maud thesis project-Liwei Fang by 方俐瑋FANG LIWEI

CULTURAL-LED REHABILITATION IN JINSHI ALLEY HISTORIC DISTRICT

Liwei Fang Registration no. 150231996 Supervisor: Florian Kossak

Thesis submitted to the University of Sheffield in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MA in Urban Design

Abstract

Nanning is the capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. As a typical southern city, Nanning has been famous for a long time because of its long history, multicultural background and rich cultural tourism resources. Jinshi Aalley is an important historical and cultural area that is protected by the government in Nanning. The area is surrounded by the center business area and several urban landmarks and historical relics. With the transformation of historical and cultural cities like Nanning, Jinshi Alley also gradually put the transformation of the old district on the agenda. Usually, the historical district is defined as an area where has dominant amount of historical relics or illustrates the historic features and local ethnic characteristics to some extent. In the scope of the study site, buildings and construction compose a specific urban landscape characteristic and cultural atmosphere by its overall environment and order. There are plenty of urban practices taken to restrict and protect historic buildings from being destroyed by people or natural disasters. This thesis aims to find out the effective strategies to conserve historic districts under a specific urban context, and at the same time balance the social, economic and environmental development. In this thesis project, the main research question is seeking for a sustainable design strategy under the real urban context, including collecting information about tools used to assess value of historic districts and sustainable spatial strategies in urban regeneration. Regarding to actual planning projects on Nanning City historical districts, the primary concern of current design approach is balancing style and features of new built constructions to avoid abrupt facades and to promote so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;cultural atmosphereâ&#x20AC;?. It can be assumed that the role of an appropriate and adequate cultural intervention can play as a panacea in regeneration process. It impacts on tangible and intangible dimensions and benefits the future generation. Therefore, to enhance added values and promote sustainability in research site, the cultural based rehabilitation of Jinshi Alley will be proposed based on sustainable regeneration theory.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1: Introduction Project Background Research Question Objectives and Aim

Chapter 2: Theoretical Studies Literature Review Research Process and Methodology Theoretical Framework

Chapter 5 Scenario

Initial Concept Proposition of Jinshi Lane Stakeholders Map Design Principle Design Strategies Long-term Outcome Reflection and Conclusion

Chapter 3: Case Study Reference Project Summary Cultural-led Development Cultural Tourism Urban Interruption Conclusion

Chapter 6: Appendix

Chapter 4: Site Mapping

Historical Research Significant Buildings Existing Activities Ruined Space and Vacant Buildings Architectural Typology Sustainable Potential Issues and Challenge

Chapter 1 Introduction

This chapter presents a review of the state of the Chinese historical cities and how regeneration has taken place in this city. The outcome of historical district regeneration in a city cause a farreaching influence to its brand and peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. By study on the planning tactics and policy support which have been implemented in Nanning city, it gives an overall background to ongoing research.

PROJECT BACKGROUND Background of historic preservation in Nanning City

To respond to the demand of historic-cultural conservation, municipal government of Nanning city has undertaken “old city regeneration programme” since 2002. “Three streets and two alleys” is an essential part of the programme (Nanning City Municipal, 2003). The main protective strategies are transforming original functions into facilities with cultural functions, such as museums and theatres. However, this programme has been implemented for over ten years, but the historic districts are still in chaos and disordered. Furthermore, due to the inadequate maintenance and deficient subsidy for repairing and checking, most historical buildings are in dilapidated condition. The main reason causes that situation is insufficient financial and technological support from local government.

Procedure

Generally, the procedure of historical objects preservation is as follows: the requirement of preserving target is initiated by local authority, and then scholars of historical protective foundation investigate in preserved target. Next, local planning institutions propose workable plan and apply it to construction. Finally, developers arrange implementation depending on design project. However, local government, as the main sponsor and executor of historical preservation, is taking initial responsibility of finding financial and technological support to maintain and redevelop historical objects. Besides, most residential properties’ ownership is private. The owners have right to use these buildings within the requirement of Historic building preservation law, which means the government can not demolish or transform a building without permission from the owners. However, most owners do not maintain historical scene around their buildings. One of the reasons behind the phenomenon is that most owners are not the actual users of the buildings. Taking the Tao mansion, which is one of typical historical buildings in Nanning, as an example, Mr. Tao is the owner of the mansion who inherited this building from the last generation. Though this building has about one hundred years’ history, without enough financial and technological support, Mr. Tao is reluctant to conduct annual examination and other treatments to maintain this building. In recent years, he just rents his old and dilapidated house to low-income workers. Now, the structure of this building is severely damaged so Mr. Tao has to shut down the mansion. From above example, it can be learned that the value of historic buildings cannot be promoted if it is only operated by individuals.

Background of Jinshi Alley

Jinshi Alley, which means “Golden Lion” in Chinese, is inherited from Song Dynasty. And it is a hidden alley in the bustling commercial district in the city center. Besides, there is a story about this alley saying that long time ago a golden lion and a silver lion always like to chase and frolic in the alley. In Song Dynasty, a traditional custom called “lion dance” was one of popular activities in Chinese Spring Festival. Residents who lived in the alley usually made one golden and one silver lion on the first day of New Year. Two eye-catching crafted lion always attracted people nearby to stop by and appreciate. Thus, these two lanes separated by a row of houses were named as "Golden Lion Lane" and "Silver Lion Lane" respectively. Today, Jinshi alley is a part of Xinning St. The length is 300 meters, and most surrounding houses are of courtyard style. From September 2002, the folk houses clustered in the north of Jinshi Lane were announced enlisted among protected historical buildings. Besides, the scene there is distinctive because most facades keep the architectural style of Qing Dynasty. What’s more, they still use the ancient building materials such as black brick, black tile and drywall. It is the only residential block remained from Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China. 1

The features of buildings before the Republic of China period present a mix style of Chinese and Western architecture.

The structure of buildings last from Qing Dynasty is with flush gable roof. The Color of the overall style is cyan-blue.

Lots of reital store on the corner of the entrance of alley

Referent: Nanning City Municipal, (2003). Nanning historical traditions district protection planning. Nanning city,China. Source of web image: http://www.chinanews.com/cul/2013/03-28/4684073.shtml

