Local Identity Identification & Assessment The Theory, Methodology and Practice of Discovering Local Identity in Yantai, China Yuhan Shao A Thesis for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy August 2014 Department of Landscape University of Sheffield United Kingdom 1 2 Acknowledgments My first debt of gratitude must go to my advisors, Professor Eckart Lange and Dr. Kevin Thwaites. They patiently provided the vision, encouragement and advice necessary for me to go ahead through the doctoral program and complete my dissertation. Special thanks to my colleagues, for their support, guidance and helpful suggestions. Their advice has served me well and I owe them my heartfelt appreciation. My friends in UK, China and other parts of the World were sources of laughter, joy, and support. Special thanks go to Haifang Lin and Hong Zhou. I wish to thank my parents, Mr. Jie Shao and Mrs. Yongping Xu. They provided my driving force. I owe them everything and wish I could show them just how much I love and appreciate them. My husband, Qiang Liu, his love and encouragement allowed me to finish this journey. He already has my heart so I will just give him a heartfelt “thanks”. I also want to thank my in-laws for their unconditional support. Finally, I would like to dedicate this work to my lost relative, my Grandpa Xueyan Shao who left me a year ago. I hope that this work makes you proud. 3 Abstract The purpose of this thesis is to establish a formal definition of the term Local Identity and develop an efficient methodology to identify and assess such local identities. This can help to underpin an understanding of the importance of local identity in modern urban design processes and to help protect such identities to form a better urban environment. The thesis first formalises the definition of local identity and points out its importance via a thorough literature review, and then applies the panoramic photo elicitation interview (PPEI) technique developed in this thesis to a case study in Yantai (China) to investigate ways of identifying and assessing local identity. An efficient data analysis approach is also proposed to visualise and investigate research data effectively. Local identity plays an important role in improving and maintaining the quality of urban environments and enhancing the quality of human life. However, there has not been a formal definition of the term. In addition, various similar ideas have been set out by different researchers, thus, bringing confusion and ambiguity to the various terms defining local identity and this confusion has always been an issue in the realm of landscape study. Due to this lack of clarity, practitioners have not realised the importance of local identity during their developing process. And because of globalisation, more and more cities are starting to redevelop by copying other successful cities, resulting in a considerable number of cities being similar, sometimes even identical. Such phenomenon has caused a vast amount of local identities to vanish in the last 10 years. Therefore this thesis concentrates on crystalizing the formal definition of local identity and, most importantly, explains its importance in the process of urban development in relation to human society. This research commences with a solid review of relevant literatures on local identity to understand the background. After the understanding and importance of local identity is established, the thesis then focuses on developing an effective methodology to identify and assess such identity. This is in regard to the practical use of local identity. Subsequently, the PPEI technique was developed and used to better identify and assess different elements that could represent local identity from various aspects effectively. The PPEI provides particular insights into the overall thoughts on local identity elements of participants with different backgrounds. 4 As a comparative study between different groups of participants, this thesis has applied a case study to Yantai (China) to testify the validity of the method developed. Based on data analysis, a representative set of ranked tables and mappings have been developed to help users to visualise both positive and negative identities on the local map. The case study in this thesis identified a number of potential parameters in local identity, which can be used for improving landscape study and urban design process. The roles of local identity, its importance, and the effectiveness of the thesis methodology are discussed in order to ascertain the ways in which local identity can be promoted in landscape study and urban development process. Certain benefits and obstacles in both local identity and thesis method are also discussed to investigate potential opportunities in the future. Furthermore, the meanings of research findings are addressed from different perspectives in order to explore the importance of such findings from all angles in both academic and practical use. 5 Contents Acknowledgments………………………………………………………………………3 Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………4 Figure List……………………………………………………………………………..10 Table List………………………………………………………………………………11 Map List………………………………………………………………………….