The contemporary city is complex and contradictory. The past and future meet in the present. ‘Regeneration’ has become a dirty word in global urban discourse, but this studio would like to take back its original meaning of renewal, reinforcing what is already there. ‘Hous-ing’ is more than a building or a house, it is also a social, economic and environmental process, an activity which takes place over time. It also cannot be separated from the surrounding neighbourhood or environment, and the less clearly defined spaces invariably accommodate a range of potential functions, activities and encourage active participation. This studio specifically examines the typical architectural thresholds which facilitate such a range of activities and mediate between the diverse and often contradictory or conflicting private, communal, social and public spaces in the city. Based in the Julong Village Regeneration area in Liwan, Guangzhou, students will analyse the social site and design a prototypical housing cluster which responds to the conditions identified.