Page 159 - JCAU-7-1

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

All three variables relate to traditional architectural forms. A “familiar society” is characteristic of rural
The characteristic white walls and dark tiles of traditional social relations, where social interactions are based
Jiangnan architecture are relatively well-preserved in Suzhou, on longstanding relationships rather than technical
and the overall rural appearance in most areas remains intact. dependencies (Liu & Yan, 2022). This societal structure
However, field visits to two villages revealed that some buildings traditionally fostered similarity in living spaces, with
no longer retain these features. This observation aligns residents constructing façades based on collectively
with data analysis showing low importance for traditional passed-down experiences, forming locally distinctive
architectural details. While both native and non-native Suzhou vernacular styles. However, as urbanization and migration
residents recognize the unique cultural aspects of Suzhou’s increase, the traditional familiar society, once bounded by
traditional architecture, functionality is prioritized over rural areas, is gradually disintegrating. This breakdown has
esthetic features. Urbanization has introduced a preference for resulted in changes to traditional rural lifestyles and the
functionality, practicality, and modern esthetics, which may erosion of the distinctiveness that once characterized rural
lead to the perception that the characteristics of traditional façades and environments.
rural dwellings are unnecessary or outdated. This city-centered Traditional rural society is inherently static and locally
value system has influenced the appearance of some rural bound (Fei, 2022), while modern society is highly fluid,
residences in Suzhou, where traditional architectural features leading to a phenomenon known as “flowing rurality”
are often overshadowed by urban design trends. under the pressures of urbanization (Liu & Yan, 2022). Rural
The third quadrant, which indicates low importance stakeholders are increasingly influenced by urban values,
and low performance, includes two variables: resulting in several trends: (i) a focus on functionality and
• 2. Accessibility features and accessibility of the (ii) the adoption of common building materials. When
building (e.g., wheelchair ramps, handrails, etc.) these urban-centric influences extend to rural façades, they
• 11. Is there any traditional public space around the often manifest as an overemphasis on functionality. This
building (ancestral hall, cultural wall, etc.)? shift can result in disordered façade forms, inconsistent
architectural spaces, altered environments, and the use of
Field observations indicate that revitalization efforts non-traditional building materials.
for traditional Suzhou rural buildings seldom consider the
provision of accessibility features, even in some renovated In the fourth quadrant, which reflects high importance
homestays. In addition, due to urbanization, cultural but low performance, four variables are identified:
emphasis in southern Jiangsu differs from that in Lingnan, • 3. The indoor temperature is suitable.
where ancestral halls are highly valued. The traditional • 5. There is no wet trace, water trace, or mildew inside
“familiar society” is gradually being deconstructed, leading the house.
to a decline in collective spaces such as ancestral halls. This • 6. Whether the indoor lighting condition is good.
shift reflects the increasing individualism in rural areas • 14. Are the pipelines around the building in order
and the diminishing role of collective traditions in daily (electrical wires, water pipes, TV telephone lines, etc.)?
life. In Suzhou, cultural significance is often more evident These indexes are all implicit and relate to functionality
in building appearances rather than in dedicated spaces. and the living environment. Field visits reveal that as
With rural populations aging rapidly, ordinary residents urbanization progresses, rural populations are aging
have generally not considered age-friendly designs in rural rapidly, leaving many older homes vacant. This situation
homes, highlighting a critical need for integrated design has led to an increase in deteriorated and even unsafe
planning and policy improvements to address accessibility buildings. The poor living environment in these homes
and age-appropriate features in rural housing. also detracts from the attractiveness of rural areas, making
In the second and third quadrants, both native and it challenging to retain or attract residents.
non-native residents share similar perspectives, viewing The data reveal that for both local and non-local
traditional and culturally related indexes as relatively residents, the functional and environmental needs of
unimportant. This perspective reflects why the appearance rural housing far outweigh esthetic and cultural demands.
of existing rural buildings has changed and appears less Traditional Suzhou rural dwellings, with their iconic white
vernacular compared to the past. In actual rural façade walls and dark tiles, are still preserved in many rural
renovation projects, residents tend to focus primarily areas of Suzhou. However, field visits noted that some
on the technical and cost-related aspects of renovating façades have been renovated with new materials, such as
older buildings. However, research shows that this purely tiles replacing the original plaster (Figure 8). Therefore,
technical and cost-focused approach can inadvertently rural house renovations should prioritize fundamental
reduce the vernacular character of rural houses. living environment improvements, including insulation,

Volume 7 Issue 1 (2025) 11 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.5719