Architecture can bring about better living conditions in older neighborhoods in China while preserving the history, culture, and heritage of that place through acceptable social and economical means.
Residential blocks of historical and traditional architecture are being torn down in center of my hometown of Yangzhou, being replaced by commercial buildings as the city tries to market itself towards comteporary tourists in an attempt to increase revenue, while residents are forcibly relocated to newly developed satellite cities.
These residential blocks must be protected and renovated, using sustainable methods that are able to increase the living comfort of residents at minimal costs, to preserve the rich culture of Yangzhou and allow tourists to experience the true culture of the city, not an artificial facade created by the government.
In addition to renovation, housing units themselves should be spatially and programmatically modified to provide safety, comfort, and accessibility to the elderly residents, who make up most the occupants and are growing in number in recent years, and in the future, encourage younger generations to live there.
