Böcker av Mohsen Mostafavi

Small stone hutongs, built within a courtyard-and-alley system, are emblematic of Beijing's traditional inner-city architecture which still contends with modern, cooperate redevelopments to shape the character of the city. In one of the oldest cities in China, the important tasks of preservation and revitalization require particular sensitivity. Captured at the centre of the battlefield between development, conservation and renovation, the hutongs, on the verge of erasure, call into question the paradoxical nature of these paradigms. The Micro Hutong Renewal series by ZAO/ standardarchitecture focusses on small structures which residents have added to hutong courtyards in the last 60 years. The anchor project of this publication is the Hutong Children's Library & Art Centre , which won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2016 . A foreword from the Aga Khan Award director, Farrokh Derakhshani, and a series of photographs and drawings by the architect will present this project alongside another project from the series; The Micro Hutong and Co-living Courtyard, as well as ZAO/standardarchitecture's social housing projects in the center of Beijing. In addition, scholarly essays from across disciplines will explore alternative perspectives of China's historical cities and the challenges they face. Several interviews with different people involved with the Hutong projects, such as residents and users of different ages will ensure a broad range of perspectives. The holistic message of the book will illustrate how ZAO/standardarchitecture's work considers the city and its components as living organisms. This is what gives rise to the title: Hutong Metabolism.

This volume brings together perspectives from history, sociology, art, political theory, planning, law, and design practice to explore the urban spaces of the political. A selection of contemporary photography from around the world offers a visual refl ection of this timely investigation.

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture was established by His Highness the Aga Khan in 1977 to identify and encourage excellence in architecture and other forms of intervention in the built environment of societies with a Muslim presence.

- Impressive black-and-white photographs by Helene Binet document the beauty of Hawksmoor's churches - Published on the occasion of the exhibition of Helene Binet's photographs at the 13th International Architecture exhibition La Biennale di Venezia 2012

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture was established in 1977 by His Highness the Aga Khan to enhance the understanding and appreciation of Islamic culture as expressed through architecture.