Context and problems State of Chinese historical cities

From 1978, Chinese economy has witnessed a dramatic change from previous socialism and planned economic models to market-oriented economy. Vast changes have taken place in many respects of urban regeneration in Chinese historical cities. It is widely known that many capital cities in China cannot meet the demand of protecting their unique urban landscape and spreading their local traditional culture in the process of urban transition. In contrast, the instant development of modern style construction and overdevelopment of inner city have caused a series of challenges for conserve historical districts. Today, it is common to see that high-density neighborhood and high-rise buildings have taken place of historical heritages and traditional houses. It is a common sense that the planning of newly-built modern style buildings takes on a state of disorder and fast pace in urban regeneration for many cities which are so-called “political economic and cultural center”, and the original function, spirit of a city and comfortable environment of urban scale gradually disappear. Although local authorities have undertaken affirmative action and preferential policies, and provided financial support to protect historical style areas and repair the damaged traditional buildings, they cannot resolve the essential problems and prevent these historical objects from vanishing in the process of urbanization. The first important problem is that those measures couldn’t foster an appropriated new role to make them survive in a modern city. Besides, most of the historical regeneration approaches just protect the physical environment from varnishing through re-developing in a large scale, which cannot maintain the essence of the historical objects (Zhang and Lu, 2008). 20th Century: Since the economic reforms in 1978, China has been experiencing a dramatic changeover from a central planning economy to a market-oriented economic mechanism (E. Yung, 2014). After 1980s, the People’s Republic of China modernized rapidly, resulting in vast changes to the cities. In 1982, the government officially proposed a concept of “significant historic and cultural city,” for cities that were considered to have important historic position and cultural values in China (Wang, 2015). To reduce the conflict between conservation and redevelopment, the concept of promoting historic-cultural conservation areas was introduced in 1986 compulsively. Correspondingly, many municipalities had implemented relevant policies and protective initiatives to define historical preservation areas. From then on, plenty of historically significant buildings and landscapes have been enlisted in the range of local protection. Early 21th Century: The primary task in the first 20 years of the 21st century is developing with common prosperity. To promote healthy and orderly development of urbanization (Wang, 2015), many preservation projects have carried out by local governments. According to National Park service (2015), a beneficial preservation plan could possibly “strengthen the integration of historic preservation into the broader public policy and land-use planning and decision-making arenas at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels”. In cities with long historic-cultural background, such as Beijing, many preservation plans have not been accomplished yet. However, the responsibility of the governments is providing financial support and regulation guideline to rebuild, reuse and repair historical buildings and heritages.

Summary:

As far as I have concerned, in order to correspond to market-oriented economy, many local authorities that act as sponsors usually use market-based position to initiate regeneration action plans. As the main actors, relevant official institutions that execute those plans attach great importance to economic development. What’s more, many outstanding historical heritages are redeveloped as tourism attractions. Massive tourists and visitors have led to a large number of people move around historical objects, which places a great pressure to maintain historical buildings. Otherwise, people’s behaviors in historical spots may disturb neighbouring residents. For instance, traffic congestion usually appears nearby the ancient building cluster, because the density of buildings in ancient times is relatively higher than nowadays’ because of non-motorized transporting mode. As a conclusion, the market-oriented position and a people-oriented development can only contribute to economic benefit and social effect, however, it cannot achieve synthetic outcomes which are beneficial to our next generations. In addition, historical district preservation shouldn’t only depend on government, and it is necessary to work out a comprehensive method to achieve sustainability in historical cities.

Reference: Zhang, C. and Lu, B. (2008). Cultural Approach to Planning of Inner City Regeneration - A Case Study of Nanluogu Alley in Beijing. In: 44th ISOCARP Congress 2008. National Park Service. “Historic Preservation Planning Program,” Web. 1 May 2015. http://www.nps.gov/preservation-planning/ Wang, M. (2015). Historical Layering and Historic Preservation in Relation to Urban Planning and Protecting Local Identity: City Study of Nanjing. Master. University of Pennsylvania.

Research Question Research Question:

How to achieve sustainable urban regeneration of a historic district conservation in central buisness area ďź&#x; The primary purpose of my thesis is to elaborate the approaches to improve the value of historic districts in order to correlate contextual design.

Sub-research Questions:

How to define an appropriate position for historical block in a contemporary city. How to product added value and interaction of can historic block to the city. These specific questions are aimed at developing project and classify multidisciplinary information. To develop my understanding the site within a specific circumstance, I use this self-question form as a tool to define afterward starting points. As below in the self-questioning form for helping to explore starting points and understand the base situation of study site. Tick means matching with reality,cross means unmatched.

aim and objective Overall, the aim of thesis project is considering the approach of historic block conservation with the background of overdeveloped city center and less protection of old downtown. Regarding the current circumstance of this area, the following chapters will describe the process of applying sustainable urban regeneration theory to analysis the site and how could this theory contribute to keep balance of social objectives and urban environment. The outcome is building a scenario for addressing a certain problem to make full use of different resource and to innovate using of historic buildings and heritage to create added value to the original residents and developers. 1. Exploring knowledge of how to achieving sustainability in historic district regeneration and set up theoretical framework according to the real urban context in Nanning. 2. Redefine the values of historical objective and culture resource in the city center. 3. Proposing appropriated proposition to Jinshi Lane and surrounding area.

Formulation of research question

Chapter 2 Theoretical Studies This chapter is about the intention of studying sustainability in central historic district. Based on the starting point of sustainable urban regeneration theory, the research question is put forward. By exploring the theories about urban sustainability and historical area conservation, this thesis project works on addressing several distinct issues related to environmental and social aspect within the background of real urban context in Nanning City.

Methodology I propose to develop a sustainable design method for historical block regeneration within the city central area. To explore a depth-understanding about previous design methods and evaluation methods toward historical district, this methodologies is designed for: 1), research into what is the fundamental elements for sustainable regeneration ; 2) Re-appropriate the proposition for a historic block and apply the sustainable design approaches and principles from the previous projects; 3) Define key factors of practicing physical intervention within center business area. In order to research these topics, I will principally utilize these three techniques: 1) Literature research, 2)Case study , 3) Scenario building.

Literature research:

In the first phase, the main research contents include definition of relative concept, site background information, evaluation method and official guidance and sustainable design method. The role of literature research is acting as a pivot point for the development of later research design, which can limit the initial research question and frame the research purpose.“Sustainable development” is likely a wide topical area. Hence, in this thesis project,.the concept, requirement and criterion of urban regeneration, historical centrality and sustainable development will be defined. The curial part of literature review is site background study. To develop a depth understanding of urban regeneration process and planning strategy for a actual district, the relevant official document and archive such as government conservation planning and city master plan will be reviewed. Other theoretic reference will be helpful to envision how to evaluation the outcome of case study. This part will be demonstrate in next section. Otherwise, these reference also contribute to build an interdisciplinary linkage in the potential question then generate a subdivided research question which goes more detail ( Linda.G, 2013). The selection of reference is according to the thesis, theory, prospective method and outcome. Essentially, in order to give a sense of the gaps between research and design and provide ideas to open up new connection between sub-research question, an effective literature research in the beginning of design-based project should be practiced strictly. Nevertheless, monograph about cities interruption as a tool to active historical district is emphases of literature review.

Case study:

This study is based on a research project for the urban regeneration of an old historical block in the central business district. Basically, case study has been defined as an “empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within this real life context” (Robert K.Y,2009). Case study in urban design and spatial intervention in this study will investigate in the process of historical district conservation and regeneration. Precisely, the main aim is investigate the extent to which physical intervention of historical block conservation has been achieved from the perspective of sustainable urban regeneration. By multiple reference study of typical conservation projects, architectural inventories, place-centered behavioral mapping, image-based visual exercise which called on achieving “experiential collage” will be developed in this phase. A variety of material included location mapping, photo documentation, socio-spatial mapping and public article will be collected in advance.( Linda.G, 2013).The approaches of analysis are linear-analytic and theory development as exploratory process for promote relevant knowledge. This research method is based on real-life context and explain linkage between conservation and redevelopment of traditional blocks. Additionally, for better understanding the concept of “interruption”, film review will be used as a tool to study elements and features for installation of urban interruption.

This is an essential part for theory development in the research design phase. The weakness of case study is different cases show multi-faced which may make the analysis target more complex and become a over-complication. To avoid this problem, the initial cases should be distribute in appropriate classification. Otherwise, the analytic method of solution and success factors should be integrative.

