Page 98 - JCAU-7-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Computational urbanism on Dashilar

Figure 12. The evolution of the gradual mixed-use development of commercial and residential spaces in the Dashilar area, Beijing, China. Source: Drawing
by the authors

social connections, infrastructure, and business models, This prototype addresses the evolving organization of
all interacting within an “urban force field.” This concept urban programs within mid-scale urban environments,
illustrates the interrelations among various elements specifically hutong blocks, driven by urban force fields.
through a dynamic “field” (Mayne, 2011) (Figure 13). Program layout should not be perceived as a fixed,
At the urban scale, the programmatic content of hutong quantitatively distributed scheme with static boundaries.
blocks inherently generates a force field driven by crowd Instead, it must be flexible and adaptive, allowing the
activities. The intensity of this force field is represented programs within a building (or room) to dynamically
vertically by the volume of diverse population flows and respond to, modify, and evolve in reaction to changes in the
horizontally by the accessibility and potential interference surrounding environment. By defining the interrelationships
range of population movement across various areas. among programs and their influencing factors within the
hutong block, each program can independently assess the
Furthermore, variations in this force field emerge from the value of spatial areas and occupy the most suitable zones
interaction between the hierarchical structure and spatial until achieving an optimal overall program distribution
organization of roads, alongside fluctuations in population (Deleuze & Guattari, 1988). Any change in a single factor
density (Figure 14).
triggers corresponding adjustments (Rowe & Koetter, 1978;
At the architectural scale, a program distribution field Thuer & Nam, 2023). These shifts, in turn, influence each
emerges, where each program inadvertently influences program, fostering a dynamic mechanism of continuous
the arrangement of others, while undergoing reciprocal evolution and interaction. This mechanism transcends
transformations. For instance, the success of a bakery on the limitations of traditional courtyard blocks, which are
a particular street may attract a substantial customer base, relatively closed and characterized by singular programs.
encouraging the establishment of new shops in the vicinity. Consequently, reorganizing urban programs initiates
Conceptually, each establishment can be viewed as an changes in social organizational structures, addressing the
independent “point force field.” The relationships among challenges posed by urban structural transformations in
programs emerge from the variations in the properties traditional blocks (Figure 16).
of these force fields, with each program’s location and
characteristics dynamically influenced by others. This 3.3. Node control
interaction also impacts broader factors, such as increased Since the Dashilar area became a venue for Beijing
land value (Figure 15). Design Week in 2012, its transformation has entered a

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2025) 9 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4056