Page 71 - JCAU-6-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Practice of culturally relevant communities

Table 4. Exploring the cultural features of the areas
No. Name Culture Symbols Design concept
1. Hong Song Yuan Deputy food Colorful sweets With the theme of “colorful sweets,” the landscape features such as “cute circles”
factory and “stained glass” add interest to the public space and create a harmonious
community for all age groups.
2. Gao Yang Shu Window and Doorway The concept of the “doorway” is used to define the public space with a turning
door factory corridor, turning the corner space into a recreational space.
3. Dan Dian Brickworks Red brick The aim is to highlight the cultural characteristics of the brickworks and to create
a walking trail using the red brick color to link the three “red brick” spaces.
4. Teachers’ House School Bamboo scrolls The bamboo scrolls are used as a model to create a cultural wall of poetry,
Community highlighting the cultural characteristics.
5. Credit Union Block Exploration Greenfields Due to the small size of the site, the main focus is on the renovation of facilities,
Institute with the theme of “greenfields” adding green facilities to create an idyllic life.
6. Surveyor’s Block Cooperatives Ruler and gauge The “ruler” element is incorporated into the wall design, and signage and
interesting rulers are added to enhance the interactivity of the space.

Our main approach is to improve public space through
“acupuncture” renewal, integrating cultural symbols into
the spatial scene to recreate emotional memories. In the area
of Red Pine Garden Food Courtyard, we used the “candy”
symbol to craft a vibrant leisure space. Colorful sunshades
serve as the roof of the veranda, casting a lively play of light
and shadow in the sunlight. The original neighborhood
garden is transformed into a community leisure and Figure 6. The comparison of before and after the cultural wall construction
entertainment square, complete with play facilities to cater in the Teachers’ House Community block. Source: Photos by the authors
to children’s play needs. This transformation provides a
pleasant environment for residents to interact with each
other (Figure 7). In the Gao Yang Shu Nan Li district, we
employ the “doorway” feature to create a shared cultural
space for the community. Landscape nodes, such as vine
planters, leisure green corridors, and sun gardens, are
strategically placed to create a well-organized space for Figure 7. Effect of the colorful corridor in the secondary food court area.
residents’ spontaneous planting behavior. Instead of merely Source: Photos by the authors
serving as a feature, it acts as a bridge to reshape friendly
neighborhoods and stimulate community vitality (Figure 8).
(c) Media communication: Strengthening cultural adhesion
through technology

With the relocation of the original residents and the
inflow of foreigners, the demographic structure of the old
neighborhoods has changed considerably, with young people
as the main wage earners becoming an important component Figure 8. Effect of the characteristic doorway of the Gao Yang Shu Nan Li
district. Source: Photos by the authors
of these neighborhoods. However, the young people have
not experienced the traditional unitary system of earlier
life, lacking a deep understanding of the history and culture To overcome limitations, we established an online
of the community. Their busy schedules also prevent them community co-creation culture platform with the help of
from actively participating in community affairs. Cultural new media mediums, such as mobile apps and WeChat
dissemination channels, primarily reliant on the spontaneous applets, systematically organizing community history,
dissemination of the community’s older residents, struggle culture, district culture, and party-building culture through
to capture the interest of the younger residents. This lack of graphic content, video, and voice formats, marking them
enthusiasm poses a significant obstacle to the community’s on an electronic map. Meanwhile, offline efforts involved
comprehensive development of a distinctive culture. installing QR code signs and signage for the platform,

Volume 6 Issue 2 (2024) 8 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.0923