Butterfly Doors for a House!

People's Architecture Office is a Beijing-based firm that works across architecture, product design, art, and urbanism. As the name suggests, the firm believes that design should be for the masses, and they focus on social impact projects. Hutongs are Beijing's traditional alleyway neighborhoods. They're a far cry from modern apartment towers, being low-rise structures packed with lower- and middle-income residents. PAO modified one such structure with this incredible butterfly door, which turns into a light-admitting awning: "[It's] wonderful to witness @peoplesarchitecture 's years of work," writes design curator Shirley Surya , who shot the video, "that enabled inhabitants to remain in the hutong fabric by integrating modern amenities and providing spatial options thru attractive/affordable/appropriate 'plug-in' solutions."