UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI Date: August 9, 2007 I, Lanbin Ren, hereby submit this work as part of the requirements for the degree of: Mater of Science in Architecture in: School of Architecture and Interior Design, DAAP It is entitled: Public Space and Community Identity: A study of Residential Communities in Xi’an, China This work and its defense approved by: Chair: Prof. John Hancock Prof. David Saile Prof. Nnamdi Elleh Prof. Shaorong Huang Public Space and Community Identity: A study of Residential Communities in Xi’an, China Lanbin Ren August 9, 2007 M.Arch, M.S.Arch School of Architecture and Interior Design College of DAAP, University of Cincinnati Committee Chair: Prof. John Hancock Abstract In China, the relationship between public space and people’s communal life is facing challenges and becoming more complicated. This research examines how public space affects and shapes people’s attitudes and behaviors, looking for ways that this information can be made useful to planners and designers based on a study of two representative communities. One example is a historic residential community, Drum- Tower Muslim District in Xi’an, and the other is a contemporary high-density residential community, Ziwei City Garden in the same area. By empirically comparing the shifting of public space, central public space, playgrounds, streets and entrances and social activities, the successful or questionable design approaches are critically analyzed. How to keep and develop the diverse social activities while improving environmental quality will be a key principle to be considered in the research. The conclusions highlight planners and designers’ roles and design approaches in community public space design. iii iv Acknowledgements I appreciate what I have learned from my program, my school and my own life in the past two years. I would also like to thank the faculty, Prof. John hancock and Prof. David Saile for their profound understandings about architecture. Special thanks to Prof. Nnamdi Elleh for his enthusiasm of architectural theories and his generous assistance. I also thank my family and friends for their strong support and trust at any time. Special thanks to Ms. Tamala Whitaker Ms. Leah Gustin Ms. Zhao Wu Prof. Shaorong Huang Prof. Stanley Sulkes Dr. Mitch Leventhal Dr. Xin Liu Dr. Yan Yang v Table of Contents Abstract………………………………………………………………………………iii Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………...v Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………vi Referenced Images…………………………………………………………………viii Chapter Ι Understanding Community: Integrity of Social and Environmental Perceptions………………………………..1 The concept of community: complexity and transformation………………………….1 Public space: making community identity………………………………………….....9 The precedent of Community Revitalization: the Kampung Improvement Project (KIP) in Surabaya, Indonesia…………………..10 Chapter II A Study of an Existing Traditional Residential Community: Drum-Tower Muslim District……………………………………………………...20 Chinese family and community: the fundamental unit of society……………………20 The organization of the family: functions and structure………………………..20 Neighborhood: from the kinship and the clan to the community……………….21 Drum-Tower Muslim District………………………………………………………...23 Introduction: the history and the development………………………………….23 Public squares: inaccessible…………………………………………………….27 Boundaries: symbolic vs. concealed…………………………………………….32 Streets: the representation of community vitality……………………………….36 Playgrounds: nowhere to play…………………………………………………..40 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………42 Chapter III A Study of Contemporary Residential Community: Ziwei City Garden…………......................................................................................43 Contemporary urban community: development and decline…………………………43 Urban housing development: facing the shortage……………………………..43 Public space in modern community: improvement vs. change………………..44 Ziwei City Garden……………………………………………………………………46 Introduction: project background……………………………………………...46 Central plaza: tranquility and hilarity…………………………………………48 Gardens: crisis of cultural identity…………………………………………….53 Boundaries: linear breaks……………………………………………………...55 vi Pathways: a network for walking……………………………………………...60 Playground: a home zone……………………………………………………...63 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………65 Chapter IV Conclusion: Renovating Public Space: Towards Community Revival………………………...66 Community design approaches: towards the improvement of public space…………66 Square: size, location, and enclosure………………………………………….67 Boundary: alienation vs. ownership…………………………………………..72 Gateway: symbolism and size…………………………………………………77 Street: designable qualities…………………………………………………….78 Playground: location and safety……………………………………………….82 Landscaping: contribution to cultural connotation…………………………….85 Urban design approaches: towards community development………………………..92 Mixed-Use