AIM Kaimu Architecture Design | Beijing Alley Building Renovation

Beijing is a multifaceted city. The fusion of old and modern, past and future meets, presenting a powerful duality. Our projects are in the middle of exploration and development.

Here, start a journey of regeneration. We transformed the old hotel into a 190-room hotel and serviced apartment, giving an overall improvement to the exterior, interior and landscape of the building. Nestled in the heart of Beijing's Old Town, the hotel enjoys a unique location within walking distance of Forbidden City. Surrounded by traditional low alleys, the surroundings reflect the city's long history.

In addition to this historic urban wasteland, Beijing has developed into a metropolis lined with impressive modern architecture and is known for its bustling and bustling urban culture. The two radically different urban environments create a strong contrast, provoking conversation and thought. This 24-meter-high seven-story building blends with the city interface on both sides of the towpath. Nestled in the urban landscape of narrow alleyways, the thick base stands proudly overlooking the old city and looking out into the distance.

The project spans both sides of the neighborhood, with entrances on both south and north sides. Peripheral areas are narrow, and space often leads to the function of connecting traditional alleys. The building occupies a large area and breaks the established muscle of the traditional alley, giving us the opportunity to create a new type of space for the area. Serviced apartments and nearby commercial spaces form a larger neighborhood, creating an active atmosphere for public spaces.
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Design Value Design Value

By breaking down the scale of a building, we connect it more deeply with the environment around it. Break the volume from the middle of the building to connect the streets on both ends of the original building. Continued spaces can be more easily routed, enabling more human spatial connectivity, creating a meeting place for the surrounding community. At the same time, set up greenery and public seating, enrich the public space, create an urban garden.

The human experience of the building is not limited to the human scale at the ground level. The building is visible from afar, so it also needs to be recognizable. We wrap the building with a frame, integrating the different functions it contains, creating a concise and powerful image that makes it stand out from the surrounding chaos and evokes a sense of order. As the focal point of the neighborhood, we hope that this building will pay tribute to the local culture and take pride in this. Gray bricks, which are often used in traditional alleys, are converted into rich textured stucco. Through cleverly designed public spaces, this permeable neighborhood is expected to become a vibrant hub of downtown and a meeting place for the surrounding community. At the same time, guests have the opportunity to experience the charm of Beijing's ancient city in a modern context.
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Project Information
Owner: Shanghai Jinhe Investment Group Co., Ltd.
Project Location: Beijing, China
Building Size: 14,136 sqm
Design Time: 2020.04 — 2021.08
Construction time: 2023.06
Design Scope: Elevation and Interior Renovation
Design Director: Wendy Saunders, Vincent de Graaf
Head of Design: Lin Yaki
Project Manager: Hwajung Song
Design team: Yu Mengjun, Wang Jia-chen, Zhang Yi, Yang Yin-bo
EFFECT DIAGRAM: FOCAL POINT
Soft team: Lili Cheng, Davisa
Photography: Dirk Weiblen
Client: Golden Union Group
Location: Beijing, China
GFA: 14,136 sqm
Design Stage: April 2020 — August 2021
Completion: June 2023
Design Scope: Facade and interior renovation
Design Principals: Wendy Saunders, Vincent de Graaf
Studio Director: Yvonne Lim
Team Leader: Hwajung Song
Design Team: Damon Yu, Emilio Wang Chen, Yi Zhang, Yinbo Yang
Visualização: Yan Jiao
FF&E Team: Lili Cheng, Weisha Dai
Photography: Dirk Weiblen

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