Mapping scenario:

Developing a research design is a iterative process of speculation. By applying foregone conclusion of former research, design for a exploratory propose is considered as a method which â&#x20AC;&#x153;from the goal of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s study as a way to test how a particular theory may serve to explain a particular environmental phenomenon under investigationâ&#x20AC;?( Linda.G, 2013). It contributes to proficiency of posing a clear research objects and promote comprehensive understanding about the motivation of research question. In my thesis project, to address the research question by design small-scale urban interruption practice as a sustainable design proposal in historical block, I suppose my starting point for research design should be chosen from tourism-led development, energy-efficiency intervention and cultural-led development at least three angles, for instance, develop cultural-led rehabilitation will address one comprehensive proble and contribute to improve the condition of sustainable design elements. Alternatively, the starting point of design can from a physical purpose, take spatial identity as an example, this design proposal can go further on changing characteristics of original spatial pattern to solve a specific existing problem. To plan for foregone scenario, first and foremost, I will pose a hypothesis about the key factor of historical object regeneration and predict the phenomenon will be taken place after the intervention be implemented. Depend on the outcome of previous research about site background and case study, I will draw a overall consequence about comprehensive understanding toward an appropriate role for historical district regeneration to makes these historical objects survive in a contemporary city, which include justification and classification of sustainable design elements. As a precondition, what need to ensure is it must have a rigorous consideration of multiple layers of purpose underlying research target. Hence, the proposal should reflect the initial purpose, which comes from the current circumstance analysis. Otherwise, a critical theoretical framework need to be ensured in literacture review phase to guide and adjust design action.

Reference: Linda.G. And David,W.(2013) Architectural Research Methods,London:Wiley Robert K.Yin, Case Study Research: Design and Method, 4th ed.(Thousand Oaks,CA: Sage,2009), John W.Creswell, Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches (Thousand Oaks, CA:SAGE,2007) Community Development Department, (2013). City of Beverly Hills Landmark & Historic District Evaluation Guidelines. Beverly Hills: Planning Division, pp.2-7.

methodology

research process

Literature review Based on reading extensively to collect information from up-to-date academic articles and gray literature, relevant knowledge about sustainable design methods for historic district regeneration will be identified. The main research question is finding out a strategy for sustainable design under the background of locating in central commercial areas. Hence, my investigation aims to overcome the socio-technical barriers, and seeks for tools assessing historic district value and sustainable spatial strategies in urban regeneration. Mateo.C (2016) argued that to reflect a real urban space quality and improve sustainability in space making, 14 categories evaluated items should be taken into account. He used self-questioning method to make a common categorization to identify thematic gap in existing assessment tools. As to social sustainability, E. Yung’s (2014) supposed that there is intimate connection between the historic district re-appropriation and social sustainability. What’s more, he analyzed 21 factors contributing to social sustainability in the case study on Tianzifang, Shanghai, and then proposed to enhance social sustainability in the process of gentrification in space and policy implication. In the preliminary literature study, I have extracted the main points of the evaluated indicators from those references I have mentioned above, which may be workable for sustainable regeneration on site. Accordingly, these exploratory factors will be refined and a critical assessment will be produced on the basis of it. Also, it relates to the criterion to guide and judge the following case study and scenario building.

Sustainable Urban Regeneration

The term sustainability has been used referring to the capability of being sustained in long-term development of something. There are plenty of definitions of sustainable development, the most famous one was proposed by the World Commission on Environment and Development, which is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (1987). Sustainable development is a broad topic which has long been discussed in diverse spheres. In this thesis, how to achieve urban sustainability in the process of historical district regeneration is the main topic. In the field of political and academic circles, sustainable urban regeneration is agreed to be defined as an aggregate of four basic elements: economy, environment, social and institution (Fig.1). URBACT programme, which is a European learning and exchange programme, used the term “integrated sustainable approach” to describe a synthetic method to integrate different dimensions of sustainable local development. However, the overall framework illustrates the relationship between the four elements. Besides, the general principle of sustainable development proposes adoptable and adequate position to keep a good balance among the objectives of these four dimensions, which guarantees the needs of next generations (Czischke, Moloney and Turcu, 2015). Some of these objectives may conflict with other elements in short-term development, but they may be beneficial to the long-term development. For example, pre-industrial cities kept a balanced ecological relationship within their sub-regions. However, with the rapid development of industries, the environment had been destructed and the ecosystem was being disrupted. From the perspective of long-term development, industrialization will foster the progress of human society (Rodwell, 2007).

Critical reflection:

The theory of sustainable regeneration has been widely used in decision-making of urban planning and provided a systematic methodology to regeneration tactics. However, this paper has reviewed three reference projects which are tourism-oriented, culture-oriented and energy efficient respectively. No matter using which orientation to prompt sustainability, all of them follow the common principle: continuity of function. Precisely, the principle of minimum intervention of urban fabric aims at creating similar scene that relates as closely as possible to those areas constructed. Besides, it is widely accepted that a city should not be restricted to a simple character and in a specific period of time. Diverse urban layers reflect the shifts in culture, politics, economy and society. However, the dramatic increase of economic growth, consumption and communication has led to careless expressions and deterioration of cultural heritages (Qanzuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;a, 2013). Interaction between people and their urban environment ensures that cities change incessantly. Also, there is a shift in their hopes and desires when people are interacting with the existing historical relics, especially some buildings, such as Sihe Courtyard house, are closely related to peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s everyday life. However, to achieve multipurpose in historic district regeneration, the primary task is refining complicated urban problems probably faced before the regeneration of historical centers, and there are major planning challenges of this task, including isolated from active spots, lack of vitality, inadequate public facilities, absence of public participation in protective activities, destruction of heritage landscape, less fund and insufficient response to contemporary needs. Most regeneration methods of preserving historical environment focus on physical improvement and economic promotion but ignore to take social coherence and cultural continuity into account. Besides, the gaps between regeneration project and virtual situation, and inadequate proposition and lack of public resources have prevented the government from carrying out the regeneration project. Due to the inapplicable planning and shortage of labor and financial support, this situation leads the physical condition of historic blocks to deteriorating gradually.

Conclusion

For the cultural development, it requires to integrate the local culture resource with the development of society, economy and environment. This research emphasizes on social cohesion and physical interventions to conserve the historic block and consider innovative approach of reusing iconic buildings. Accordingly, I consider sustainable urban regeneration as an approach to conserve, which addresses relevant technical spatial and socioeconomic problems in order to reduce the negative influence of inadequate utilization of historical heritages and improve the quality of public space within this area, and intergrade urban landscape and lifestyle.

urban sustainability theory

Regarding to the site research and research question exploration, there are three regeneration theories which are relevant to this project. The main research question is aim at applying sustainable design strategies under the real life urban content. Hence, my investigation is account on meeting the gap of socio-technical barriers, historic district value assessment tools and sustainable spatial strategies in urban regeneration.

