In mid-July this year, Dongcheng District, Beijing officially launched a comprehensive environmental improvement project in the immediate vicinity of the Bell and Drum Towers.
After more than three months, the renovation and improvement of the fifth facade has been completed by 85%, and the effect is beginning to appear. It is expected to be completed by the end of November.
The fifth façade, which is often referred to as the roof of the house, is the key to optimizing the viewing gallery. Its shape, layout, material and color will affect the permeability of the viewing gallery.
According to Lu Kun, the architect of the Architectural Design Institute of the China Planning and Design Institute (Beijing), the design team consulted a large number of historical materials for the renovation of the fifth façade, and found precious materials from around 1901 and 1903. Old historical photos from the Drum Tower to Dongzhimen Street, the Drum Tower looking east in 1915, and the Drum Tower looking south in 1955.
It is found that a gentle and open skyline has been preserved around the Bell and Drum Tower on the north central axis, and the morphological features of the Hutong-siheyuan combined tile roof have been continued, forming an overall color based on a large blue-gray house.
Lu Kun said that during the renovation process, while sorting out the roof problems and demolishing illegal constructions, the old architectural style was retained, the hook-and-loop form was repaired, and the tiled roof was replaced to improve the roof waterproofing.
For the facades of key buildings, with reference to the original pattern and style, traditional craftsmanship and materials are used to carry out protective repairs and restore the style of the streets.
(produced by Chen Hang and Liu Peng)
Responsible editor: [Luo Pan]