Page 95 - JCAU-6-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Residential urban heritage space study

4.1.2. Spatial material structure analysis results Simultaneously, a significant negative correlation is

Combining the analysis of the Spatial Topology System, observed between FME and ADE. Areas with higher FME
the observations for the two districts are as follows: exhibit evident commercial activity and significant diversity
in business formats. For example, spatial subsystems ZY8,
(a) Pingjiang historic district ZY9, and ZY12 along Uji Bridge Road and Byodo-in
Figures 3A and B, along with Table 1, indicate a Approach demonstrate high FME. In contrast, residential
significant correlation between the Spatial Topology System areas connected by alleys, such as ZY7, ZY10, and ZY13,
and ADE within the Pingjiang Historic District. Specifically, display lower FME.
the centrality of the road network in the Pingjiang Historic Furthermore, a certain correlation exists between FME
District influences its architectural distribution. Spatial and both SME and PDE. In spatial subsystems with high
subsystems such as PJ2, P17, and PJ29, which exhibit FME such as ZY8, ZY9, and ZY12, a trend toward complex
high ADE, are located in areas characterized by high Life spatial morphology and population density distribution is
Integration. In contrast, subsystems such as PJ1, PJ6, PJ8, and observed. In contrast, areas such as ZY7, ZY14, and ZY15
PJ9, which maintain traditional living spaces, demonstrate with lower FME tend to exhibit more uniform spatial
lower Life Integration. Overall, the distribution of ADE in morphology and population density distribution.
the Pingjiang Historic District is minimally influenced by
Global Integration, indicating that intrinsic spatial topology The distribution of HE reveals that heritage resources in
mainly governs its architectural distribution. Nakauji are more concentrated compared to the Pingjiang
Historic District. For instance, the area ZY15, where
On the other hand, FME exhibits a robust negative Byodo-in Phoenix Hall is located, significantly exhibits the
correlation with RE. Subsystems such as PJ22, PJ26, PJ28, PJ29, highest heritage value. However, adjacent areas such as ZY8,
and PJ32, characterized by high FME, are located on the western ZY12, and ZY14 possess relatively lower heritage values,
side of the east-west branching roads within the Pingjiang Road. concentrating some important heritage residences and
These areas, such as the Nan Shishizi Lane, Xuanqiao Lane, commercial facilities, receiving a certain level of protection
Daru Lane, and Niuji Lane, demonstrate a lower FME and RE, and development. In contrast, residentially dominated
indicating a more straightforward functional distribution and spatial subsystems such as ZY10, ZY11, and ZY13 exhibit
serving as primary living spaces for residents. relatively lower HE. Although they possess some heritage
Moreover, a significant correlation is observed between value, they lack attention and protection, and residents’
SME, PDE, and HE. This observation suggests that in daily living spaces are alienated from the core district areas.
urban heritage spaces with high heritage value, more (c) Spatial material structure comparative analysis
resources and efforts are invested in shaping the spatial Both areas rely on spatial topology systems for material
morphology. Modern Spatial Structure Paradigms are structure distribution. High-centrality areas exhibit high
gradually infiltrating these areas, increasing their level of levels of functional mixing entropy, PDE, and HE, while
complexity, and accommodating a diverse population.
low-centrality areas feature low ADE and functional
(b) Nakauji district mixing entropy. However, different spatial topological
The analysis results for the Nakauji district in Uji City, structures and individual building structures play varying
as presented in Figure 4A and B, Table 1, reveal a negative roles in this process.
correlation between road centrality and ADE, contrasting From the perspective of the impact of spatial topology,
with Suzhou’s Pingjiang Road. In areas with higher in the Pingjiang Historic District, Life Integration and
centrality values, such as the YZ09 area around Uji Bridge Global Integration have distinct influences on spatial
and the YZ14 area along the Uji River, ADE gradually material distribution. Life Integration demonstrates a
increases toward the interior of the district. However, in higher correlation with ADE, while Global Integration
areas with lower centrality in the southwest, such as YZ3, exhibits a positive correlation trend with functional mixing
YZ4, and YZ5, ADE peaks. As it further approaches areas entropy. This observation suggests that the spatial material
with higher centrality, such as YZ1 and YZ2, ADE exhibits distribution in the Pingjiang Historic District is not solely
a declining trend. Field research suggests that due to Japan’s influenced by external-to-internal permeation along high-
private land ownership system, land consolidation proves centrality routes. The intersections of the internal grid
challenging. High-centrality core areas are often subdivided pattern also form areas with higher spatial entropy. Internal
into smaller plots to accommodate diverse business and external forces create a “grid-like permeation” pattern
formats and commercial buildings, resulting in uniformly through spatial topology, altering the district’s spatial
distributed high-density, low-area building clusters. material composition. In contrast, in the Nakauji District,

Volume 6 Issue 2 (2024) 9 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1732