STUDY ON URBAN PLANNING PRINCIPLES & BUILDING TYPOLOGIES OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN BEIJING: DESIGN FOR MIDDLE AND LOW-INCOME INHABITANTS

Abstract

Since the nationwide housing reform in 1998, the affordable housing program in China has gone through extensive development, providing accommodations for more than 54 million[ Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People’s Republic of China (MOHURD).] middle- and low-income urban households. However, since the initial objectives of this program were to solve the housing shortage and rehouse the people as quickly as possible, unavoidably, there were a lot of planning and design problems in the affordable housing in the early period. As more new affordable houses were built in subsequent phases, the government continually brought in new urban planning principles and housing typologies to meet the needs of middle- and low-income families. However, how successful have these design strategies served the inhabitants living in affordable housing?

This paper examines the problems of affordable housing in Beijing at different periods on the city and neighborhood level. On the city level, the primary focus is the urban planning strategies, including location distribution, mobility infrastructure, green infrastructure, urban infrastructure, and urban land use. Mapping and data collection methods are used at this level to study the urban planning principles of Beijing's affordable housing program. On the neighborhood level, apart from site investigation about location, accessibility, land use, circulation systems, green spaces, supporting facilities, and housing typologies, the demands of residents would be studied through surveys and interviews. Through this in-depth analysis of the causes of the problems and fully understanding middle- and low-income inhabitants’ needs, this paper will give some suggestions for the future development of affordable housing in China.