Page 137 - JCAU-7-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Culture & play in Xi’an’s parks: 7Cs evaluation

Table 3. Parent questionnaire design
Dimension (C) Evaluation factor Question (parent perspective)
Character Design reflects cultural and natural features Does the design of the play space sufficiently showcase local cultural and natural
characteristics?
Provides unique visual experiences Does the visual design of the play space capture your and your child’s attention?
Encourages children’s exploration interest Do you think the play space stimulates your child’s interest in exploration and
interaction?
Context Adapts to microclimate and natural conditions Does the play space provide a comfortable environment that adapts to weather and
seasonal changes?
Utilizes surrounding resources Do you think the play space makes good use of surrounding resources (e.g., trees,
neighborhood relationships)?
Fits into the community environment Is the design of the play space consistent with the overall community environment?
Connectivity Seamless indoor-outdoor connection Is the indoor-outdoor connection of the play space convenient for children to access
freely?
Supports diverse mobility options Does the play space offer pathways suitable for various activities (e.g., looped paths,
main and secondary paths)?
Promotes children’s interaction Does the layout of the play space encourage interaction and observation among
children?
Change Meets social and solitary needs Does the play space include diverse areas for both solitude and social activities?
Provides manipulable materials Do you think materials like sand, water, or plants in the play space attract children for
long-term engagement?
Allows flexible layouts Does the play space provide flexible layouts to meet the changing needs of children?
Chance Offers “messy zones” Are there enough areas in the play space for children to freely explore (e.g., mud
areas, sand pits)?
Encourages spontaneous exploration Do the terrain and vegetation designs stimulate your child’s curiosity and exploratory
behavior?
Supports unstructured activities Do you think the play space supports your child in engaging in unstructured,
open-ended activities?
Clarity Avoids visual obstacles Does the play space avoid obstacles (e.g., large equipment) that block the view?
Provides clear entry and exit points Are the entry and exit points of the play space clearly designed to reduce potential
risks?
Reduces noise interference Do you think the play space effectively controls noise to create a quiet and
comfortable environment?
Challenge Offers multi-level activity facilities Does the play space include challenging facilities suitable for children of different ages
(e.g., climbing structures, jumping spots)?
Designs progressive challenges Does the play space help children gradually develop their skills through progressive
challenges?
Ensures safety Does the play space balance risk-taking with ensuring children’s safety?

applied to calculate the scores for each dimension, as well interviews focused on evaluating design logic and cultural
as the overall composite score. representation from a professional perspective.
2.2. Qualitative methodology An interview guide was developed in advance,
structured around the 7Cs framework. The guide included
To gain deeper insights into the design performance questions on the integration of cultural characteristics and
and potential optimization of children’s play spaces in functionality, the interactivity and diversity of facilities, and
Xi’an’s heritage parks, this study employs semi-structured the balance between challenge and age-appropriateness.
interviews and thematic analysis. The primary focus is on
cultural expression, interactivity, and the level of challenge Interview data were collected through audio recordings
offered by the play spaces. Two participant groups were and detailed transcription, followed by open coding and
interviewed: parents and experts. Parent interviews sought clustering for analysis. First, the research team reviewed
to gather direct feedback on user experience, while expert the transcripts line by line, extracting key information

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2025) 6 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.8296