Preservation of New China’s Architectural Heritage in Beijing and Portraits of Architects: A Brief Discussion on Senior Architects of Beijing Institute of Architectural Design
Lei Jin
Abstract：This article argues that 20th-century urban and architectural heritage, though a newer form within the diverse heritage landscape, constitutes the fundamental “background”of historical districts and buildings in New China due to its vast
quantity and wide distribution. In light of the national push for urban renewal and the guiding principles from the Central Urban Work Conference, which call for building ethically sound and civilized cities, this paper emphasizes shifting the focus of conservation toward a “transmission”-oriented approach of living utilization. It advocates moving beyond the conventional preservation model focused merely on physical retention, and instead fostering integrated and
authentic new methods for protecting the cultural context in urban renewal. The article urges architects and planners to adhere to principles and methods that avoid both excessive restoration and overdevelopment, clarifying that the
conservation of 20th-Century heritage should be grounded in human needs. Although New China’s architectural heritage can be classified by generation, its creation has yielded precious memories linked to iconic buildings and architects. Drawing on institutional historical research of the Beijing Institute of rchitectural Design—founded in the same year as the People’s Republic—framed around “events, works, individuals, and ideas,” this paper focuses on narrating “works and people” to elucidate the epochal significance valuable for the development and understanding of New China’s architectural heritage. The author maintains that while China possesses a history of modern architecture, it lacks a relatively complete history of design institutions, and even more so a comprehensive history of architects and of New China’s architectural heritage. Therefore, this paper upholds a human-centered view of heritage, promoting a rational understanding of newer heritage, developing innovative heritage typologies, and fulfilling the multiple values of heritage in serving urban communities.