Literature Review: sustainable urban regeneration

Cultural-oriented regeneration:

Inherent values of historical districts are an essential component of challenge in regeneration process. From the perspective of history, buildings and urban infrastructure represent the environmental capital of the city which provides cultural identity and sense of place. Otherwise, the socio-cultural value plays the role of defining sense of place, community belongingness and social cohesion (Rodwell, 2007). However, due to large scale urban redevelopment has appeared in many inner cities of China, the physical environment has changed rapidly in last decade. Once a regional culture has disappeared, the lost of urban spirit cannot be revived again though the ruined traditional buildings and spatial forms can be rebuilt (Bailey, Miles and Stark, 2004). Therefore, it can be seen that cultural rehabilitation can be a universal cure in historical district conservation. Nowadays, the widespread use of the word “culture” usually refers to an art form, such as music, literature, painting and sculpture, theatre and film. Moreover, ministry of culture refers to “specific activities, sometimes with the addition of philosophy, scholarship, history” (Williams, 1976). As to the regeneration of Chinese inner cities, many traditional buildings in historical areas have been redeveloped as tourist spots and great profit has been made from their heritage implication. Furthermore, cultural revitalization is an effective approach to promoting urban identity and influence power of a city.

Reference: Bailey, Christopher; Miles, Steven; and Stark Peter (2004) “Culturel-led urban Regeneration and the Rvitalisation in Newscastle, Gateshed and the North East of England”,International Journal of Cultural Policy, Vol.10, No.1. pp47-65. Rodwell, D. (2015). Reconnecting the city: the historic landscape approach and the future of urban heritage. Journal of Architectural Conservation, 21(2), pp.136-138. Williams, R. (1976). Keywords. New York: Oxford University Press. Zhang, C. and Lu, B. (2008). Cultural Approach to Planning of Inner City Regeneration - A Case Study of Nanluogu Alley in Beijing. In: 44th ISOCARP Congress 2008. Beijing.

Urban interruption Definition:

The concept of interruption is largely academic. "Interruption" aims at attempting to explain a cluster of urban phenomena that are widely preceived, understood, and consumed, but that have not generally accept label. There is no an exact definition for this phrase. “Urban interruption” is a type of creative practices take place in the urban space, which designed to make people pause and reflect in the construction of cultural spaces. It has long cultivated an aesthetic of disruption rather than affirmation. It also usually describe a cluster of urban phenomena that are widely perceived, understood and consumed. Many actual cases of interruption exist in the field of culture. For instance, an outdoor screening of film, flash mobbing. For the large-scale interruption, there are many worldwide well-known cases, such as Highline park in NewYork city and 798 Art Zone in Beijing. “Interruption” suppose both an antagonistic place in relation to the urban surround, and the urban surrounding itself as interrupted.

Key elements:

Interrupt in urban space

Interrupte in daily life experience

Creative activities

Create new social relationship 20

Trigger commercial behavior

Symbol of interrpution: Food Truck Review of the movie Chef (2014)

Food truck can be considered as a symbol of urban interruption, because it covers all the factors of key elements.

Filmmv review Study in "food truck", key elements of urban interruption

To look into the position of city interruption, the “food truck”is an representative form of urban interrupted object. I reviewed the movie Chef (dir. Jon Favreau, 2014) to explore the typical feature of this small-scale and mobile urban interruption. “The food truck is a perfect object in this case. It not only has the requisite look of austerity (it looks cheap) but also, we could say, performs an interruption in urban space. Its attraction is that of the carnival, albeit on a small scale: it rolls into town (or the school yard, or parking lot) and temporarily interrupts daily life. It does this partly through food: Its contemporary iteration is big on spectacular culinary fusions, all colour and strong flavours. And it does it though the social life it temporarily engenders: the trucks are physical spectacles in themselves, and they make places out of non-places, while the inevitable lines to be served provide waiting and socialize (waiting in line is indeed part of the experience). The waiting and socializing usually have some ancillary support: buskers, music groups, ect. The overall effect of the food truck is unique, but it draws on a number of precedents from the 1960s: it resembles any number of temporary, performative participatory action in the realm of art.” (Richard J.Williams, Cities interrupted, Chapter 2)

Chapter 3 Case Study

Part 1

Reference projects: Tourism-led development Cultural-led development

Precents: Urban interruption Urban faction series

Part 2

Regeneration project Historic District:

Jinshi

Alley

Study in Inner City Historic District Conservation Planning Project Relevant policies Planning principle

Part 3 summary:

yLearn from proview projects and experient proposition of Jinshi Alley

Reference project tourisom-led development Cultural Heritage and Urban Development project Saida, Lebanon

Aim:

1.Maintain an historical legacy. Rehabilitation historic city center and improve urban infrastructure. 2.Promote conservation and sustainable management of archaeological sites. 3.Provide technical assistance to help management instead of being disrupted by urban planning schemes.

Principle:

Bottom-up planning; Promote tourist interaction. Based on the ability of the heritage area to meet and balance most of the multiple needs. Emerging tourists to directly interact with local residents within the built-heritage attractions.

Intervention:

To meet the needs of promoting cultural tourism industry through this three aspects: 1.Conservation and rehabilitation patterns: 2.Heritage interpretation: 3.Micro economic development.

Reference: Al-hagla, K. (2010). Sustainable urban development in historical areas using the tourist trail approach: A case study of the Cultural Heritage and Urban Development (CHUD) project in Saida, Lebanon. Cities, 27(4), pp.234-248.

Reference project urban interruption

Urban Fiction 2004 - present photography with digital manipulation (by Xing Danwen) Urban fiction Series by Xing Danwen is a typical example for critique the contemporary life and express her expectations and concerns about this international and modernized historical city. As she said, urban landscapes have became similar and blurred the bounder with each others within the background of globalization. “Globalization is reshaping our urban environment and our vision of contemporary life ... People live in cubes that are squeezed next to one another, separated only by thin walls. This physical proximity, instead of leading to greater closeness and intimacy between people, can often create psychological distance and loneliness.” Therefore, Danwen presents her fantast in her work about future city. Audiences can see the transition between different role in this model. ““I” am real but at the same time “I” am unreal. The figures act out totally imaginative roles and fanciful stories, staged within the maquettes, their plots invented by me and visualized for these spaces. For example, “I” am a white-collar office worker brought to despair by job pressures and spiritual emptiness. Sometimes “I” am a materialistic woman enjoying a life of pleasure and dissipation. Or “I” am a young girl who, in a moment of unrestrained rage, accidentally killed her lover.”

Resource:http://www.danwen.com/web/works/exhibition/exhibition_uf.html

pecedent one: Scale model in Beijng Urban Museum “Urban interruption” is a process of thinking what would be happened when a contemporary city transit to a modernized city. It also give an innovative attempt to intervene in urban space. To rescue traditional culture from vanishing and publicize the idea of communism, presenting scale model in urban space is an efficient method. For instance, the main piece item on display in Beijing Urban Museum is locate in south-eastern corner of Tiananmen square. As some of scholars and artists hold the view of “history should not be just illustrate in museums”, presenting artworks, maquettes and scale model and other typical urban installation is more convincing than just scan spiritless exhibit item in indoor museum. Those objects also reflect people’s introspection about their state of live and rising their consideration about what this city used to be and what it should be in the future. “ The cheerful illuminated history is a history that is compressed and mapped ontoa simple line, leading from religious and dynastic time to communist landmarks, to arrive into a cosmopolitan utopian.”( Nye,2004)

Uniting the cultural elements with artifacts by artists can propagate their political opinions and ideology and imagination of future’s city life in urban reality. It also gives inspiration of to audiences and cultivate their thinking of city’s development. In Beijing, the tactics of interruption are as follow: The first one is using scale model to disrupts public space. The second is demolishing some of historic block which lack of protection and transform them into a signified shopping street.

