Restitching the City: Innovative Housing for Climate Migrants and Digital Nomads

The project aims to future-proof the housing needs of both climate migrants and digital nomads in Beijing by 2030 by offering innovative modular homes in hutong neighbourhoods. These homes comprise of creative combination of larger climate migrant family dwellings and smaller rooftop pods arranged around the idea of an inner courtyard and organized in a stepped semi-detached form. In addition, it aims to revitalise hutong areas and create communal spaces through the adaptive reuse of social housing tower block and derelict courtyards, fostering integration and addressing social challenges.

Community and context:

The project is based in the Bai Ta Si area of Beijing, within the 2nd ring road and west of the Forbidden City, at the heart of the city. The site is situated within a traditional courtyard neighbourhoods (Hutongs) adjacent a historic Tibetan buddhist temple, to the north is a conspicuous abandoned residential tower which was the country’s first social housing condensers. This site uniquely intertwines the history of religion and ideology in China, making it a place of profound cultural significance.

Despite new laws aimed at preserving these unique areas, many historic neighborhoods have been lost to gentrification over the last century, significantly altering the cityscape and threatening its architectural and cultural heritage. In the area where my site is located, I identified several key features. The houses are poorly maintained and have a huge number of illegal extensions, with some abandoned due to the high cost of renovations. Access is limited to footpaths and one-way streets, contributing to the area’s unique character. Despite that, the site is rich in small businesses that primarily serve local residents, reinforcing the community’s distinct identity.

The high population of disadvantaged groups in hutong districts—including elderly people, disabled individuals, and low-income migrant families—presents significant rehabilitation challenges. The prevalent business model is low-end and labor-intensive, generating minimal income and limiting social progression. Additionally, the courtyards are densely populated, often housing multiple families within cramped quarters of less than 12m2, well below Beijing’s average.

Brief and users:

By 2030, harsh climatic conditions will push a large number of people to flee to megacities like Beijing in search of employment and sustenance due to economic instability. Beijing will witness an influx of climate migrants who are likely to settle in hutong areas, known for their relative affordability and proximity to the city center. Families of climate migrants will struggle to enroll their children in schools due to the country’s strict policies, resulting in children wandering aimlessly around hutong neighborhoods while their parents toil in hard, low- paid jobs.

Meanwhile, China will reach record numbers of university graduates. Corporations will struggle to absorb such a vast number of young professionals during times of economic instability, leading to unprecedented levels of youth unemployment. This issue will give rise to a new group, digital nomads, individuals constantly on the move in search of new, long-term, high-intellectual employment opportunities. Like climate migrants, they will also settle in small, semi-derelict rooms in hutongs due to their affordability.

This project aims to provide a new type of housing that caters to both of these groups.

Ideas and concepts:

At an urban level, my project aims to address the future housing needs of climate migrants and digital nomads in Beijing by 2030. Inspired by the Branch Hill in London, the design incorporates stepped semi-detached homes arranged around an inner courtyard. This urban configuration harmonizes with the existing hutong neighborhood while providing innovative solutions to housing challenges.

At a community level, the project fosters a sense of belonging and collaboration among diverse groups. By adaptively reusing existing structures and revitalizing hutong areas, communal spaces are created to encourage social interaction and mutual support. These spaces serve as hubs for community activities and gatherings, enhancing the neighborhood's vibrancy and fostering a strong sense of community identity. The design focuses on the value it brings to the neighbourhood, in particular the food market that will be able to support neighbourhood residents and small business owners.

Site Location: Beijing, China
Site Area: 5800 Square Meters

Practical resolution:

At a dwelling level, each home is designed to meet the diverse needs of the co-living of its inhabitants. Additionally, flexible layouts and adaptable spaces accommodate families’ evolving life cycles.

To ensure the sustainability and functionality of the housing project, several practical resolutions have been implemented. Sustainable construction methods, including prefabricated panels based on rice husk, reinforced with i-joists and the use of corrugated hemp fibre cladding panels, have been integrated to promote low-carbon living and enhance thermal performance. The double skin facade, rammed earth partition walls, and rooftop light further contribute to climate-responsive design, regulating temperature and providing efficient ventilation. Additionally, innovative solutions such as using disposable chopsticks as cladding material for digital nomad pods showcase a commitment to utilizing renewable resources. Prefabricated rice husk insulation panels offer an eco-friendly alternative for insulation, utilizing locally available organic materials and minimizing environmental impact. By incorporating these practical resolutions, the project not only addresses the immediate housing needs but also promotes sustainable living practices for the future residents, ensuring a harmonious integration into the urban fabric of Beijing.