Page 65 - JCAU-6-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Practice of culturally relevant communities

affecting both its physical and social environment (Song, cultural construction and an outdated style of memory
2013), compelling it to urgently seek a transformation as space creation. To address this, it is essential to shift our
the main model for rejuvenating old urban neighborhoods. focus not only toward preserving memories but also toward
The unitary community is a rich social resource that innovating and integrating them, seeking symbols that fit
combines business and local ties and creates a deep sense the modern community as a bridge of identity for residents.
of mutual trust among residents, distinguishing it from This paper, guided by cultural regeneration theory
commodity-based and combined unitary communities. and adopting a community culture perspective, advocates
This unique sense of community identity, formed by the transformation of old neighborhoods into emerging
the same production and lifestyle, is often referred to modern communities characterized by resident-
as collective memory (Yu et al., 2007). The concept of friendliness, sustainable landscapes, and technological
collective memory, defined as “the process and outcome innovations. Achieving this transformation involves public
of sharing past events among members of a particular participation, spatial creation, landscape reshaping, and
social group” (Rousso, 1991, p. 169), aligns with Vygotsky technological dissemination. Our findings underscore
(1997)’s perspective that human memory must be that culture serves not only as an important means to
understood within the context of social, community, and revitalize the physical space of a community but also as a
cultural concepts. Over the years, symbolic tools aiding spiritual bond that reshapes the interpersonal relationships
memory are invented one after another as the years go by within the community. Building on this insight, we
Vygotsky (1997). From a cultural point of view, collective explore a renewal strategy centered on regenerating old

memory emerges from the combination of local identity neighborhoods through culture. This exploration provides
and the spirit of place. It serves as the point of origin for valuable references for the development of high-quality
groups with a specific history and culture to recall the and high-vitality old neighborhoods.
past, perpetuated through cultural entrenchment (Zhu,
2006). Recent scholarly attention has focused on the role 2. Methods
of collective memory continuity in planning. Yan et al. 2.1. Unitary community renewal based on cultural
(2022), for instance, evaluated renovations based on a regeneration theory
collective memory perspective for old industrial parks,
while Lv & Wu (2018) incorporated collective memory 2.1.1. Applied research in cultural regeneration theory
in the renewal of historical relics, exemplified in the Over time, a new thing eventually becomes old and
“156” projects in Harbin. In addition, collective memory obsolete, only to be discarded; it gains what is often referred
is widely applied in community building. Zeng (2017) to as historical value when it undergoes a process of rebirth
used the theme of collective memory to explore the (Vygotsky, 1997). The theory of “cultural reproduction”
construction of community contextual spaces associated is derived from the sociological concept developed by
with memory. In the case of the unitary community, the Bourdieu (1971), encompassing three basic elements:
residents’ past social experiences and the unity of their “cultural capital,” “habitus,” and “symbolic violence.”
social identity within a common living environment leave Initially applied in pedagogy, this theory critiqued
a more profound imprint of collective memory compared education as a system of inequality in which the elite
to other communities. These memories serve as the soul perpetuated their status by eliminating opportunities for
and roots that sustain the grassroots governance of the the children of lower classes and consolidating the position
unitary community. of the ruling class. This theory asserts that culture is a
Beijing’s old neighborhoods, mainly comprised of constantly evolving concept – a dynamic process of growth
unitary communities, are numerous and widely distributed, and decline. It suggests that one of the driving forces
playing an important role in urban spatial governance. behind the functioning of contemporary society is cultural
In recent years, the ongoing renovation of Beijing’s old practices and their constant development (Zeng, 2009).
neighborhoods has shown significant progress. However, At the planning and design level, the theory of “cultural
the primary focus has been on the transformation of regeneration” places a greater emphasis on the inheritance,
architectural spaces and the optimization of public service innovation, and symbolism of culture (Figure 1). The
facilities, with an excess emphasis on improving the quality “symbol” is no longer just a class form; it now serves as a
of life of community residents. Unfortunately, this focus representation of the spirit of place integrated into spatial
has often led to neglecting the preservation and innovation design. Combined with theories of place, local culture,
of community cultural characteristics and emotional and related theoretical ideas, this approach improves the
memories. As a result, many communities have become value of using culture in urban space. Jiang (2022) applied
“materialistic but not spiritual,” featuring one-sided cultural regeneration to the renewal of urban landscape

Volume 6 Issue 2 (2024) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.0923