Reference: Jordan, S. and Lindner, C. (n.d.). Cities interrupted. http://www.danwen.com/web/works/exhibition/exhibition_uf.html

part 2 pervious regeneration projects Study in Inner City Historic District Conservation Planning Project Timeline of previous Planning Projects 2000, Traditional Block Transformation Planning Project in Nanning city center

Nanning Municipal Government propose that the historical traditions Street area in Minsheng St., Hing Ning St., reform the facades along the arcade shopping street. Minsheng St., Nanning City Xingning St. area transform to pedestrian commercial district. Hence, the commercial atmosphere, traffic condition, civic space, investment environment has been greatly improved in historical tradition district .

2003, Regulatory Planning in Nanning City Historical and Traditional Districts

In 2003, Nanning Municipal Government held a charrette about implementation technique of protection project. Participants and specialists presented their opinions and advices aiming at historical block regeneration and environmental remediation. From then, the Municipal Government established the permission the regeneration projects in“Three streets and two alley” area. Moreover, the project "Southeastern city complex" has undertaken as the essential part of Old City Regeneration Program.

2005, Inner Cit y Historic District Conser vation Planning Project To address these complex problems and maintain historic social space in adequate condition, Nanning Municipal Government has taken attention and awareness to the value of historic district conservation and established Inner City Historic District Conservation Planning Project to promote the action plan of historic district conservation.

For physical intervention, the major strategy for Historic district protection is focus on unifying styles and characters within the Jinsi Lane blocks and surrounding area. It provides specific guideline for the colors and styles of facade and building forms, to avoid abrupt scene. It also work for engaging new types of commerce into the community life. The planning approach is based on “control construction refer to zoning, applying different regeneration strategies refer to architectural classification”. Previous practices showed that there is a gap between urban regeneration strategies and their actual implementation.

2000ďź&#x152; Reform commercial street

2003ďź&#x152; Southeastern city complex project

2005 Jinshi Alley Historic District Conservation

(Source: Author)

Relevant regulation and policies People's Republic of China Cultural Relics Protection Law Implementing Regulations,1992

Any facilities endangering the safety of cultural relics construction should not be built within the construction control areas. It is beyond permission of constructing buildings and structures not coordinating with environment of cultural relics constructions for their forms, heights, dimensions, color and so on. (Source: People's Republic of China Cultural Relics Protection Law Implementing Regulations)

People's Republic of China Cultural Relics Protection Law Implementation Regulations, 2003

Protection scopes of cultural relics protection units means areas within certain range of cultural relics protection units and its surroundings which are provided enhanced protection. Protection scopes of cultural relics protection units should be reasonably delineated according to cultural relics protection units’ type, size, content, and their surrounding environment’s history and reality. Moreover, a safe distance should be maintained from the cultural relics protection units to ensure validity and integrity of the cultural relics protection unit.

Construction control zones of cultural relics protection units refers to the areas beyond protection scopes of cultural relics protection units which restrict construction projects to protect the safety, environment and historic look of cultural relics protection units. Construction control zones of cultural relics protection units should be reasonably delineated according to cultural relics protection units’ type, size, content, and their surrounding environment’s history and reality. (Source: People's Republic of China Cultural Relics Protection Law Implementation Regulations)

Designation of protected scope and construction control area Legend Key architecture protected area Architecture protected area Style and feature of constructions coordinated area

Historical preservation zoning (Source: Author)

Requirement of style and feature coordination

Modernism style

Linnan style veranda street (covered pedestrian sidewalk) Building typology Source: Author()

Neoclassism style

Comprehensive style

Chinese Tranditional Courtyard house

planning principle

Street plaza

community public space

Parallel footpath

Physical intervention:

Approach of utilizing historical buildings: Utilizing religious stories, myths and legends, folk stories of these constructions to make them more appeal to new buildings which have similar functions. The forms of utilizing old traditional buildings are as follow: 1.Extend the original function. 2.Utilize as museums. 3.Utilize as schools, libraries, administrative offices. 4.Utilize as tourism attractions. 5.Utilize as hotels, restaurants, parks and landscape.

Social intervention: Event squarea in front of heritage

Enhance the quality of urban landscape and historical environment to achieve the integration of people, culture and historical objects. The traditional commercial activities will be remained in this area to put forward the local traditional culture and attract foreign tourists.

Institutional support:

1.Through research into the historical and cultural background and the histor y of the formation and development of a district, the position and function of a traditional historic neighborhoods should be put forward. 2.For the purpose of improving condition of historic neighborhood and promoting cultural signif icant, classification of typologies of constructions in historic district and evaluation of quality of these objects should be carried out in preliminary phase, which determine the strategies of protection, reconstruction measures and renovation of historical buildings. The indicators of construction control guideline should be based on the real urban context and scale, function and typy of historic relics.

Reference: Inner City Historic District Conservation Planning Project, established by Nanning Urban Planning Institution,2003

summary From above the mappings and intention of regeneration projects, the main intervention principle can be summarized as follow: 1. For the formation of buildings as well for inheriting local culture, the primary task is to preserve the distinctive architectural style by reserving the architectural typologies and symbols. For history significant and iconic buildings, the main approach is protective repair periodically and utilized them as a node of sightseeing or business spot. 2. In business dimension,use different styles of urban scene to divided commercial streets into several functional blocks. Relying on Commercial Street axis to guide pedestrians movement line and connect tourist attraction spots. Meanwhile, to create different function inside of internal commercial property. Develop high-grade residential service property along side the roadway. 3. For previous successful old town regeneration projects, the cultural interpretation is relying on the local cultural environment. Besides, local distinctive culture should be the main theme of business type and compose the cultural keynote. Above all, previous regeneration and protection projects have provided basic physical guideline and restrict the urban scene to unify and promote traditional cultural environment. However, their urban regeneration approaches are still considered not well understood or defined phenomenon particularly in the Nanning context.

Lack of effective protective legislation

There were no a comprehensive official policies or practical guidelines to carry out the initiatives to meet the developmental needs of the people as well as help guiding planners and professionals. Besides, the government has focused on other national aspects such as upgrading the infrastructure and enhancing the economic growth, rather than prioritizing their interest in the preservation of historical centers while the local inhabitants are not capable financially or technically to maintain their buildings themselves.

