Beijing, China
Client: Timezone 8 Books
Lead Designers: Robert Mangurian, Mary-Ann Ray, students from SCI_Arc

PRINCIPLES for ACTION is a series of 8 thoughts that have guided the work. These principles have come from thoughts about cities, Beijing since 1993, and a very close reading of Dashanzi. We feel that these principles can apply to Dashanzi, as a way to move into the future (both activity-wise, and building-wise), and to Beijing, becoming a world class city.

These PRINCIPLES for ACTION guide the work that is divided into three additional frames. The first, VIRUS (swarming) projects, is a work that seems to cross building and property, and even distinct boundaries - projects that accumulate and swarm (i.e.: parks that extend out into neighborhoods from the borders of parks, double-headed phone booths that might someday become public internet connections). The next, BUILDING-LIKE (non object) projects, are a series of 12 building-like projects that are 'taylored' to Dashanzi, but apply as well to Beijing at large. The location of the prototype buildings are not precise, but find their placement based on our limited knowledge particulars. Finally, LITTLE (often repetitive) projects, posit a series of 7 proposals fro smaller proposals that reflect the close reading of Dashanzi, and find crevices, fill-in, augment, and bring life and amenity that buildings alone cannot.