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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Visualizing research on Huizhou houses

include flat, relief, and openwork carving techniques, (Guang, 2013; Zhao & Gao, 2013). She et al. (2012) explored
with openwork carving being the most distinctive. This the establishment of a 3D model database and information
technique provides a multi-layered sense of depth in query platform to support the preservation and inheritance
limited space, creating a strong spatial decorative effect of Huizhou-style decorative arts. By applying digital
(Cao & Ye, 2008; Wu, 2009). Traditional Huizhou houses information acquisition and processing technologies, their
reflect Huizhou merchant capital and patriarchal concepts, project provided technical support for preserving Huizhou
encapsulating the historical culture and spirit of their local culture and enabled innovative practices in related art
society. Rooted in Confucian ethics, Huizhou culture is designs, thereby promoting the global dissemination,
conveyed through wooden decorative components, which application, and development of Huizhou-style decorative
serve as the main material carriers of this culture. The arts. Subsequently, on October 1, 2014, the Regulations on
carved patterns, using implicit artistic language, embody the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Anhui Province came
values such as loyalty, filial piety, integrity, righteousness, into effect, emphasizing the optimization of the cultural
and aspirations for a prosperous life, revealing the ecological environment, enhancing regional cultural
Huizhou people’s respect for Confucian traditions and soft power, and advancing the inheritance and evolution
esthetic preferences (Xie, 2009). Overall, research during of traditional crafts. Decorative carving, an important
this period provided profound and detailed insights into carrier of Huizhou’s traditional architectural culture, has
the local characteristics and cultural connotations of garnered widespread scholarly attention regarding its
traditional Huizhou houses. Scholars also began exploring role in the preservation of traditional crafts. Shide et al.
the potential for integrating decorative arts from traditional (2015) used Huizhou stone, wood, and brick carvings as
Huizhou houses into contemporary design. examples to examine the impact of cultural, ecological,
and environmental factors on the willingness to inherit
4.2.2. The second stage: Integration of traditional traditional crafts, employing principal component analysis
elements with contemporary design (2011 – 2020) and logistic regression analysis. Similarly, Feng (2018)
In 2010, the 41 World Expo was held in Shanghai, China, analyzed exquisite carving techniques and rich cultural
st
with the Anhui Pavilion themed “Huizhou Culture Makes connotations contained in the shapes and decorative
Life More Colorful.” This event showcased the rich heritage patterns of column base carvings. Although column bases
of Huizhou culture while addressing contemporary societal have largely lost their functional purpose in contemporary
needs, presenting an image that respects tradition while life, they continue to serve as decorative pieces, enhancing
embracing the future and further enhancing the influence cultural value in homes, revitalizing intangible cultural
of Huizhou culture. During this period, keywords such as heritage, and facilitating the inheritance of traditional
“contemporary design,” “application,” and “innovation” culture. Despite Huizhou carving techniques being
reflected key research hotspots. The architectural structure recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, the
and interior spatial layout of traditional Huizhou houses field faces challenges, such as a shortage of skilled inheritors
not only embody a cultural philosophy of harmonious and limited industrial growth. Zhao (2019) proposed
coexistence with nature but also incorporate contemporary strategies for realistic reproduction, digital management,
ecological concepts, such as energy efficiency and heat and dynamic protection through digital technologies,
insulation, offering significant inspiration and application emphasizing the importance of talent cultivation, database
value (Huang et al., 2017; Ji, 2012). Integrating traditional improvement, and increased funding. Tang (2020)
and modern techniques is crucial for the sustainable advocated for conceptual innovation, the adoption of
development of traditional Huizhou houses (Sun & Guan, new technologies to transform traditional industries,
2012). The pursuit of cultural identity and recognition is and government-enterprise collaboration to drive the
a central theme for many today. Huizhou woodcarving transformation, upgrade, and high-quality development of
patterns, with their distinctive shapes, colors, and materials, the Huizhou woodcarving industry.
are easily recognizable and serve as artistic and functional Supported by policies and social environment, this
regional symbols. These patterns can be reutilized in period saw strong research interest and enthusiasm for
contemporary interior design, merging tradition with traditional Huizhou houses. Scholars pursued diverse
contemporary esthetics. The development of new Huizhou- research themes, and significant progress was made.
style architecture that enhances cultural ambiance
while meeting current demands demonstrates a creative 4.2.3. The third stage: Industrial development
exploration of localizing and modernizing vernacular oriented toward spatial narratives (2021 – 2023)
architecture, which holds profound practical significance As Huizhou traditional decorative arts increasingly enter
in inheriting Huizhou’s traditional architectural culture the commercial market as consumer symbols, many design

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2025) 11 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4473