Construction of Large Temporary Engineering in Wells and Lanes
Wells and alleys are a type of traditional urban space mostly seen in the old towns of China. They were sometimes termed as stone lanes due to their narrow and winding pathways connecting small hutong courtyards. The lanes and alleys are the distinctive built forms of Chinas ancient cities and living spheres, factors that make up its urbanization history. But many of them have been demolished in the course of urban reconstruction, as the governments concern is to modernize and upgrade the city.
On one hand, these demolition projects are necessary for the improvement of the citys function and layout; on the other hand, it changes the external citiesscape and eliminates the historical context of the city, creating an irrevocable loss of cultural heritage. Therefore, for many people, modernizing the city should not only focus on the improvement of the living environment, but also attach importance to preservation of these historical symbols.
Wells and alleys are the most important part of Chinese traditional city culture. Many of them are built near the banks of rivers and close to ancient temples, adding aesthetic aspects to the city and representing its essence. Over the past few years, Beijing has launched many construction projects of temporary engineering in the wells and alleys. In order to protect them, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Urban Planning and Land Resources Management has listed strict rules and regulations to safeguard these cultural heritages.
The construction in these areas must strictly follow the regulations of the Ministry of Culture. Projects that modify any part of the existing historic environment, such as the walls, thresholds, steps and terraces, must obtain approval from the Municipal Bureau of Urban Planning and Land Resources Management. In addition, all equipment and facilities for the engineering must be installed using the most advanced technology available to ensure that the construction does not damage the historical significance or environment of the area.
Temporary engineering projects often use high-value materials such as fragile wood, intricate bricks and furniture from old homes. To preserve the original cityscape and cultural environment, the presence of these items should be minimized. Furthermore, the construction methods used should ensure that there is no disruption to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
In order to ensure that the project meets the strict regulations and does not impact the cultural integrity of the area surrounding the wells and alleys, the Municipal Bureau of Urban Planning and Land Resources Management and the Ministry of Culture have established an effective communication network. This network can be used by all stakeholders to cooperate, understand and provide timely feedback on the progress of the engineering project.
The large construction project of temporary engineering construction in wells and alleys in Beijing certainly has great value to the country, but undeniable harm to the traditional city culture. For this reason, the government has been vigilantly monitoring the progress and development of the project, in order to protect the cultural heritage and environment of the city.
