Beijing Inside Out

Description

In Beijing Inside Out, we explore how broad urban and socio-political policies impact individual domestic spaces in Beijing. Using a computer-vision methodology to analyze floor plans of over 2,000 apartments built between 1970 and 2020, we calculated the distribution, intensity, and nature of domestic activities, controlling for property size and age. Our findings reveal an increasing intensity of living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens, indicating a shift toward greater privacy and mixed-use spaces. This study highlights the potential of integrating large-scale imagery data with computer vision technology to generate profound insights into architectural and domestic studies.

Press

Download the Press Material

The material on this website can be used freely in any publication provided that
1. it is duly credited as a project by the MIT Senseable City Lab.
2. a PDF copy of the publication is sent to senseable-press@mit.edu

Publication

Yao, Y., Kumar, A., Mazzarello, M., Duarte, F., Shao, L., Song, L., & Ratti, C. (2025). Beijing's urbanization reflected in apartment layouts: a computer vision and isovist analysis (1970-2020). Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.

Team

Carlo Ratti Director

Research

Yanhua Yao Lead
Ashutosh Kumar
Martina Mazzarello
Fábio Duarte

Visualization

Jingrong Zhang

For more information,
senseable-contacts@mit.edu

Accessibility

How have national urban policies shaped the design and use of domestic spaces in Beijing?

Planting an Isovist Flower

We collected over 2000 apartment layouts in Beijing to investigate how interior spaces have evolved over the last 50 years.

Home Interiors under the Danwei System (Pre-1990s)

The bedroom Bedroom Icon serves as the family gathering space, accommodating various domestic activities and taking over the traditional role of the living room. The living room Living Room Icon was often minimal or absent, with primary social activities occurring in communal areas rather than within the home.

Drag to explore the garden, double-click to pause/restart, and click blurred dots for key layouts