△ Realistic view of commercial street © DONG
△ Realistic view of commercial street © DONG
Prologue
Since ancient times, the vibrant street life with peddlers and vendors has painted a picture of bustling commerce and lively energy. Yet, with the rise of online shopping, physical retail has steadily declined, and many have forgotten the joy of shopping in person. The dazzling displays and bright lights that once attracted crowds no longer hold the same appeal.
As a result, modern design and construction focus on creating not just shopping venues, but multi-dimensional spaces where people gather to read, appreciate art, communicate, socialize, and entertain.
△ Project design process sketch
This project recreates the continuous flow of shops and people, bustling night markets, and lively restaurants. Inspired by the vibrant scenes of the Qingming Riverside, it aims to reshape the dynamic spirit of the capital city, offering a richer spiritual and commercial ecosystem.
Project Background
Revitalizing the “Sleeping City” of Huilong Temple
The Beijing Shoukai LONG Street project is situated along the northern extension of Beijing’s central axis. This urban renewal project transforms a former low-rent apartment complex spanning 95,400 square meters. Comprised of several four-story buildings arranged in a block, a city road divides the site.
Huilongguan, often called the “sleeping city,” is home to approximately 300,000 young professionals working in central Beijing. However, the local commercial offerings are mostly mid to low-tier, with small to medium-sized shopping centers and limited brand diversity.
△ Original appearance before renovation
This area has been awaiting a fresh commercial development, and this renovation project answers that call. The design goes beyond simply creating a commercial center — it aims to craft a vibrant new neighborhood atmosphere in northern Beijing.
The block features a mix of new lifestyle businesses, dining, and entertainment, seamlessly integrated with urban shared gardens, themed squares, outdoor sports, and leisure spaces. This creates a social, pet-friendly experiential living environment that revitalizes the northern district’s commercial vitality and leads regional consumption and experience upgrades.
△ Realistic view of commercial street © DONG
△ Realistic view of commercial street © DONG
Design Concept
‘Sky Streets and Alleys’—Aerial Walkways Connecting Two Blocks
Huoying West Road rigidly separates the project into two blocks, with buildings 50 meters apart, posing a significant challenge: how to connect them effectively? The solution was to introduce pedestrian skywalks.
Two newly constructed overpasses create elevated open spaces, offering unique perspectives of the architecture. Visitors can stroll across the bridges or lean over railings to enjoy the view, while themselves becoming part of the urban scenery. Inspired by the Qingming Riverside Scene, this creates a layered, story-rich commercial environment.
△ Realistic view of commercial street © DONG
△ Realistic view of commercial street © DONG
Traditional commercial streets are linear, with customers walking from one end to the other. In this project, the commercial flow extends vertically and horizontally. Outdoor stairs and facades create a three-dimensional commercial street where visitors can “walk on eaves and walls,” exploring multiple levels and increasing foot traffic to upper-floor businesses. This forms a lively “aerial street market” experience.
△ Realistic view of commercial street © DONG
△ Realistic view of commercial street © DONG
Planning and Layout
A Vertically and Horizontally Connected Pedestrian Network
The initial planning challenge was to establish a new commercial pedestrian system that encourages movement to upper levels. The original apartment buildings lacked vertical connections between the second and third floors, limiting accessibility and commercial potential.
The design transforms Huoying West Road into an open urban commercial landscape, easing the fast pace of daily life. Two pedestrian bridges connect buildings on both sides, preserving the original structure while adding multilevel circular commercial routes via steel frameworks. Escalators and stairs along the facade link commercial flow from the first to the fourth floors.
△ Design Process Analysis Diagram
△ Realistic view of commercial street © DONG
The corridors resemble an ant nest—complex at first glance but with clear flow lines that orderly connect independent commercial spaces, breathing new life into the buildings.
△ Realistic view of commercial street © DONG
These corridors offer open, semi-outdoor transit and recreational spaces. The interior has been reconfigured to meet commercial needs, integrating restroom facilities for convenience and efficient management.
