The Advantages of Siheyuan
Siheyuans, cool in summer and warn/ in winter, are ideal for outdoor activities. A
resident of Siheyuan can tell the time of day by looking at which side of his courtyard is
casting shadows on the cobblestone under his feet. He can wake in the morning.and come
knows where to put his flower pots, and where birds will nest. His courtyard is built
according to the principles of maximizing sun exposure which provided protection form
cold north winds. Siheyuan is designed according to the ancient Chinese rules for house
construction. The courtyard is an outside space protected from the noise and dust of the
street, it provides total privacy. To the residents, the atinosphere of Siheyuan is
harmonious, calm and sensitive. The local customs and traditional culture are displayed
by decorations, fittings and paintings in Siheyuan, The decorations and the paintings also
showcase people's wish for happiness, well-being and good luck. People also like to
grow trees and flowers in the courtyards to make their homes pleasant and lovely.
In summary, the traditional courtyard buildings of Siheyuan in Beiiing are built along a distinct central axis with houses in individual and separated courtyards. The few houses
in the front courtyard are for guests. Located behind this courtyard are the main
buildil~gs. The main chambers are all built facing south along the uorth-south axis, w~th
other rooms built on either side. The main chambers are for senior generations and other
rooms are for younger generations. The arrangement shows the order of superiority and
inferiority in a family and lhe ethical relationships among people in daily life. A large
number of Siheyuan disappear annually and are replaced with high rise buildings. This
situation is becoming critical and Chinese people are realizing they should protect their
important architectural heritage.