Westerners court tradition in a new way of living

Marc, an investment banker from Europe, is part of a growing trend of wealthy expatriate professionals who are opting for a traditional home in China.

Even though Western-styled villas and luxury apartments dominate the high-end of the property market, older courtyard houses are now extremely popular in Beijing.

"I wanted to live in a Chinese traditional courtyard because it felt much more comfortable," says Marc, who preferred not to give his surname or nationality. "The design is much more beautiful than an apartment block."

Apart from the aesthetic factors, living in a traditional courtyard home provides other benefits in Beijing's busiest areas such as private gardens - a rare feature in China's housing market.

"If foreigners are particularly interested in Chinese culture and want to live a colorful, convenient and sometimes quiet life, they may prefer courtyards located in the downtown area of Beijing," says Apple Cai, marketing manager at lettings agent Joanna Real Estate.

Additionally, a government ban on future villa development in the city has made courtyard homes, or siheyuan, the only available option if you want your own private garden in central Beijing.

Existing siheyuan can be found in the popular districts of Dongcheng, Xicheng, Chongwen and Xuanwu. But some of the best-preserved homes are in Dongcheng and Xicheng.

Joanna Real Estate offers several types of properties aimed at wealthy expats living in the capital. These include a number of renovated Chinese courtyard houses. Rental prices vary greatly, depending on the size, location and state of the property.

Monthly rents for siheyuan, between 250 square meters and 350 sq m, range from roughly 35,000 yuan ($5,630) to 50,000 yuan. Courtyards of more than 600 sq m go for about 200,000 yuan a month.

One of the reasons why courtyard houses are so expensive is because there are very few on the market. Beijing's population boom in the 1990s led to the systematic demolition of many of the traditional urban houses. And courtyards and hutong were replaced by modern apartment blocks that could house more residents.

It is hard to imagine that when you cross the carved wooden doors you will find a foreigner living in such a traditional home. But many expats are attracted by the unique charm of these old buildings.

In fact, the percentage of foreigners renting courtyards is about 10 to 20 percent, according to Joanna Real Estate's business data.

"A key factor living in a siheyuan was the temperature of the house," Marc says. "I never have to use the air-conditioning in the summer because the temperature is kept low in the courtyard. And it is not very cold in the winter because the walls are quite thick."

Wealthy foreign expats can also renovate siheyuan according to their tastes and needs as long as they respect the structure of the building.

Naturally, there are drawbacks to living in a courtyard house. Parking space can be scarce and Western amenities sometimes out of reach.

"It was difficult to find a parking space close to my courtyard," Marc says. "But in the end I managed to find a car park that belonged to another residential building close by."

Still, for those who have money to spend but believe that a courtyard is not the ideal place for them, villas and luxury apartments, with hotel-like services, remain the favorite choice for affluent expats.

"If foreign families have children attending international school, they might prefer villas, as these usually have spacious living areas," Cai, of Joanna Real Estate, says. "They are also close to international schools.

"But if foreigners focus more on their work, they may choose apartments or serviced apartments that will offer a more convenient lifestyle."

emmaglez@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 05/29/2015 page16)