△ Section analysis diagram for additional construction
△ Addition of Partial Decomposition Diagram
△ Realistic view of commercial street © DONG
Facade Design
The Subtle Elegance of Wooden Grilles
The new commercial street embodies Chinese culture, characterized by subtlety and grace. The design envelops the original buildings in a semi-transparent wooden “grille” skin, drawing inspiration from traditional architectural elements.
This continuous grille creates a visual and spatial rhythm that adds a delicate, refined aesthetic. It also serves practical purposes, providing sun shading, ventilation, and natural light. The grille panels can rotate and adjust to control sunlight and airflow, forming a dynamic, ever-changing pattern reminiscent of an ink landscape painting.
△ Project Design Model
△ Facade grille © DONG
△ Realistic view of commercial street © DONG
Traditional wooden balconies extend beyond the “grille,” providing outdoor space for businesses and serving as architectural icons of the three-dimensional pedestrian circulation alongside escalators. These balconies help customers navigate the shopping flow.
The diverse commercial signage enhances the lively atmosphere. In addition to individual shop signs, LED side signs integrated with the “grille” facade are digitally managed, creating a vibrant commercial vibe complemented by large glass display windows on the rooftops. The contrast between traditional wooden grilles and modern facade elements introduces an element of fantasy to the project.
△ Realistic view of commercial street © DONG
△ Realistic view of commercial street © DONG
The Most Beautiful Streets and Alleys in Beijing
Beijing Daily, in partnership with the Municipal Urban Management Commission, Capital Civilization Office, Planning and Natural Resources Commission, the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League, and others, launched the “Beijing’s Most Beautiful Streets and Alleys” campaign. Shoukai Long Street was honored in this selection for its outstanding urban renewal design and shortlisted as a model project for Beijing’s urban renewal.
The success of LONG Street is not only due to its iconic facade but also its openness and inclusiveness. It integrates seamlessly with the city, welcoming people of all ages to find their own space.
△ Realistic view of commercial street © DONG
△ Realistic view of commercial street © DONG
Unlike upscale shopping centers, LONG Street serves everyday people. Visitors can bask in the sun on third-floor balconies, enjoy views from pedestrian bridges, savor barbecue with friends in back alleys, or relax with coffee on large entrance steps. The space is diverse, dynamic, and welcoming.
△ Night view of commercial street © DONG
△ Night view of commercial street © DONG
△ Realistic view of commercial street © DONG
“The bustling crowds, bright lights, and lively markets create a vibrant atmosphere reminiscent of old Beijing. Opening LONG Street with an open attitude has awakened the ‘Sleeping City’ of Huilong Temple.”
Project Information
- Project Name: Beijing Shoukai LONG Street Urban Renewal Project
- Design Unit: Zhengxiang Design
- Location: Changping District, Beijing
- Design Period: June 2021 – December 2022
- Opening Date: June 30, 2023
- Owner: Beijing Capital Development Co., Ltd
- Business Management and Operation: Beijing Kaixin Life Business Management Co., Ltd
- Architectural Scheme Design Unit: Zhengxiang Design
- Lead Architects: Wei Yiming, Kong Dekai
- Design Team: Ding Yusheng, Hu Bo, Lin Jiarui, Zhang Wenting, Lu Xiao, He Yifan
- Construction Drawing Design Unit: Beijing Tianhong Yuanfang Architectural Design Co., Ltd
- Landscape Design Unit: Kaisheng Shangjing (Beijing) Landscape Planning and Design Co., Ltd
- Exhibition Design Unit: Wuwu Architectural Design Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd
- Curtain Wall Design Unit: Beijing Elevation Era Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd
- Base Area: 29,936.9 square meters
- Building Area: 75,106 square meters
- Structural Form: Building main body – frame structure; corridor – single truss structure
- Photography: DONG Architectural Imaging
- Text: Wei Yiming, Chen Yongcong
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up