Page 158 - JCAU-7-1

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

coordinate graph. The mean values of importance and
performance for each rural house façade evaluation factor
were plotted as coordinates (X, Y) across the four quadrants,
resulting in the IPA evaluation matrix (Figure 5). The IPA
evaluation matrices for native and non-native residents
(Figures 6 and 7) were constructed in the same way.
In this matrix, the first quadrant represents the “Continue
to Maintain” area (Strength Zone), the second quadrant is
the “Over-Emphasized” area (Maintenance Zone), the third
quadrant is the “Low Priority” area (Expansion Zone), and
the fourth quadrant is the “Urgent Improvement” area
(Repair Zone) (Kim & Huh, 2019; Zhang et al., 2023).
Figure 5. Importance-performance analysis of the indexes for all residents
(the numbers correspond to the indexes). Source: Graph by the authors
4. Discussion
In the matrix constructed based on the index assessments,
the first quadrant, which indicates high importance and
high performance, includes five indexes:
• 1. The entry is identifiable
• 4. Traditional local exterior wall forms are used.
• 8. Whether the outdoor view of the rural building is
good (whether the distance from the front building
is sufficient).
• 12. Is there any modern public space around the building
(chess room, fitness space, recreation space, etc.)?
• 13. Whether the building is in harmony with its
surroundings.
Figure 6. Importance-performance analysis of the indexes of native
residents (the numbers correspond to the indexes). Source: Graph by the Among these, only Index 4 is explicitly related to
authors exterior appearance. Field visits to various rural areas in
Suzhou reveal that the characteristic white-wall appearance
of Suzhou’s architecture is largely preserved, particularly
in larger public buildings, such as the Suzhou Museum
designed by I. M. Pei (1917 – 2019). The remaining indexes
(1, 8, 12, and 13) are implicit, focusing more on functionality
and residential comfort, which reflects a greater demand for
functional comfort over esthetic appeal among residents. In
the first quadrant, native residents and non-native migrants
differ in their views on Indexes 6 and 8. Both indexes are
rated as highly important and relate strongly to functionality,
suggesting that issues such as view and lighting, stemming
from locational or design limitations, align with the
observed realities of rural areas in Suzhou. Therefore, in
Figure 7. Importance-performance analysis of the indexes of non-native future revitalization efforts for rural residential buildings,
residents (the numbers correspond to the indexes). Source: Graph by the prioritizing functional infrastructure and ensuring a livable
authors
environment will be essential (Figures 6 and 7).
Based on the above analysis of the importance The second quadrant, which reflects low importance
and performance factors for rural house façades and but high performance, includes three variables:
environmental vernacularity, we conducted an IPA by setting • 7. Doors and windows are made of excellent-quality
importance as the horizontal axis and performance as the materials and reflect local cultural characteristics
vertical axis. Using an overall mean of 4.14 for importance • 9. Traditional roof forms are used.
and 3.75 for performance as the quadrant intersection • 10. Use the local traditional patterns, lines, or
point, we constructed a two-dimensional, four-quadrant decorations (animal, wall decoration, etc.).

Volume 7 Issue 1 (2025) 10 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.5719