Page 106 - JCAU-6-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Development protection of ethnic villages

with the burgeoning e-commerce industry oriented by
characteristic agricultural products and the tourism
industry oriented by characteristic culture. Building on the
village’s existing spatial pattern with the monastery as its
focal point, our design scheme meticulously identified core
landscape elements and conducted comparative studies
of other villages and buildings within the same cultural
milieu. This exploration facilitated the development of a
locally relevant architectural design language. In the first
phase of the project, we concentrated on pilot testing style
coordination around the residential buildings surrounding
Baodian Temple. Tailoring our approach to the unique
circumstances of each building, we proposed various
building optimization strategies, which ranged from
architectural decoration materials to color matching, with
innovative optimization schemes introduced. Residents
were actively engaged in the renovation design and
construction process, garnering positive social feedback
Figure 3. The Tibetan-Yi Corridor area. The area is represented by the
shade on the map. (A) Lahsa. (B) Chamdo. (C) Xining. (D) Lanzhou. and serving as a case reference for establishing similar
(E) Xi’an. (F) Chengdu. (G) Kangding. (H) Xichang. (I) Kunming. (a) village design research systems in the future.
Salween (Nu River). (b) Lancang River. (c) Jinsha River. (d) Yalong River.
(e) Dadu River. (f) Nin River. (g) Yangtze River. Source: Drawing by the 2. Analysis of background and current
authors situation

architectural texture culture. In general, these studies hold The urban-rural relationship and rural transformation
far-reaching significance for exploring the underlying represent an important category of political economy
structures of Tibetan traditional villages and dwellings. research. Changes in rural production relations reflect the
However, comprehensive and systematic studies on village development of productive forces, and the current rural
development and traditional culture protection in western problems in China serve as a concentrated reflection of
Sichuan ethnic areas, especially in the Jiarong Tibetan area, the evolution of urban-rural relations. This study aims
are still lacking. Specifically, there is a dearth of systematic to address how to facilitate the circulation of urban and
research guidance and practical experience on how to rural elements while inheriting local culture, an important
maintain distinctive features in village construction. As aspect of our investigation. Tibetan inhabited areas often
rural revitalization and urban-rural integration gradually contend with challenging natural conditions, and their
progress, and with an increasing emphasis on ethnic unity, unique cultural expressions are particularly susceptible
there is a need to explore new paths to modernize ethnic to influences — both natural or artificial — during the
areas while respecting and inheriting traditional culture. development process. The Jiarong Tibetan population, as
an important branch of the Tibetan community, boasts
Since 2019, our team has been actively involved in the
new round of planning and design of Guantian Village, important characteristics in its architectural culture. Our
study focuses on villages and buildings within the core area
located in Li County, Aba Prefecture. This initiative of Jiarong Tibetan territory. Leveraging the opportunities
coincided with the new round of urban-rural overall presented by rural revitalization and the inheritance
planning in Li County, which necessitated adjustments of traditional national culture, we aim to delineate the
in certain industries to align with changes in urban developmental trajectory of these villages. Ultimately,
functions and population dynamics. Consequently, new our goal is to promote the protection and inheritance of
requirements emerged for land use, infrastructure, and villages and buildings in other Tibetan areas.
cultural expression within Guantian Village. Drawing on
field investigations of villages, as well as the sorting of Given the unique natural conditions of the Jiarong
basic data, our approach incorporated expert interviews Tibetan area, settlements in this area prioritize the
and questionnaires to glean insights into the villagers’ integration of natural features such as mountains and rivers
aspirations regarding spatial functionality and architectural into their planning. The rugged terrain, characterized by
characteristics. In particular, considerable emphasis abundant mountains and limited arable land, has shaped
was placed on meeting the design demands associated the distinct site selection, building layout, structural

Volume 6 Issue 2 (2024) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.2043