Design on life

Baitasi is another old courtyard area in Beijing that will undergo regeneration. The developer of the project says the transformation will take three to five years.[Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/China Daily]

Among them, the Architectural Association School of Architecture, or AA school, an independent school of architecture in the UK, will host a nine-day workshop in Info Hub at Baitasi.

The workshop will be based on the collection and analysis of the big data of the Baitasi settlement, says Gao Yan, director of AA Visiting School Beijing, at the opening salon of the workshop on Sept 24. He is also an assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong and principal architect at dotA Architects.

"By analyzing and visualizing the statistics collecting from Baitasi, we will have a better understanding of the area in terms of economy, culture and social activity. So it would be easier to discover good projects to invest in," Gao says.

The workshop involves architects, students and people who are interested in the subject. It will last from Oct 1 to 9. The result will be delivered at the end of the workshop.

The development solution will respect the rights of the local residents and should connect the area with the modern city, making it a better place to live, says Wang Yuxi, general manager of Beijing Huarong Jinying Investment & Development.

"The transformation will take three to five years. We need more artists and designers to join us to stimulate innovation in the area," says Wang.