How do you feel about quadrangles in Beijing?

Beijing Siheyuan is the main building that Beijingers have lived in for generations, and it is a model of traditional architecture in China. Beijing quadrangles have a long history, and the prototype of quadrangle architecture appeared in Shang and Zhou Dynasties and matured in Ming and Qing Dynasties. Beijing quadrangles are based on houses and enclosed courtyards in the east, west, north and south. They can develop in depth and on both sides at will and are suitable for different families to live in. In terms of architectural pattern, Beijing quadrangle not only embodies the feudal family order centered on parents, but also has a high degree of privacy and affinity, and this livable model with rich cultural heritage has a completely different architectural concept from western architecture.

There are large and small quadrangles in Beijing, but no matter how big or small, they are all made up of quadrangles surrounded by houses on all sides. The simplest quadrangle has only one yard, while the more complicated one has two or three yards. The deep house compound where rich people live is usually composed of several quadrangles side by side. Although they are all square yards, none are the same.

Beijing quadrangles are cordial and quiet, with a strong atmosphere of life. The courtyard is wide and the scale is suitable. In the yard, there are flowers and stones. Generally, begonia trees are planted in pomegranate bonsai, and goldfish are raised in vats, which means good luck. It is an ideal outdoor living space, just like an open-air living room, which brings the world closer to people's hearts and is most loved by people.

On the one hand, the design of quadrangles meets the requirements of beauty, and more importantly, it fully embodies the concept of integration with nature. For example, the courtyard doors of quadrangles are all open in the southeast corner, which is explained by geomantic omen that a window in the southeast can meet the vitality of heaven and earth. From the architectural point of view, because Beijing's topography is high in the northwest and low in the southeast, since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Beijing's water system has entered from Jishuitan in the northwest and then flowed out from Tonghui River in the southeast. In this way, the drainage function of the southeast corner is revealed, so the courtyard gate of the quadrangle is located in the southeast corner. The square courtyard of Beijing Siheyuan is for the sunshine in winter.

The courtyard space of Beijing Siheyuan belongs to a closed space surrounded by all sides, which makes the residential houses less affected by the external environment, and has a relatively open top space inside, which makes the air in the courtyard exchange with the outdoor air at a higher place through the open top space, and finally the air quality in the courtyard is cleaner than that in the hutong. There are serious sandstorms in Beijing in spring, and the enclosed space also reduces the interference of sandstorms and keeps the interior of the building clean.

Beijing quadrangle is warm in winter and cool in summer, which has the characteristics of environmental protection and energy saving, and has the same effect as the current green buildings.