Courtyard House: Siheyuan

This lecture explores the Courtyard House (Siheyuan) in ancient Beijing, a historical residence surrounded by four buildings forming a symmetric close-end construction complex. It delves into the layout, social hierarchy, and architectural features of the main house, side house, and ear house, emphasizing security, protection, and beauty of the enclosed yard. Additionally, it discusses the preservation of Courtyard Houses as national cultural relics in China, focusing on their significance and typical locations. The lecture also touches upon the spatial and social organization models of communes and danweis, highlighting the importance of collective living, planned economy, and social stratification. It concludes with insights into the danwei system under Mao, detailing its role in providing basic services and organizing collective life within walled compounds.

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