Page 160 - JCAU-7-1

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

A B

Figure 8. Rural building façades and environments in (A) Huayewei village and (B) Jiuliqiao village in Wujiang district, Suzhou city, Jiangsu province,
China. Source: Photos by Sucheng Yao (2023)

thermal resistance, and waterproofing. Addressing these esthetics, incorporating such materials into rural housing
basic needs is essential to attract more people back to the renovations must be cost-effective compared to the high
countryside or to encourage rural tourism. investments typically seen in commercial projects. Using
traditional and reclaimed materials in rural residential and
At the same time, rural façades shaped by local lifestyles
and cultural values are an integral part of the rural cultural environmental revitalization efforts can help manage costs
more efficiently. In addition, public spaces that combine
landscape, combining practicality with vernacular esthetics. functional uses, such as drying grain, with recreational
While functionality often involves quick solutions or the areas allow both native residents and non-native residents
use of urbanized building materials, vernacular character to experience the rural environment in diverse ways.
requires the passage of time to develop organically. Each
era expresses rural vernacular in different ways. According In the analysis (Figure 5‑7), the three indexes
to Tomanović et al. (2019), incorporating contemporary representing spatial layout (1, 6, and 8) all fall within
lifestyles and modern architectural trends into traditional the high-importance area, indicating that rural residents
buildings can breathe new life into rural architecture. consider the spatial layout of rural homes to be highly
important. The diversity of spatial layouts reflects the variety
From a historical perspective, the functionality of of rural lifestyles, serving as a key factor in generating rural
residential spaces is indispensable, while a good rural heritage. In addition, spatial layout directly manifests the
living environment should integrate both functionality optimization of the rural living environment.
(physical space) and esthetics (emotional connection).
In the process of modern rural residential regeneration, On one hand, lifestyle, climate, and cultural traditions
preserving the esthetic elements of traditional dwellings influence the spatial layout of rural homes. Layout changes
not only helps maintain the continuity of traditional according to family size, functional needs, and daily habits,
culture but also strengthens residents’ sense of belonging while relationships among family members, age structure,
and cultural identity. and social roles are reflected in the residential space. Each
space maintains a certain degree of privacy and social
In the case of Suzhou’s rural residences and order, allowing the spatial layout to embody the traditional
environment, this study, based on IPA results and surveys lifestyle and social structure of Suzhou’s rural areas. On
conducted in two rural areas of Suzhou, identifies four the other hand, the orientation and layout of rural homes
key elements that contribute to the retention and use are rooted in traditional inheritance. Although some
of rural vernacular character: traditional roof forms, cultural symbols of the countryside may have faded from
building colors, traditional materials, and public spaces. the façades of rural homes in the current era, rural living
These elements help sustain both the functionality and habits continue to extend residents’ connection to the land.
vernacular character of Suzhou’s rural dwellings. For
Differentiated optimization strategies for native
example, traditional roof forms are an important cultural residents and non-native residents can be applied in rural
symbol in Suzhou’s rural architecture, while also serving housing façade and environment revitalization efforts,
functional purposes such as waterproofing, insulation, as the needs and concerns of these two groups share
and ventilation. The distinctive color scheme of Suzhou’s commonalities but also exhibit differences. Overall, both
rural dwellings (white walls and black tiles) reflects strong groups tend to prioritize functionality and residential
regional characteristics. comfort, placing less emphasis on the esthetics and
The use of traditional materials helps preserve the cultural expression of traditional architecture. For native
unique heritage of the space. While many commercial residents, there is typically a deeper emotional connection
spaces adopt this approach to present traditional to the overall rural environment and architectural

Volume 7 Issue 1 (2025) 12 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.5719