抄録
This study deals with building types and spatial composition of town houses in the old Beijing city. The author's own field measurement results indicate that there are two types of buildings. By studying the urban structure (such as the skeleton of streets, block composition and subdivision) and various other social considerations (including the population, real estate activity, and house tax), and by using documentary and pictorial sources, the author concludes as follows.
The first is a town house with posteriorly continuous ridges, built in dense commercial areas of small blocks. The second is a town house which also spreads back, but with courtyards in the middle. This courtyard-style was built in commercial areas with bigger blocks, facing onto arterial streets. In both cases, town houses, due to the location, expanded their shop area and created diverse spatial compositions. This study also shows that the first type originated with squatters taking over streets.
