An overview of the Gaotai residential area in Kashgar. (Photo/Global Times)

Thorny problems

Finding ways to maintain the old appearance of the dilapidated centuries-old Gaotai houses, while reinforcing them to ensure people's safety, has become a thorny problem.

Mud houses in Gaotai are diverse, with a variety of internal structures. "Each house has distinctive architectural forms, and the structures are all different. We have to make the renovation plans on a case by case basis," He told the Global Times.

There are 447 households in Gaotai. Most of the houses used the traditional wood-and-earth, and brick-and-wood construction.

The unstable structure and unique style of the construction have made it difficult to find the right people to do the renovation work.

"You have to restore the inside and outside of these houses in the old style. It is very difficult to find a team to do so," He said.

Over the past four years, Kashgar authorities have invited conservation agencies and architecture and design companies to build sample houses that could both replicate the original ancient style and improve their earthquake resistance with the fusion of modern structural techniques, but none were satisfactory.

"We asked them to replicate the mud outer wall using the traditional method of construction. But now, you see, the new outer wall has no essence of the original ancient style at all," Shi Shixiong, director of the office of dilapidated housing rehabilitation in Kashgar, told the Global Times, pointing to the sample house with outer walls made of rammed mud and wheat-straw. 

In one alley, several sample houses scattered among the old houses stand apart due to the new colors of their outer walls, sharp edges and corners and stiffness.

"It is easy to build houses, but difficult to replicate the imprint of age," Shi said.

In August last year, Kashgar authorities issued a tendering notice on China Construction News, inviting design companies and conservation agencies who are capable of maintaining their original appearance and fortifying their structures to renovate the Gaotai residences. 

Weeks went by, and none submitted tenders. 

"Protecting and renovating Gaotai could be tough. People would be quickly criticized if the work was not done properly. That explains why there has been no response," He told the Global Times.

After a lot of research, the authorities discovered that an architecture research institute under Southwest Jiaotong University, which is reputable for its professionalism of heritage conservation and its earthquake resistance capabilities, might be capable of doing the job.

Months ago, local officials visited the research institute and invited them to participate. 

A plan for the renovations has been completed and is to be submitted to the upper-levels of the Xinjiang authorities for approval. 

"If the plan is approved, the renovation work on Gaotai residential areas will really begin," He said.

But for now, Guri has to wait to see if she will live in a safer house in the foreseeable future.