…….11 Abbreviations………………………………………………………………………….11 Chapter 1 Introduction……………………………………………………………….13 1.1 Background to the Research……………………………………………………….......13 1.2 Scope of Problems: The Loss of Local Identity in China……………………….........14 1.3 Research Aims…………………………………………………………………………..20 1.4 Research Objectives…………………………………………………………………….21 1.5 Thesis Structure…………………………………………………………………..……21 Chapter 2 Literature Review of Local Identity……………………………………..24 2.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………..……24 2.2 Different Levels of Identity…………………………………………………………..24 2.2.1 National Level: National Identity………………………………………..………...24 2.2.2 Regional Level: Regional Identity……………………………………..…………..26 2.2.3 City Level: Urban Identity………………………………………………..………..27 2.2.4 Local Level: Local Identity………………………………………………..……....28 2.2.4.1 City Quarters and Streets: The Best Way to Represent Local Identity….…29 2.2.4.2 Elements of Local Identity……………………………………………………….29 2.2.5 Summary……………………………………………………………………...……30 2.3 Definitions of Local Identity………………………………………………………….33 2.3.1 Place Identity and Place Attachment………………………………………………33 2.3.1.1 Interpretation of Place Identity and Place Attachment…………………..….33 2.3.1.2 Aspects of Place Identity and Place Attachment…………………………..…34 2.3.1.3 Relationship between Place Identity and Place Attachment……………….35 2.3.2 Personal Identity………………………………………………………………..….36 2.3.2.1 Interpretation of Personal Identity………………………………………………….……36 2.3.2.2 Aspects of Personal Identity…………………...………………………………………….36 2.3.3 Culture Identity……………………………………………………………….....…37 2.3.3.1Interpretation of Cultural Identity……………...………………………………..……….37 2.3.3.2 Aspects of Cultural Identity……………...………………………………………….…….37 2.3.4 Community Identity…………………………………………………………..……39 2.3.4.1 Interpretation of Community Identity……………...…………………………………….39 2.3.4.2 Aspects of Community Identity……………...…………………………………………….40 2.3.5 Sense of Place………………………………………………………………..…….41 2.3.5.1 Interpretation of Sense of Place……………...…………………………………….…….41 2.3.5.2 Factors of Sense of Place……………...………………………………………….…..…..41 2.3.6 Landscape Identity……………………………………………………………....…43 2.3.6.1 Interpretation of Landscape Identity……………...…………………… ……………….43 2.3.6.2 Factors of Landscape Identity……………...…………………………………………….43 2.3.7 Common Factors and Relations between Different Identities……………………..44 2.4 Aspects of Local Identity……………………………………………………………….46 2.4.1 Physical Aspect of Local Identity……………………………………………….…47 2.4.2 Social Aspect of Local Identity…………………………………………….…...….49 2.4.3 Sensory Aspect of Local Identity………………………………………….……….52 2.4.4 Memory Aspect of Local Identity…………………………………………..…...…53 2.4.5 Interaction between Different Aspects………………………………………....…..55 6 2.5 Summary…………………………………………………………………...……………56 Chapter 3 Research Methodology Development……………...………………..…...57 3.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………..……57 3.2 Developing Research Method………………………………………………………….58 3.2.1 Visual Method in Landscape Study……………………………………...…..…….58 3.2.2 Interview Questions………………………………………………………..……....59 3.2.3 Difference between Local and Nonlocal Participants Experiences…………..……60 3.2.4 Difference between Onsite and Offsite Experiences………………………………61 3.3 Literature Review on Relevant Methods……………………………………………...63 3.3.1 Case Study Approach……………………………………………...……………….63 3.3.1.1 Case Study Approach in Landscape …………………………………………..64 3.3.1.2 The Value of Case Study…………………………………………………….…..64 3.3.2 Photo Elicitation Interview…………………………………………………..…….65 3.3.2.1 Definition of Photo Elicitation……………………………………………….…66 3.3.2.2 Four Versions of PEI…………………………………………………………….66 3.3.3 Needle Method…………………………………………………………………..…68 3.3.3.1 The Concept of Needle Method………………………………………….….…..68 3.3.3.2 Needle Method and Social Spaces………………………………………….….69 3.3.4 Reorganising Relevant Methods……………………………………………….......70 3.4 Limitations of Photo Elicitation Interview Photographs and Its Solution………….71 3.4.1 The Relationship between Human Vision and Photographs…………………….…71 3.4.2 Use of Panoramic Photograph in Landscape Study……………………………......72 3.4.3 Horizontal Vision Angle of Panoramic Photographs…………………………...….75 3.4.4 Pilot Study for Horizontal Shooting Angle………………………………………...77 3.4.4.1 Finding the Best Horizontal Angle ………………………………………….…77 3.4.4.2 Limitations of Taking 360° Panoramic Photo………………………………..79