Lack of public participation

Beside, in management dimension, regeneration project is likely misread and misinterpreted the needs of the local inhabitant. From the data of number of low income residents in Xingning District (where the Jinshi Alley located in), it indicates that the number of low-income people in this area is decline from 2012. It can be assumed that the traditional business such as jewellery processing and computer maintenance are not longer satisfied the need of local residents. However, the main commercial theme in the Jinshi Alley historic district has still been posited as traditional handcraft, hence, Jinshi Alley has became the less popular place in the city center. This situation is caused by majority people are excluded from the process of planning and practice of conservation practice. The project of regeneration does not fulfill their needs and visions. Their voices can not be heard by the planners, designers, and decision-maker, therefore, it is understandable why people are reluctance to involved in protective actions of the historic heritage.

source: Nanning Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau (according the Low-security system standard, monthly income lower than local minimal income standard can be considered as low income people)

Site Mapping

Part 1

Location

part 2

Position

part 3

History timeline

part 4 part 5

Site exploration issue and challenge

Location mapping

40 Web image: Mapbox Source: Author

location Globalization and Regionalisation:

Nanning is the capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region which situate in south-central Guangxi. As a typical Chinese southern city and with 1680 years history of “Yong” culture and rich historical tourism resources, Nanning has awarded "UN Habitat Award" in 2007 and won the "China's Best Leisure City" title in 2013. As one of the most livable cities in China, Nanning has long famous for its reputation of the “Green town”. Otherwise, form 2004, Nanning is the host city of China-ASEAN Exposition every year, which response to promote communication and commerce between south-eastern countries. Jinshi Alley occupies in Nanning city center and surrounded by Ning St, Minsheng St, Xing Ningxi Lane and Dangyang St. There is the most well-preserved traditional block in Nanning City. The daily scene of Jinshi Alley present the traditional architecture elements and cultural values. In 2002, Jinshi Alley was awarded as the essential part of the cultural relics protection district in Nanning City, which be demarcated by Jiefang St., Hing Ning St., Minsheng St. and Xing Ningxi Lane (formerly silver silk Alley) to form a unique civil cultural atmosphere called "Third Street and Two Alley”. Jinshi Alley is closed to the only one largest and oldest arcade pedestrian street of this city and nearby to many members of the public squares and shopping plazas. The situation of dilapidated buildings and obsolete commercial forms such Jinshi Alley in an awkward position.

Internetional conference

Multiculture background Ethnic communication

position

Social dimension: The majority functions of land use in this area are residential use, commercial use and office space.

Institutional dimension: The resident population is about 6500.

Spatial dimension: Within the Jinshi Alley block, the facades of traditional buildings are should be remained and maintained in appropriate quality. On this premise, their internal space can be reform according with relevant guideline and regulation and demands of land use. The color, height and depth of veranda buildings are strictly regulated as follows.

In 2012, Nanning municipality government initiated that undertaken conservation and regeneration projects to the historic culture block. After the rehabilitation project was completed, the "three streets and two alleys" would be built into the Ming and Qing dynasty style Lingnan architecture and arcade buildings as the majority style in this district. There will be transform into the synthesis of cultural tourism business complex, which included the traditional cultural experience, fashion leisure entertainment and tourist attractions. As for the Jinshi Alley historic area, there should be posited as a the secondary part of veranda style commercial center. To reserve the authentic urban scene of Qing Dynasty style courtyard house and to coordinate with the surrounding environment, the primary principle of Jinshi Alley is minimum intervention to fabric and community. Within the historic area, rebuilding and reformation of historical buildings or new buildings have been required that relate as closely as possible to those buildings were constructed.

History timeline

Web image: http://www.nnnews.net/atlas/201507/t20150703_1405653.html#2

context and historic building typology

Web image: http://blog.renren.com/share/297770923/12510285947

Four halls and three open courtyard Width of building: 4-6m, 1012m Depth of building: 24-30m Depth of courtyard:4-6m Ratio of building and courtyard:1/3,1/2,2/3

One open courtyard house (Siheyuan)

Width of building: 4-6m,8-10m Depth of building: 15-20m Depth of courtyard:4-5m Ratio of building and courtyard:1/2

Three halls and one open courtyard house

Width of building: 4-6m,8-10m Depth of building of side:3-4m Ratio of building and courtyard:1/3,1/2

Non-courtyard house (Modern building) Width of building: 3-5m Depth of building: 6-7m,10-12m

Through site observation and previous project study, Jinshi Alley can be defined as a multi-culture background platform. Distinctive urban scenics from different period of time distributed in the historical protective area of city center. There are representative and outstanding objects such as Song Dynasty city wall and Xinghui Collage are isolated from the lively city center and being forgotten by young generation. The observation shown that most of the historical heritage spots are in very low usage and lack of regularly maintain. Otherwise, within the Jinshi Alley, the buildings along side the main pathway are unified as a uniform Qing Dynasty folk house architectural style. The features such as black pitched roof and gray wall configure a specific visual character of Jinshi Alley and gives people strong sense of place. By deconstruct the typical courtyard house in this area, I will seek to define a new interior spatial form which adopt to add value to this ancient alley and better future use.

site exploration

Source: Inner City Historic District Conservation Planning Project, established by Nanning Urban Planning Institution,2003

(Source: Author)

Significant Buildings & protective tactics

Actor analysis Active actor: Investor:

Interest field: Maximum profit from development Need: Good investment environment Degree of participation: high Housing developer: Interest field: Traffic condition, service facilities of the neighborhood Need: Good investment environment Degree of participation: high

Shop owner/business owner:

Interest field: Customer for products and services Need: Stable customer source Degree of participation: relatively high

Passive actor: Resident:

Interest field: Surrounding service facilities and public facilities. Need: Access to service site Degree of participation: very low

Informal trader:

Interest field: Stable customer source, some of informal vendors may have not business promise license, they are worry about expel by city inspectors when they are running business. Need: Comfortable and secured environment for business, stable customer source Degree of participation: relatively low

This analysis has been undertaken site observation and literature review to illustrate diverse state of existing user groups. The actors has been divided into two groups, which are those who may be proactively involved in regeneration process (active actors) and who are exclude from design and decision-making process. Defining who are the actors engage in regeneration and what are their demands and their relationships in the essential part of site analysis. From them, stakeholders and potential partners are based on actor analysis.

Vatality analysis (Source: Author constructed through site observation)

stakeholder analysis Ancient street and Alley Space Entrance of Jinshi Alley

Low grade beauty parlor open to the alley

Trader under the porch

Jinshi Alley

Informal trader:

“I work for selling food and handcraft from 8.00 am to 17.00 pm.a day. Sometime there are too many vendors trade in the narrow alley so that I have to stand beside the sidewalk to deal with my business. It is terrible to be exposed to the sun and rain. I prefer to have somewhere shady and cool, the space under the porch is a prefect place, and free.”

Motorbike driver:

“Although it is narrow and crowd, Jinshi Alley is a relatively safety shortcut to access to the main road (Xinning St.). In addition, I can buy some daily necessities or food on the way.”“I work for selling food and handcraft from 8.00 am to 17.00 pm.a day. Sometime there are too many vendors trade in the narrow alley so that I have to stand beside the sidewalk to deal with my business. It is terrible to be exposed to the sun and rain. I prefer to have somewhere shady and cool, the space under the porch is a prefect place, and free.”

Store keeper:

“Sometimes, those non-license informal vendors occupied in front of my store. They obstructed customer to come into my store. I would like to ask them to leave, but some of them willing to pay for me to permit them stay in the porch until 17.00 pm, I am concerning about that.”

Pedestrians:

“ I live near the alley, I enjoy the feeling that takes a walk in such a quiet pathway. By the way, I like to purchase food and sundries here, because it is cheap and convenient.”

skateholder analysis civic space Chaoyang Veranda Pedestrian street

Vegetable market Outdoor sign

Veranda Street Plaza

Old people

Commuter

Shopper

Authentic local food is very popular in here

Vegetable market, Sui St.

