Cultural Heritage Unlocked
Former Draft Bank 票號舊址, No.222 West Damochang Street 西打磨廠街222號, Dongcheng District 東城區, Beijing 北京, China, Republic of China 民國 (1912-1949)
This small historical Courtyard House 四合院 with a beautifully ornamented 2-storey building was formerly one of the four draft banks in this busy commercial street outside Beijing’s Gate of Righteous Yang 正陽門. Avoiding the difficulty and risk of carrying large amounts of silver for business through troubled regions or times, draft bank was a type of early Chinese banking system for long-distance remittance and cash withdrawal.
This 2-storey building was designed with thick brick walls facing the street, in which the few windows were all protected by iron shutters. In contrast, the inner façade of the building was decorated by an open porch with auspicious wood-carving decorations. It was said that the first floor of the building was originally used as a treasury, while the ground floor was an opera theatre. However, not much evidences were left to support such claims, since the complex had been used as mass residence since the 1950s or 60s.
In 2015, the architectural complex was thoroughly restored and renovated by ZXD Architects 朱小地建築工作室, as one of the 7 showcase projects of historical Courtyard Houses’ renovation and reuse carried out by internationally known Chinese and foreign architects. This was an urban renovation initiative sponsored by the Dongcheng district government of Beijing. It is now used by D & C Think 民智文化發展戰略研究院, a thinktank focusing on Chinese and international economy and geopolitics.
This photo was taken in 2004.
Former Draft Bank 票號舊址, No.222 West Damochang Street 西打磨廠街222號, Dongcheng District 東城區, Beijing 北京, China, Republic of China 民國 (1912-1949)
This small historical Courtyard House 四合院 with a beautifully ornamented 2-storey building was formerly one of the four draft banks in this busy commercial street outside Beijing’s Gate of Righteous Yang 正陽門. Avoiding the difficulty and risk of carrying large amounts of silver for business through troubled regions or times, draft bank was a type of early Chinese banking system for long-distance remittance and cash withdrawal.
This 2-storey building was designed with thick brick walls facing the street, in which the few windows were all protected by iron shutters. In contrast, the inner façade of the building was decorated by an open porch with auspicious wood-carving decorations. It was said that the first floor of the building was originally used as a treasury, while the ground floor was an opera theatre. However, not much evidences were left to support such claims, since the complex had been used as mass residence since the 1950s or 60s.
In 2015, the architectural complex was thoroughly restored and renovated by ZXD Architects 朱小地建築工作室, as one of the 7 showcase projects of historical Courtyard Houses’ renovation and reuse carried out by internationally known Chinese and foreign architects. This was an urban renovation initiative sponsored by the Dongcheng district government of Beijing. It is now used by D & C Think 民智文化發展戰略研究院, a thinktank focusing on Chinese and international economy and geopolitics.
This photo was taken in 2004.