Shuhei Aoyama – Breathing new life into old hutongs

Shuhei Aoyama, a Japanese architect who has been living in Beijing for 17 years, is well known for his renovation work of Beijing’s small alleys or hutongs. For Shuhei, hutongs represent not only the old and traditional aspect of Beijing, but an open attitude towards life, showing him what future lifestyles may look like. In the living spaces that he has designed, he hopes to bring people of different backgrounds together and support diverse lifestyles.