Beijing’s Old Neighborhoods, Cities, 14(2), 85-94. 10.1016/S0264-2751(96)00046-7

[32] _________, 2002, The Current State and Problems of the Urban Conservation and Redevelopment of Beijing, City Planning Review, 26(2), 73-75.

[33] Zhou, L., 2002, Thoughts on the Currently Large-scale Old and Dilapidated Housing Redevelopment in Beijing, Beijing Planning Review, 4, 43-47.

[34] 北京市统计局, 2024, 北京市统计年鉴, http://tjj.beijing.gov.cn/

REGION AND GEOGRAPHY ISSN:2586-1468(Online) 지역과 지리

All Issue