This thesis investigates a unique type of migrant housing in Beijing: underground hostels retrofitted from civil air defence basements. The core of this study consists of field research conducted from 2005-2006. Personal narratives, photographs, maps, and illustrations drawn from first-person experience construct an account of a neglected layer of the city. Political and economic reforms since the late 1970s initiated the formation of a new subaltern class in contemporary Chinese cities known as the floating population. Millions of migrants have flowed through China’s uneven economic landscape in pursuit of the Chinese Dream. There is an estimated 4 million migrants actively contributing to the construction of new Beijing, yet the subalterns are excluded from official State representations that focus on the monumental. Without proper household registration (hukou) status, rural migrants have little to no access to social welfare including subsidized housing. Migrants have, of necessity, developed unconventional habitats in the capital city. In the absence of officially sanctioned space, migrants seek shelter within cracks and fissures of the formal system. Just as the city is being shaped by the flow of capital, the inflow of the floating population shapes an alternative urban geography that remains largely invisible. Sanctioned yet unofficial, the migrants’ creative appropriation of space contributes to the development of an emergent urban vernacular. Portraits from below reveal furtive portions of Beijing: marginal, banal, and hidden stages upon which life unfolds.

This thesis investigates a unique type of migrant housing in Beijing: underground hostels retrofitted from civil air defence basements. The core of this study consists of field research conducted from 2005-2006. Personal narratives, photographs, maps, and illustrations drawn from first-person experience construct an account of a neglected layer of the city. Political and economic reforms since the late 1970s initiated the formation of a new subaltern class in contemporary Chinese cities known as the floating population. Millions of migrants have flowed through China’s uneven economic landscape in pursuit of the Chinese Dream. There is an estimated 4 million migrants actively contributing to the construction of new Beijing, yet the subalterns are excluded from official State representations that focus on the monumental. Without proper household registration (hukou) status, rural migrants have little to no access to social welfare including subsidized housing. Migrants have, of necessity, developed unconventional habitats in the capital city. In the absence of officially sanctioned space, migrants seek shelter within cracks and fissures of the formal system. Just as the city is being shaped by the flow of capital, the inflow of the floating population shapes an alternative urban geography that remains largely invisible. Sanctioned yet unofficial, the migrants’ creative appropriation of space contributes to the development of an emergent urban vernacular. Portraits from below reveal furtive portions of Beijing: marginal, banal, and hidden stages upon which life unfolds.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2002. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 152 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-91).

Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio State University, 1932. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 90-96). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Thesis (M. Sc.(Eng.))--University of Hong Kong, 1969. / Mimeographed.

Underground space development is regarded as an effective approach to promote a quality living environment in compact city. In Hong Kong, urban underground space developed by private sectors seems not well organized. Besides, underground use in HK can be multifunctional. Thirdly, inner design in some underground spaces is not desirable and lacks vibrancy. Fourthly, underground space development in HK lacks governmental incentives. Last but not least, the regulations and legal loophole on property rights are also controversial. Through in-depth sustainability evaluation of two case studies: TST and Umeda Osaka, research finds out urban underground space development is a good approach for urban sustainability in Hong Kong if with careful integrated planning. Then the specific underground uses for urban area, New Town and Island area are put forward. Among them, underground shopping street is recommended in the highly populated "Commercial+Tourism" areas, such as TST. The research argues that the effect of recreational use underground space development in TST is weak and only by shifting the tourism flow underground can improve the residents' living quality. Commercial and recreational use underground space development are suggested to develop first in Hong Kong. Finally, measures for sustainable underground space development in Hong Kong are put forward in terms of improved living environment, safety, linkage problem, third party operating, reserved space for planning, illumination, ventilation and landscape design etc. And research argues that a master plan in district scale is in urgent need and the significance of governmental incentive (e.g. plot ratio privilege for underground space), environmental-friendly design and recommendations on fire, flood, and crime safety are made on the existing Building Ordinances and relevant Codes. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

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published_or_final_version / Urban Design / Master / Master of Urban Design

published_or_final_version / toc / Applied Geosciences / Master / Master of Science

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