Arcades (Qilou): That Uneven Stretch

A continuous but uneven arcade (qilou). The floor materials and heights of each unit vary: terrazzo, tiles, cement, and granite are interspersed, with height differences and slopes of three to ten centimeters at the junctions. The column cladding also differs. The space is occupied by parked motorcycles, shop merchandise, and air conditioner outdoor units, making the passable width sometimes wide and sometimes narrow. The ceiling is covered with various self-installed signs and pipelines from each household. Avoid: depicting the arcade as a flat, continuous passage, unifying the paving of each unit, removing motorcycles and stacked items, depicting the ceiling as a clean, flat surface.

Translated from Chinese by AI.

一段連續但不平整的騎樓。每一戶的地坪材料與高度都不同:磨石子、磁磚、水泥、花崗岩交錯,交界處有三到十公分的高差與斜坡;柱子的包覆方式也各異。空間被停放的機車、店家的商品與冷氣室外機佔據,可通行的寬度時寬時窄。天花上是各家自行安裝的招牌與管線。避免:把騎樓畫成平整連續的通道、讓各戶的鋪面統一、移除機車與堆放的物品、把天花畫成乾淨的平頂。