Page 102 - JCAU-7-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Computational urbanism on Dashilar

The revitalization and preservation of Dashilar’s rekindles the community’s vitality. Encouragingly,
hutongs also necessitate a re-evaluation of the modern during the research process outlined in this article,
urban development models that gained popularity in local governments and community organizations
the 1990s. Intriguingly, the goal of preservation extends gradually began adopting some of the strategies
beyond transforming these areas into essential cultural proposed in the study, embracing the progressive
features of the city. Rather, it represents an act of reflection “micro-renewal” approach. Over 5 – 6 years, several
and a facet of the globalization process. The preservation vibrant hutong neighborhoods, such as Yangmeizhu
of hutongs, which embody a unique urban space, should Xie Street, gradually emerged.
transcend their physical form and infrastructure. Certainly, it is important to note that the study
Therefore, several intriguing conclusions can be drawn encompasses a relatively limited number of neighborhoods.
from the long-term study of the Dashilar area: The collected data primarily focuses on physical aspects,
(i) The research focuses on the fundamental connections while social data collection is notably scarce. In addition,
between the preservation and renewal of the Dashilar there is a lack of extensive empirical data to validate the
area through the lens of computational models. By proposed method.
establishing three urban computational models, we Future research will direct attention toward the following
explore the relationship between new communication aspects:
models and spatial developments driven by the (i) The research will expand the urban computing model
integration of courtyard houses. This exploration by integrating social variables such as social structure,
extends to the redistribution and organization of population composition, occupation, and historical
hutong streets and urban programs. Public toilets, as culture. It will also validate the model’s potential
essential infrastructure in hutongs, are emphasized applications within specific-scale blocks. This will
as key nodes influencing the evolution of the urban provide valuable evidence for urban planners and
texture. local governments to implement multi-dimensional
(ii) Urban computing models excel in linking site-specific urban control measures, including building height,
data to abstract urban formations. By processing site density, allocation of urban functions, and public
data and applying algorithms, these models function service facilities.
as abstract machines that integrate diverse urban (ii) After integrating social variables into urban computing
factors – including transportation, urban programs, models, it will be possible to analyze the relationship
climate, sunlight, and hydrology – to produce abstract between physical spatial changes and social structural
urban organizations. In this context, urban computing transformations. Simultaneously, from a sociological
models do not present traditional forms of urban perspective, the study will assess the limitations of
layout or design; instead, they facilitate the translation these computing models and investigate the ethical
of data across temporal and spatial dimensions. implications and potential social impacts of their
(iii) Contrary to top-down administrative planning, which application in urban planning.
often leads to the destruction of certain blocks through
large-scale demolition and development, this study The study of the highly complex historical area
presents an alternative approach: a gradual evolution of Dashilar is destined to be a long-term endeavor.
from the bottom up. This method aligns more closely Historically, research on this quarter has often overlooked
with the 600-year historical transformation of the discussions on preserving the associated way of life, forms
Dashilar area. The emerging urban spatial structure of interaction, and grassroots social dimensions (Chung
preserves the original hutong logic, dynamically et al., 2002; Obrist et al., 2011). The future of Dashilar
revitalizes the hutong ambiance, expands residential will be characterized by either radical transformation
space, enhances living quality, reunifies fragmented or stagnation and solidification. For our research, it is
family spaces, reduces demolition costs, and alleviates essential to consider how to adapt to a built environment
social tensions. Simultaneously, the increased space where some elements remain constant while others evolve
and the introduction of new urban functions can, to (Chu, 2020).
some extent, rejuvenate the urban context of Dashilar. Acknowledgments
This revitalization honors the memories of former
communal life and residential subjects, reconstructs None.
the consciousness and identity of the neighborhood, Funding
strengthens the connection between users of new
commercial spaces and original residents, and None.

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2025) 13 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4056