The typical civil space in study area are located in the interaction of northwestern Jiefang St. and central Chaoyang veranda street. The reason why I choose these places as objects of study is their special and representative business models. The business types and service objects are intense different in Veranda street and Sui St. Although this two areas just at a short distance (less than one kilometer), the urban scene and consumption grades are very different. Veranda Street is one of the oldest pedestrian street in this city, most of buildings are middle grade marketplace. With the gentrification of inner city, this street is losing its competitiveness gradually. On the contrary, Sui St., is a popular old street where last the same function for about one hundred year.

Commuter:

“ I go through the veranda pedestrian street for work every 8.00am. This is relatively quiet and fewer people at that time. I prefer to walk in there because car is not allowed to access this street and I can do some window shopping when I am pass by.”

Shopper:

“There are wide range of goods and food sold in there. I enjoy walking along under the portico and do not need to worry about weather. However, I hardly even purchase in there, because personally I think the cost performance is not very appropriate.”

Old people:

“I usually go to Sui St. to buy some food and ingredients in the street market in morning. That is a habit I have kept for about twenty years.”

Issues and Challenge Environment issues Within the Jinshi alley, the traditional commercial patterns, such as jewelry craft, are still remained. Otherwise, the entry is lack of identity, which causes pedestrians are hard to find out the cluster of historical buildings and walk into this area. Jinshi alley area can not become a tourism attraction because this isolated and obstacle. Moreover, there is almost not visitors, pedestrians and tourists participate in the neighborhood life of this area, which cause the public space has fallen into disuse. In Mingshen St., the square is bare and empty, and none greenery in the sidewalks. This is cause less people willing to pause and gather in the square and use the public furniture.

Economic issues According to the official document Historical District Conservation and Management Guideline of Nanning City, within the Jinshi alley historical area, the highlight is Arcade transformation. In policy perspective, the arcade buildings regeneration is leaded by municipality. The tactics of arcade regeneration is “multi-channel financing support and marketization” collaborate with “the combination of government behavior and social participation” (Historical District Conservation and Management Guideline of Nanning City). However, marketization and commercialization can not be realized if there was not have a stable and adoptable environment. Around the Jinshi area, the commercial pattern still remained as scattered retial and cater spots, which cannot be be integrated into the surrounding business environment. The primary reason of this situation is due to the poor aesthetic quality and disorder social environment. Although the facades alongside the alley are unique,there are not a projecting unified style and appropriate human scale. Therefore, the protection of these alleys can not be satisfied by government subsidies and less likely to attract developers involved in. Hence, these buildings can not stay in a state to show there is worthwhile to be given investment.

Social issues In Jinshi alley area, most of residential buildings are private owned or community ownership. Otherwise, there are not a forceful institution to implement unified management and assure practicable action to engage each user groups drop in historic district protection. Within the historic block, most of residents are elderly people who still remain old habit and custom and less likely to make a change in their living environment. Most of them are reluctant to participate in protected actions.

Institutional issues Complex property ownerships making this difficult for the municipality to take a leading role in its regeneration. The tension between top-down approach management and bottom-up implementation cause the inadequate position on the site.

Many vendors and individual traders occupy the heritage site in the alley,which makes the public space narrow and disorder.

Chapter 5 scenario building

Part 1

Initial concept

part 2

Scenario

Planning layer Deisign principle and strategies Tactics Stakeholder network

part 3

Comparison

initial concept Hypothesis:

A sustainable design approach based on design guideline and principles that recognise the existing local demands and current circumstance, can allow for a broader range of development possibilities that better mediate between the local needs and the historical objectives regeneration and management. Cultural-led regeneration can be a pivot point to achieve balance and steady development in Nanning city center.

Current issue and targets:

After site investigation and stakeholders analysis, there are two main issues which cause evident negative effects to cultural environmental cultivation and people’s self-initiative. There are mainly refer to environmental and social dimensions. 1.Lack of attractive urban identity. The traditional building clusters is for long years out of repair, the structure and outward appearance are damaged severely. 2.Lack of local people involvement. most of residents are elderly people who are reluctant to participate in protected actions. From then, the tactics of this scenario is interpreting historical urban scene in creative to call out people’s attention toward ancient heritage and traditional culture. From social perspective, arranging unique and creatives urban practices to create possibilities to trigger interaction between people and cultural network. This interaction happened in cultural network maybe a very little in one’s daily routine, a random event, or a commercial activities to connect people with surrounding environment. Regarding to above issues, it seems that two main tasks are going to be considered through the whole rehabilitation process. To concern about reviving traditional culture and enhance urban identity, people play as cultural carriers active among the cultural innovation. Cultural networks provides space for civil life and visitor experience. There are three objectives need to be considered in sharping cultural network. In physical aspect, cultural interruption is the main tangible intervention of this scenario. Cultural interruption means reusing space and historic objects in order to trigger creative cultural activities taken place. The interruptions may abrupt to people’s everyday life.

design principle and strategies Principle Activation:

Producing flexible installation for street vendors within the historic protective area. The installation is demountable and removable, that can be moved respond to the needs of residents and visitors. They are allocated along the main street, Jinshi Alley and veranda pedestrian street.

Reinterpretation:

Some of traditional buildings has distinctive style of a certain period but where are ruined and dilapidated. This vacant and wasted buildings should be redefined an re-innovation. Spatial organizations are in charge of maintain appropriate usage of those spaces. This is also a main form of new-built cultural facilities. Moreover, new function will be fostered base on the original spatial patterns.

Interruption:

The physical intervention will taken place in ruined traditional buildings and public space where near significant buildings. The existing of heritage and traditional iconic buildings can be considered as types of object to abrupt peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities in urban space. Furthermore, the revivification of historical ruins constitutes a double interruption of the contemporary city. The traditional constructions which have been reinterpreted enable new forms of spatial and visual, incursion into the city center that deliberately disrupt familiar everyday urban experience.

spatial design tactics Short-term: Apply cultural interruption In the initial stage, the primary task is defining cultural nodes and allocating interrupted installation in cultural nodes. The aims of interruption are building visual attraction and cultural activities. People are free to can apply to rent these installation.It is benefit to hold costeffective cultural activities in outdoor space and produce more interaction between people in urban space Mid-term: Functional inversion in waste traditional buildings and iconic landmark Rehabilitation projects should be implemented to build identity in historical significant area. Unique and mixed function buildings and spaces are going to be constructed in this phrase. This contributes to renew peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s understanding of historical buildings and to foster new spirit of place. Long-term: Reform commercial model of historic district

planning layers Intervention spot

Route Visitor route Resident route

Cultural network

Spatial organization

Site map

Oxfam

Nanning Greenway

Guangxi University

Interrupted area Interrupted area: In the initial phase, several typical and representative socio-cultural space are selected for interrupted practice. From then, several types of installation and renovated buildings will provide public facilities and low-cost commercial space for taking place cultural activities.