in community: the recreation of diversity………………………...92 Community density: the quality of life………………………………………..94 The city of today: the transformation and cultural identity……………………96 Bibliography………………………………………………………………………..101 vii Referenced Images Fig.1.1. Diagram by Author, pg8 Fig.1.2. Photograph by Dr Jeff Kenworthy Image from http://www.sustainability.murdoch.edu.au/casestudies/Case_Studies_Asia/kip /kip.htm, pg12 Fig.1.3. Ibid. pg13 Fig.1.4. Ibid. pg14 Fig.1.5. Ibid. pg15 Fig.1.6. Ibid. pg16 Fig.1.7. Ibid. Fig.1.8. Ibid. pg17 Fig.2.1. Image from http://www.chinaqw.com.cn/news/2005/1109/68/4903.shtml pg23 Fig.2.2. Original image from http://www.travelchinaguide.com/picture/shaanxi/xian Redrawnn by author, pg25 Fig.2.3. Photograph by Shulan, Wang Fig.2.4. Ibid. pg26 Fig.2.5. Ibid. pg27 Fig.2.6. Courtesy of Xi’an City Planning Bureau, pg28 Fig.2.7. Sketch by Author, pg30 Fig.2.8. Photograph by Shulan, Wang Fig.2.9. Sketch by Author, Photograph by Shulan, Wang, pg31 Fig.2.10. Ibid. Fig.2.11. Ibid. pg32 Fig.2.12. Photograph by Shulan, Wang, pg33 Fig.2.13. Ibid. Fig.2.14. Ibid. pg34 Fig.2.15. Photograph by Author Fig.2.16. Sketch by Author, pg35 Fig.2.17. Photograph by Author Fig.2.18. Ibid. pg36 Fig.2.19. Ibid. pg37 Fig.2.20. Ibid. Fig.2.21. Ibid. Fig.2.22. Ibid. pg38 Fig.2.23. Ibid. Fig.2.24. Ibid. pg39 Fig.2.25. Ibid. Fig.2.26. Ibid. pg40 Fig.2.27. Image from http://www.100md.com/html/Dir/2003/09/22/97/625.htm, pg42 Fig.3.1. Photography by Jin, Zhiyang, pg45 Fig.3.2. Image from http: http://www.lzfx.org/tw/uploadfile/200551418442703.jpg Fig.3.3. Original image from http://zwcshy.xa-home.com/mapbar/map.asp?page=2 Redrawn by author, pg47 Fig.3.4. Ibid. Fig.3.5. Image from http://tesugen.com/archives/04/06/corbus-city-of-tomorrow viii Fig.3.6. Image from http://www.ziwei.com.cn/old/xm/cshyxg.htm Fig.3.7. Image from http://tesugen.com/archives/04/06/corbus-city-of-tomorrow, pg48 Fig.3.8. Photograph by Author Fig.3.9. Image from http://www.ziwei.com.cn/old/xm/cshyxg.htm, pg49 Fig.3.10. Photograph by Shulan, Wang Fig.3.11. Ibid. Fig.3.12. Photograph by Author, pg50 Fig.3.13. Ibid. Fig.3.14. Ibid. pg51 Fig.3.15. Ibid. Fig.3.16. Ibid. Fig.3.17. Ibid. Fig.3.18. Ibid. pg52 Fig.3.19. Ibid. Fig.3.20. Ibid. pg53 Fig.3.21. Image from http://www.ziwei.com.cn/old/xm/cshyxg.htm, pg54 Fig.3.22. Photograph by Author Fig.3.23. Ibid. Fig.3.24. Ibid. Fig.3.25. Ibid. pg56 Fig.3.26. Ibid. Fig.3.27. Ibid. Fig.3.28. Ibid. pg57 Fig.3.29. Ibid. pg58 Fig.3.30. Ibid. Fig.3.31. Ibid. Fig.3.32. Ibid. pg59 Fig.3.33. Ibid. Fig.3.34. Ibid. pg60 Fig.3.35. Ibid. Fig.3.36. Ibid. pg61 Fig.3.37. Ibid. Fig.3.38. Ibid. pg62 Fig.3.39. Ibid. Fig.3.40. Ibid. pg63 Fig.3.41. Ibid. pg64 Fig.3.42. Ibid. pg65 Fig.3.43. Ibid. Fig.4.1. Image from http:// www.hzsqw.gov.cn/.../wenjiaoshequ/index.jsp, pg66 Fig.4.2. Sketch by Author, pg68 Fig.4.3. Ibid. Fig.4.4. Image from http://www.ziwei.com.cn/old/xm/cshyxg.htm, pg69 Fig.4.5. Sketch by Author, pg70 Fig.4.6. Ibid. pg71 Fig.4.7. Ibid. pg72 Fig.4.8. Image from http://www.chinahighlights.com/map /changan-in-tang-dynasty-map.htm, pg73 Fig.4.9. Image from http:// kepu.gzkj.gov.cn/NewsDetails.aspx?News_ID=10050, pg74 ix Fig.4.10. Image from http:// html.szhome.com/00/339/6954/3396954.htm, pg75 Fig.4.11. Sketch by Author, pg76 Fig.4.12. Photograph by Author Fig.4.13. Image from http:// kepu.gzkj.gov.cn/NewsDetails.aspx?News_ID=10050, pg77 Fig.4.14. Sketch by Author, pg82 Fig.4.15. Courtesy of PBBC Program, 2005. pg84 Fig.4.16. Image from http://www.lcyl.cn/2006/9-22/983.html, pg87 Fig.4.17. Photograph by Author, pg88 Fig.4.18. Image from http://www.qunxianzhuang.com.cn/old/xm/cshyxg.htm, pg89 Fig.4.19. Ibid. pg91 Fig.4.20. Image from http://mitbbs.com, pg96 Fig.4.21. Photograph by Author, pg97 Fig.4.22. Ibid. pg99 x Chapter One: Understanding Community: Integrity of Social and Environmental Perceptions The concept of community: complexity and transformation The concept of community has become more sophisticated and complicated due to the changing nature of functional patterns and the cultural fluidity. The survival functions of community in contemporary times are much more complex than in the past and in many ways are less well understood.1 “The community is more in tune with the hopes of its residents and can clearly address their inhabitants’ problems.” 2 I shall explain the understandings of community in two different ways: from a social point of view and an environmental point of view. Understandings: based on social philosophy “When the term community is used, the first notion that typically comes to mind is a place in which people know and care for one another...Communities speak to us in moral voices. They lay claims on their members. Indeed, they are the most important sustaining source of moral voices other than the inner self.”3 ––Tom Foremski Both social planners and sociologists stress the social dimensions of a community. They have viewed the community in terms of its symbolic and cultural 1 Stephen Carr, Mark Francis, Leanne G.