Turning Old Houses into New Dreams Under the Great Wall
Have you ever dreamed of living near a world-famous landmark? 🏰 Jim Spear, a designer and architect from the United States, did just that!
When Jim first saw the Great Wall of China during U.S. President Richard Nixon’s visit in 1972, he was captivated. He dreamed of one day owning a house beneath this ancient wonder. In 1994, his dream came true! He bought a house in Mutianyu Village, right at the foot of the Great Wall. 🧱
But Jim didn’t stop there. He noticed that many old buildings in the village were abandoned. Instead of tearing them down, he decided to give them new life! 🌱
First, he transformed an old, empty primary school into a restaurant, an art glass shop, and a gallery. Imagine eating yummy food and seeing cool art in a place where kids used to learn! 🍔🎨
Then, in 2006, he found an old glaze tile factory in Beigou Village that wasn’t being used. He turned it into a hotel! 🏨 Now, people from all over the world can stay and enjoy the beautiful views of the Great Wall.
Jim believes in keeping the old buildings and making them better instead of building new ones. He says, “It’s an aesthetic principle on my part.” (That means he loves how the old houses look and wants to keep their special charm!) He respects the creativity and lives of the villagers who built these houses long ago. 🏡❤️
By mixing old and new, Jim shows that we can bring history back to life in exciting ways! Maybe next time you see an old building, you’ll think about how to make it special again. What would you create? 🤔✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
