Analyzing Spatial Structure of Traditional Houses in Old Towns with Tourism Development and Its Transformation toward Sustainable Development of Residential Environments in Hexia Old Town, in China
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Background and Purpose
1.2. Research Status
2. Research Area
2.1. Historical Changes to Hexia Old Town
2.2. Present-Day Hexia Old Town
3. Materials and Methods
3.1. Selection of the Subject of the Study
3.2. Survey Method
- (1)
- Literature survey: Literature dealing with ordinances by the city and protection plans was collected.
- (2)
- Questionnaire: A questionnaire was conducted in September 2014. All 215 residences facing Huzui St. and Hua Ln. were given a questionnaire, which yielded 64 valid responses (i.e., a recovery rate of 29.8%). The questionnaire items included family structure of residents, the number of residents, history of residence, the ages of the residences, spatial structure, area, and modifications.
- (3)
- Interviews and measurement survey: Interviews and measurements were conducted in October 2014 for 22 residences based on informed consent. Residents were interviewed on the transformation process, including repairs and reconstruction implemented by residents themselves, and the measurements were taken both inside and outside of the residences.
4. Results
4.1. Overview of the Residents and Residences in Hexia Old Town
4.2. Analytical Perspective on the Residential Modification Processes
4.2.1. Residential Basic Structure and Classification
4.2.2. Definition of the Residential Modification Method
4.2.3. Division of Period Based on the Political Landscape
4.2.4. Classification of Residential Modification Patterns
4.2.5. Response to Tourism Observed in the Residential Transformation Process and the Relationship with Spatial Structure
5. Discussion
- (1)
- Among traditional residential spatial strictures, especially since the house front facing the street (Gate house: Lin jie) is a boundary between public and private spaces, it is a useful element for conservation of buildings and tourism promotion. By establishing regulations that promote active use of not only facades, but also the whole house front, and by supporting repairs, it can become a space where people can appreciate life, commercial, and productive activities from the street. First, we implement renovation of private homes that become models, and aim to increase awareness of residents and improve the ripple effect.
- (2)
- If residential area is small and it is difficult to maintain the space suited for tourism, renovations that focus on improved living environment are promoted instead of banning all renovations. Especially, the conditions are that appearance from the street is maintained, and that sanitary environment within residences is improved.
- (3)
- As a plan to use vacant houses, efforts are made to encourage participation of residents who are not able to open their own homes to tourists in ways, such as making repairs as a base for experience type tourism, with its operation shared by community residents.
6. Conclusions
- (1)
- In Hexia old town, the government spearheaded tourism development in 2007, leading to renovation of façades of traditional houses and the residents modifying the interiors to suit their daily lifestyles.
- (2)
- Residences in Hexia old town can be classified into four types based on the spatial structure of traditional houses. In addition to relatively large-scale structures with a courtyard, there are comparatively small structures comprising buildings that are extended to the area facing the street and the courtyard.
- (3)
- Residential transformations in Hexia old town can be classified into three stages: The government levy period, the free construction period, and the governmental development stage. Residential modification processes during these periods display that modifications can be further classified into three patterns. In all the patterns, residential modifications were made during the free construction period and the governmental development period.
- (4)
- Awareness of protection standards for traditional buildings among government representatives is low, and residential modifications continue in response to day-to-day needs in accordance with the governmental development period. However, the balance between protection of traditional buildings and improvement of living environments is a concern.
- (5)
- Since a ban on residential modifications is imposed on small residential buildings in the form of the protection regulations for traditional buildings, response to day-to-day needs becomes a challenge.
- (6)
- With tourism development, businesses have started to use part of the remaining traditional houses or vacant rooms, and as a result sustainability of residents’ lifestyles by keeping the residence and work in close proximity in Hexia old town is expected.
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Variables (Questions) | Category | Response Total | Percentage (%) |
---|---|---|---|
Street | Fuzui street | 45 | 70.3 |
Hua Lane | 19 | 29.7 | |
Gender | Male | 27 | 42.2 |
Female | 37 | 57.8 | |
Age | 30 years and under | 5 | 7.8 |
31–59 years | 30 | 46.9 | |
60 years and above | 29 | 45.3 | |
Living with senior citizens (over the age of 60) | Yes | 36 | 56.3 |
No | 28 | 43.8 | |
Living with minors (under the age of 19) | Yes | 23 | 35.9 |
No | 41 | 64.1 |
Variables (Questions) | Category | Response Total | Percentage (%) |
---|---|---|---|
Residence ownership | Own house (Inherited) | 43 | 67.2 |
Own house (Purchased) | 14 | 21.9 | |
Rented house | 5 | 7.8 | |
N.A. | 2 | 3.1 | |
When have you started living here? | Before 1970 | 42 | 65.6 |
1971–1980 | 2 | 3.1 | |
1981–1990 | 4 | 6.3 | |
1991–2000 | 9 | 14.0 | |
After 2001 | 7 | 10.9 | |
Layout of the residence | 1DK (1 Bedroom + Dining + Kitchen) | 8 | 12.5 |
1LDK (1 Bedroom + Living/Dining room + Kitchen) | 12 | 18.8 | |
2LDK (2 Bedrooms + Living/Dining room+Kitchen) | 7 | 10.9 | |
3LDK (3 Bedrooms + Living/Dining room + Kitchen) | 6 | 9.4 | |
Others | 31 | 48.4 |
Variables (Questions) | Category | Response Total | Percentage (%) |
---|---|---|---|
Are you doing business in the house? | Yes | 21 | 32.8 |
No | 43 | 67.2 | |
When have you started doing the business? | Before 1970 | 10 | 47.6 |
1971–1980 | 0 | 0.0 | |
1981–1990 | 2 | 9.5 | |
1991–2000 | 3 | 14.3 | |
After 2001 | 5 | 23.8 | |
N.A. | 1 | 4.8 | |
Target customers | Local residents | 9 | 42.9 |
Tourists | 2 | 9.5 | |
Both | 10 | 47.6 | |
Did you change the type of business? | Yes | 4 | 19.0 |
No | 17 | 81.0 |
Variables (Questions) | Category | Response Total | Percentage (%) |
---|---|---|---|
Did you make changes to the floor plan? | Yes | 45 | 70.3 |
No | 19 | 29.7 | |
Did you make changes to the layout of furniture? | Yes | 24 | 37.5 |
No | 40 | 62.5 | |
When did you change the floor plan? | Before 2006 | 17 | 37.8 |
After 2007 | 27 | 60.0 | |
N.A. | 1 | 2.2 | |
Do you know the conservation plan? | Yes | 5 | 7.8 |
No | 59 | 92.2 |
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Nomura, R.; Shan, S.; Mori, S. Analyzing Spatial Structure of Traditional Houses in Old Towns with Tourism Development and Its Transformation toward Sustainable Development of Residential Environments in Hexia Old Town, in China. Sustainability 2018, 10, 3809. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103809
Nomura R, Shan S, Mori S. Analyzing Spatial Structure of Traditional Houses in Old Towns with Tourism Development and Its Transformation toward Sustainable Development of Residential Environments in Hexia Old Town, in China. Sustainability. 2018; 10(10):3809. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103809
Chicago/Turabian StyleNomura, Rie, Siyuan Shan, and Suguru Mori. 2018. "Analyzing Spatial Structure of Traditional Houses in Old Towns with Tourism Development and Its Transformation toward Sustainable Development of Residential Environments in Hexia Old Town, in China" Sustainability 10, no. 10: 3809. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103809