Beijing's Transformed Bus: A Playful Urban Renewal Project
XISUI Design has embarked on an imaginative urban regeneration initiative, converting a retired BK640 bus into a dynamic children's public play space in Beijing's Changping District. Nestled within Sanjiaodi Park, this project exemplifies creative recycling, breathing new vitality into a historical piece of Chinese urban infrastructure. By transforming the shell of China's inaugural domestically produced bus, the design establishes an engaging, occupiable structure that seamlessly integrates into the surrounding community, offering a unique blend of nostalgia and contemporary recreation.
This innovative installation occupies the former site of a 1980s playground, establishing an immediate and distinctive presence from the street. The recognizable contours of the bus body are reimagined on a scale suitable for children, rather than vehicular traffic, strategically placed amidst mature trees and along the pedestrian walkway. The design draws inspiration from the enduring memory of the BK640, which graced Beijing's thoroughfares since 1957. Rather than a mere replica, the project abstracts elements of the original vehicle, using its proportions and profile to inform a playful landscape of fragmented panels, openings, and surfaces, inviting children to explore and interact.
XISUI Design's intervention extends beyond the bus itself, revitalizing Sanjiaodi Park as a whole. Situated at a point where historical and modern urban routes converge, the broader park renovation introduces organized circulation paths, water features, and open green spaces. These elements create a sequence of public zones that are deeply connected to the local geography and historical context. Within this overarching framework, XISUI was specifically tasked with crafting the children's area. The bus-themed installation thoughtfully occupies a compact yet highly visible footprint, aligning with existing sidewalks and ensuring a fluid connection between the park's tranquil environment and the vibrant street life that surrounds it.
The Old Beijing Bus is ingeniously compartmentalized into two distinct activity zones by XISUI Design, with a central pathway separating its front and rear sections. The forward section is tailored for younger children, featuring lower heights and closer-spaced play elements. This area incorporates climbing frames, miniature slides, balance beams, and tactile walls, all integrated within the bus's exterior. Additionally, fixed seating, reminiscent of traditional bus benches, lines the perimeter, providing comfortable spots for supervision and relaxation. The rear section, designed for a wider age demographic, boasts taller ladders, ropes, dual slides, swings, and ground-based games. The equipment is strategically distributed to encourage continuous movement throughout the entire structure, preventing excessive concentration of activity at any single point.
To foster interactive engagement, voice tubes, steering wheels, and flip panels are seamlessly embedded within the steel surfaces and timber inserts. These interactive elements are positioned within easy reach, ensuring they do not impede circulation, thus maintaining a clear and accessible interior even during periods of high usage. The material selection prioritizes both durability and aesthetic appeal. Galvanized steel forms the primary structural framework, chosen for its resilience in a heavily trafficked public environment. The surfaces are treated with fluorocarbon paint, offering superior weather resistance while maintaining a uniform color scheme. Areas designated for contact and seating feature carbonized bamboo wood, which provides a warmer, more inviting tactile surface that harmonizes with the steel frame. This timber choice also boasts excellent outdoor durability, negating the need for frequent reapplication of protective coatings. The color palette draws inspiration from the iconic red and white hues of the vintage BK640 bus, ensuring that the installation stands out vibrantly against the natural greenery and the everyday backdrop of shops, bicycles, and passing buses.
This innovative project serves as a vibrant testament to the power of thoughtful design in transforming urban spaces. By recontextualizing a historical artifact, XISUI Design has not only provided a stimulating environment for children but has also woven a piece of Beijing's heritage into the contemporary urban tapestry, fostering a sense of continuity and community engagement.