interruption installation design

Social activities & cultural network

Discussion To concern about urban sustainability in a historical district, I follow the structure of sustainable urban regeneration theory. Except the fundamental four elements, I look more detail information in the spheres of physical setting and social setting. My research method is based on reviewing previous investigation of Jinshi Alley historical and analysis of the actual planning project combine with official document and policies review. Most of the materials and data stem from municipal planning action plan, State Statistical Office and off-site interviews. There are the essentials I have mainly highlighted in my preliminary site study. Physically, I concerned spatial characteristics in term of urban form definition and land use analysis. I also gave a rough review about state of buildings typologies. As for social aspect, I have studied in social structure, community interaction and lifestyle on site. Regarding to what sustainable planning approach has been defined, “Sustainability assessment is a tool that can help decision-makers and policy-makers decide what actions they should take and should not take in an attempt to make society more sustainable” Its aim is to ensure that plans, actions and activities make an optimal contribution towards sustainable urban regeneration (AgaKhan, 2004). From my preliminary study about government document, it can be found out that the starting points of municipal-run historic area preservation project are driving by market-orientation. However, the tactics and design approaches which propose by the local government is confined to physical style and features coordination and commercial environment construction. It can only result to decayed historical scene and base imitation of traditional buildings. Commercial activities may be triggered nearby so-called historical attraction, the spirit of space which record the memory of local people are vanishing gradually. Although several years later governments have transit market-oriented starting point to people-oriented, the needs of stakeholders are still not being initiated effectively and implemented adequately in the process of historical regeneration. The tensions between topdown planning tactics and bottom-up approach which reflects grass roots environmental needs, expectations and initiatives post a institutional challenges to urban sustainability. Hence, in my thesis project, I assume that sustainable urban regeneration is an effective approach for historical district revival from long-term perspective. With the development of comprehensive understanding on study site, I gradually realized that sustainable urban regeneration is a synthetic topic which can be achieved by different strategies. It is maybe true that sustainable regeneration approach is not only providing a guideline for regeneration tactics, but also an analytic methodology for understanding what is the ultimate aim of historical preservation and to consider how to keep well balance of different objectives. According to the theoretical framework of urban sustainability, the following diagrams shown the assessment indicators of historical district regeneration and the outcomes of proposal.

Reference: Qanzu’a, N. (2013). Promoting Sustainable Urban Regeneration in the Palestinian Traditional Quarters – Case study of Birzeit. Technical University of Dortmund. AgaKhan. (2004). “Conservation and revitalization of Historic Mostar". Switzerland: The Aga Khan Trust for Culture.

Assement of cultural based rehabilitation (Source: Author)

conclusion Jinshi Alley is located in the south of Nanning city center. As the oldest Qing style traditional courtyard house block which still remained, from September 2002, the folk houses clustered in the north of Jinshi Lane were announced enlisted among protected historical buildings. Jinshi alley now face the problem of loss of urban identity and lack of public participation. The primary cause of that is marketoriented position which leads to insufficient financial and technological support from local government. Therefore, to improve the overall sustainable capability and enhance added values in research site, the cultural based rehabilitation of Jinshi Alley is proposed based on sustainable regeneration theory. The prism of urban sustainability shapes the framework this thesis. Sustainable urban regeneration as a synthetic method of“integrated sustainable approach” to integrate different dimensions resource. It has been concerned in the real life context of Jinshi Alley, Nanning. This thesis start from literature exploration of seeking sustainable regeneration paradigm in historical district. I found out that it has not a universal cure of regeneration project can resolve all the problems by simply intervention. No matter using which orientation to prompt sustainability, all of them follow the common principle: continuity of function. Buildings and urban infrastructure represent the environmental capital of urban space and sharps people’s memory. Correspondingly, how to effectively propose reformation strategy respond to people’s physical and mental needs from the view of sustainability is what I have concerned in this process. The initial current issues shows that the site remain in original function is inadequate to respond to surrounding commercial area. The position and spatial form in this central commercial area has outof-date, which makes this place isolated and ungracious to tourists and developers. Thus, gathering information of site state and case study of actual project are crucial part in this project to support my argument. These informations source from different resource, including official documents, academic literature and internet. It was integrated and illustrate by mapping and diagrams. In order to take everything together, the analysis has covered environmental, social and institutional dimensions. After the analysis of site, an initial concept is put forward base on the hypothesis that cultural interruption can improve the vitality of this area. Image of place and people’s daily experience can be disrupted by creative urban practice. The outcomes of proposal are consisted of cultural network defining, cultural facilities design and interrupted installation allocation. As a result, From the reviews of site exploration and preliminary start, I propose that cultural-led rehabilitation can foster local cultural atmosphere and solve the problem of lack of urban identity and public involvement. I support that urban environmental and social context reorganization are two equal important key points which urgent to solve for achieving sustainability in Jinshi Alley historic district. Nevertheless, there is not the only solution to address all the existing problems. The overall study of my thesis project are put forward with a linear idea. I have learned many techniques of gathering and analysing information. The most essential experience I have got from this is developing a synthetic theoretic framework base on a specific research target. This is a constant and iterative process to put the study forward. As for limitation of methodology, firstly is some of previous documents and research reports of site are out-of-date. The case I have studied was established in 2003, I can not check the state of project implementation on site so that I can not draw an accurate evaluation for the previous project. Moreover, due to indeterminacy of research theoretic background, I wasted many time in unavailable literature study. I would draw a more accurate and rigorous research plan if I had chance to improve.

Application of Sustainable design elements (Source: Author)

Reference: AgaKhan. (2004). “Conservation‎ and‎ revitalization of Historic Mostar". Switzerland: The Aga Khan Trust for Culture. Al-hagla, K. (2010). Sustainable urban development in historical areas using the tourist trail approach: A case study of the Cultural Heritage and Urban Development (CHUD) project in Saida, Lebanon. Cities, 27(4), pp.234-248. Community Development Department, (2013). City of Beverly Hills Landmark & Historic District Evaluation Guidelines. Beverly Hills: Planning Division, pp.2-7. Czischke, D., Moloney, C. and Turcu, C. (2015). raising the game in environmentally sustainable urban regeneration. urbact ii capitalisation, april. Jordan, S. and Lindner, C. (n.d.). Cities interrupted. John W.Creswell, Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches (Thousand Oaks, CA:SAGE,2007) Linda.G. And David,W.(2013) Architectural Research Methods,London:Wiley Robert K.Yin, Case Study Research: Design and Method, 4th ed.(Thousand Oaks,CA: Sage,2009), Nanning City Municipal, (2000). Historical District Conservation and Management Guideline of Nanning City. Nanning City,China. Nanning City Municipal, (2003). Nanning historical traditions district protection planning. Nanning city,China. National Park Service. “Historic Preservation Planning Program,” Web. 1 May 2015. http://www.nps. gov/preservation-planning/ Qanzu’a, N. (2013). Promoting Sustainable Urban Regeneration in the Palestinian Traditional Quarters – Case study of Birzeit. Technical University of Dortmund. Wang, M. (2015). Historical Layering and Historic Preservation in Relation to Urban Planning and Protecting Local Identity: City Study of Nanjing. Master. University of Pennsylvania. World Commission on Environment and Development’s (the Brundtland Commission) report Our Common Future (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987)

Rodwell, D. (2007). Conservation and sustainability in historic cities. Oxford: Blackwell. Rodwell, D. (2015). Reconnecting the city: the historic landscape approach and the future of urban heritage. Journal of Architectural Conservation, 21(2), pp.136-138. Zhang, C. and Lu, B. (2008). Cultural Approach to Planning of Inner City Regeneration - A Case Study of Nanluogu Alley in Beijing. In: 44th ISOCARP Congress 2008.

Appendices

part 1 Ethics application Part 2 Consent form