The Role of Cultural Landscape in Shaping the Urban Spatial Context of Changzhou (1843–2021) from a Spatial Syntax Perspective

Jie Bai, Wenzheng Zhang, Roland Chih-Hung Lin, Chunyan Zhang, Tao Xu () and Padma Sundar Maharjan
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Jie Bai: School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Wenzheng Zhang: School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Roland Chih-Hung Lin: School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Chunyan Zhang: School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Tao Xu: School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Padma Sundar Maharjan: School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-21

Abstract: Changzhou is a city situated in the eastern region of China and serves as a pivotal juncture of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, the Grand Canal of China. The study employed spatial syntax foreground and background network analysis to examine the cultural landscape characteristics and determinants of the urban spatial context in Changzhou, influenced by the Grand Canal, with a focus on rivers, streets, and social networks. The findings revealed that: (1) Foreground network construction: serving as the fundamental framework of urban space, street and river networks exhibited distinct functionalities in terms of structural configuration, functional organization, and potential impact. (2) Background network construction: social networks identified through spatial structure recognition demonstrated sustainable characteristics, as their layout was not directly correlated to the foreground network but contributed to the identification of the identity and the traits of social networks. (3) Dual network adaptability to contemporary urban space: it was imperative to redefine the role of river networks to augment their potential impact in shaping scenic leisure systems. This study provides novel insights into preserving and acknowledging the urban spatial context while offering valuable references for safeguarding regional cultural landscapes.

Keywords: spatial syntax; Changzhou Grand Canal; urban spatial context; network association; cultural landscape (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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