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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism The making of the Chinese urban landscape

regionalization and morphogenetic processes, this new city. The morphogenetic-generative approach advances the
conceptual framework provides an opportunity to integrate knowledge not only in spatial analysis of physical structures
new urban morphological research into the current in a built environment but also in the formation and a
planning strategy, especially in cities with a rich history. series of transformations of built forms found in evidence
from everyday practices, and the driving factors behind the
4. Conclusion constructions. The discussion of the relationships between
There has been increasing tension in China between the built forms and their adaptations brings up a new narrative
need for cultural continuity and physical conservation that helps to elucidate spontaneous and purposeful changes
and the pressure to accommodate the physical changes to ordinary landscapes in the Chinese cultural context.
demanded by significant economic growth. The aim of Integrating the structural-correlative and
urban landscape management is to develop an instrumental morphogenetic-generative perspectives should be the
set of guidelines for planning and management processes goal when conducting an urban landscape study, and for
and desired outcomes. However, a coherent ensemble extending the research to practice. The integrated approach
of operational methods for strengthening processes to reveals the historical expressiveness, or historicity, of
achieve desired outcomes is required. its urban landscape forms as both spatial-temporal and
Beyond language and cultural barriers, a major representational creations. Achieving sustainable urban
issue in cross-cultural urban studies is the need for change requires the insertion of such urban landscape
better integration and reconciliation between different strategies into the established planning system at both the
knowledge systems and research traditions. Urban national and local levels. Building on the existing work,
landscapes in China, in particular those with a rich history, future research can provide a stronger theoretical, technical,
are intricate and present a very different character from and practical basis for significant improvements in the
those in traditional European landscapes. This fact points quality of the management of urban landscape change.
to the necessity of relating the landscape epistemology This new analytical framework provides a trio of
from Western countries to the intellectual framework research dimensions to better understand the formation
comprising local knowledge and cultural traditions in and subsequent changes to the urban landscape in China.
China. This re-examination of the urban landscape idea Chinese urban landscape research and practice can benefit
in the Chinese context is intended to bring two parallel
knowledge systems together in a new framework for the from exploring new urban landscape approaches that
study and management of the urban landscape in China. embrace local philosophy and cultural values. The new
analytical framework presented in this article also opens up
Bridging structural analysis from the West and new possibilities for rethinking traditional morphological
correlative thinking from China, the structural-correlative ideas and practices. It also advances the application
analysis provides a cross-referencing approach for outlining of morphological theories in a cross-cultural context.
the physical appearance of the landscape structure and Building on this work, future research can be undertaken
relationships between landscape elements with changes to provide a stronger theoretical, technical, and practical
over time and then linking such changes to wider culturally basis for significantly improving the quality of urban
driven factors. Morphological regionalization is of general landscape planning locally, nationally, and internationally.
value. The classification of the common “contributing
features” of urban landscape elements could be adopted Acknowledgments
in the preliminary categorization of the primary layer
in interpreting the city structure when conducting None.
the morphological-related analysis. By outlining the Funding
morphological periods and applying the morphological
regionalization approach accordingly, it will provide a None.
fresh perspective to deepen the understanding of the
city’s physical characteristics, which is fundamental to Conflict of interest
formulating proposals and prescriptions in historical None.
urban landscape conservation practice.
Author contributions
Linking morphogenetic analysis with the generative
view of landscape sheds light on the synchronic and Conceptualization: Ye Li
diachronic changes to the urban architectural form, within Formal analysis: Ye Li
which lie essential contributors to the cultural identity of a Investigation: All authors

Volume 6 Issue 3 (2024) 9 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.261