Page 151 - JCAU-7-1

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Standards for rural residential façades and areas

In many rural areas, aging buildings have made Finally, Suzhou’s urbanization rate highlights its rapid
residential housing regeneration an urgent priority. Suzhou, transformation. Between the Sixth (2010) and Seventh
as a rapidly urbanizing new first-tier city, provides valuable (2020) National Censuses, the urbanization rate increased
insights that can guide future rural development efforts from 70.07 percent to 81.72 percent, an 11.65 percent
in other regions. Quantifying rural identity in a way that rise. The permanent population grew from 10.45 million
is both comprehensible to local residents and capable of to 12.74 million, with the urban population increasing
accurate assessment remains a significant challenge. This from 7.32 million to 10.41 million (Suzhou Bureau of
study approaches rural architectural identity by evaluating Statistics, 2012; Suzhou Daily, 2021). As of 2023, Suzhou’s
both the “architectural ontology” (Zhang et al., 2022) and rural population totaled 2.27 million, accounting for 17.52
user perceptions, focusing on the esthetic presentation percent of the city’s total population (Suzhou Bureau of
of building façades and the residential environment. By Statistics, 2024).
examining façade renovations in Suzhou’s rural houses, Given this high level of urbanization, exploring rural
this study explores users’ subjective evaluations of current areas within this context adds valuable insights. According
façades and environments, identifies existing issues in to Suzhou Daily (2023), population data released by Suzhou
façade modifications, and proposes future renovation paths. Public Security in mid-2023 indicated that Suzhou’s
This practical approach bridges the significant gap between actual population reached 16.19 million. Among them,
theoretical framework and applied rural cultural landscape the registered household population was 7.81 million,
design in contemporary China (Wang et al., 2022). The accounting for only 48.22 percent, while the floating
significance of this study is threefold: (i) it quantifies residents’ population totaled 8.39 million, comprising 51.78 percent
needs by integrating rural attributes with actual residential (Suzhou Daily, 2023).
functions; (ii) it examines residents’ evaluations, needs,
and the underlying factors shaping Suzhou’s rural esthetic, In addition, migrant population statistics reported
addressing gaps in bottom-up assessment methodologies; by Gusuwang (2018) highlight that Suzhou ranks first in
and (iii) it provides practical recommendations on content, Jiangsu province in both its migrant population size and
policies, and design strategies for future renovation of aged migrant population index, solidifying its position as the
rural housing from a user-centered perspective. largest immigrant city in the province. Migrants, including
registered non-native residents and floating residents,
2. Methodology account for 63.6 percent of the population, whereas local
residents with Suzhou lineage represent only 36.4 percent.
2.1. Research subjects These data underscore Suzhou’s status as a city deeply
This study focuses on rural residences and environments integrated with its migrant population (Gusuwang, 2018).
in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China, chosen for several reasons.
For the purposes of this study, residents born in Suzhou
First, Suzhou serves as a representative example of are defined as native residents. In contrast, non-native
a densely urbanized area and a national pilot for rural– residents include those without Suzhou birthplaces but
urban integration. Throughout its development, from holding Suzhou household registrations, as well as floating
rural industrialization to the Southern Jiangsu Model and residents such as adult college students and non-registered
subsequently to rural–urban integration, Suzhou’s rural workers. Both groups are crucial to understanding Suzhou’s
areas have exemplified the transformation experienced social dynamics and were explored in this research.
by developed, densely populated regions (Zhou, 2022). In analyzing Suzhou’s rural areas, the study expands its
Studying rural Suzhou, therefore, provides significant focus beyond native rural residents. With ongoing rural
insights. Suzhou serves as a model case, demonstrating the development, a significant portion of Suzhou’s rural areas
shift from rural–urban separation to integration and the now accommodates non-native residents, including rural
application of rationalized planning standards (Fan, 2015). renters and short-term visitors who are not originally from
Findings on Suzhou’s rural façades may offer guidance for Suzhou’s rural areas. Addressing their needs is critical to
rural development in other parts of China. guiding Suzhou’s rural revitalization efforts. Consequently,
Second, Suzhou’s strong regional characteristics – this study incorporates evaluations from both native
including its traditional rural esthetics, architectural residents born in Suzhou and non-native residents living
façades, and social customs – imbue the area with high in Suzhou’s rural areas.
cultural value and form a rich resource base for distinctive
landscape characteristics (Fan, 2015). The façades and 2.2. Method
environments of Suzhou’s rural housing are thus well- Current evaluation standards for rural housing façades and
suited for evaluation from a user-centered perspective. environments largely focus on structural and safety aspects.

Volume 7 Issue 1 (2025) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.5719