Page 16 - JCAU-6-4

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Suzhou heritage building reuse

4.3. Effectiveness of value construction based on of “Leading Social Spirit” emerged prominently, appearing
review analysis 11 times, closely followed by “Inspiring the Youth” with
Suzhou’s rich heritage is thoughtfully conserved and 10 mentions. In addition, “Activating Consumption” and
repurposed to benefit its people. In this context, the “Building Cultural IP” both appeared frequently, each
evaluation of public feedback holds paramount importance being mentioned nine times. These findings highlight the
as it serves as a vital gauge of the effectiveness of heritage efficacy of the reuse of Suzhou’s heritage buildings after
reuse, which has emerged as a growing international trend value construction in fostering social spirit and stimulating
(Jiang, 2017; Rogers, 2017). A pertinent example of this economic activities (Figure 3).
approach can be seen in the recent publication by the Getty The analysis of public feedback reveals positive content,
Conservation Institute, where they conducted a reuse reflecting the effectiveness of Suzhou’s value construction
assessment of George Town, placing significant emphasis in the reuse of heritage buildings. This approach not
on soliciting and analyzing public opinion (Throsby & only ensures the preservation and utilization of heritage
Petetskaya, 2022). buildings but also generates a positive and progressive
Following this paradigm, this study employed a diverse impact on the public’s lives and social development
array of survey methods to ensure a comprehensive (Figure 4).
representation of perspectives from various stakeholders. In the case of “heritage as mentors to nurture
The survey targeted residents, developers, designers, humanity,” the intangible cultural heritage is emphasized.
tourists, and government officials, with residents For example, the Temple of Literature stands as a testament
constituting 70% of the surveyed population. During on-site to the preservation of Confucian culture and the history of
investigations, questionnaires were distributed to residents Chinese education. It serves as a hub for cultural education,
and tourists to solicit their opinions on the project. In learning, and indoctrination (Wu, 2006). The historic
addition, in-depth interviews were conducted, focusing on Temple of Literature was revitalized by value construction,
engaging developers, designers, and government officials seamlessly intertwining traditional cultural practices
to gain their experiences within the project. To encompass with modern life through the meticulous restoration
a broader audience, existing public feedback on the of the “Jikong dianli” (祭孔典礼; a ceremonial activity
cases was collected and compiled from online platforms, commemorating Confucius) and the “Xiangsheli” (乡射礼;
including user review websites such as Dianping (https:// a ritual activity combining archery and the significance of
www.dianping.com/) and Ctrip (https://www.ctrip.com). indoctrination), thus propagating the essence of Confucian
MAXQDA software was then used to code and analyze the ideology (Ji, 2022). The Temple of Literature has been
feedback and interview content (Lin, 2007), disassemble revitalized to concurrently facilitate traditional cultural
the content, and refine the keywords related to reuse utility events and host contemporary educational activities.
(Chauhan, 2022). These keywords were also analyzed for Through interactive exhibition methods, knowledge and
word frequency to generate word clouds to visually present appreciation of heritage can be dynamically disseminated,
the effects of the reuse of heritage buildings in Suzhou. In encouraging all citizens to actively participate in the
the analysis of feedback content from the 16 cases, the theme exploration, protection, and interpretation of heritage.

Figure 3. Public feedback content: distribution range, frequency of occurrence, and keyword cloud. Source: Drawings by Qinyi Shi

Volume 6 Issue 4 (2024) 10 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.2158