Examining a precinct of Beijing where gated communities built in the 1980’s and 1990’s are the norm, my thesis focusses on the redesign of an existing gated community’s shared spaces. The current condition of public spaces in many Chinese residential areas is highly unsatisfactory, due to factors such as the insufficient quality of public spaces, their inadequate size for the number of residents, and overall, poor maintenance. Most of these problems arise from the lack of understanding of the residents’ different needs and a lack of awareness of the important role of shared spaces for community living. This in turn results in an ungenerous living environment in which the residents are discouraged from engaging in communal activities and social interactions and are overall challenged by the weakened sense of community. The integration of a welcoming and enjoyable public space within gated housing estates ensures the well-being of the occupants through the opportunities of community involvement that it provides.