ANNUAL CONGRESS 2025

Study on the Construction and Inheritance of Rural Models in Shaanxi North from the Perspective of Human-Land Emotional Bonds

Not scheduled

20m

Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul

Oral Track 07 | INCLUSION

Speaker

Mr Huan Liu (Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology)

Description

In the Shaanxi North region of China, the unique loess terrain and crisscrossing gullies have fostered a deep emotional connection between its inhabitants and the land, a phenomenon known as topophilia, which refers to the strong bond people share with their environment[1]. However, the rapid urbanization of this area has challenged traditional construction models and conventional spatial layouts, leading to issues in rural construction such as the uncritical adoption of urban design principles, the abandonment of traditional spaces, and the erosion of local building techniques. These issues have resulted in the inefficiency and unattractiveness of rural spaces, particularly due to the neglect of local culture and residents’ emotional needs[2,3].
This study highlights the importance of understanding the affective relationship between people and land in addressing these challenges, while also preserving and revitalizing traditional models of rural space. It investigates the motivations behind rural space construction in the Shaanxi North region, focusing on the emotional bonds between residents and their environment. Through interviews, surveys, and analysis, the study identifies the cultural significance and emotional needs associated with spatial features such as alleys, gullies, hillside elevations, and courtyards, which are integral to traditional construction models[4].
By employing qualitative methods, the study creates a knowledge map of human-land affective bonds in the region, emphasizing the value of traditional spatial layouts. It incorporates affective mapping tools and spatial narrative techniques, integrating affective data from social surveys with spatial data through Public Participation GIS (PPGIS)[5]. This results in an affective cartography that maps the emotional bonds between people and their environment, while also honoring traditional models[6]. The study also draws on rural reconstruction practices, proposing strategies for developing settlement areas that respect and enhance the local sense of place, incorporating elements of traditional construction models into a more empathetic and inclusive framework for rural development.

References

1.Tuan, Y.-F., 1974. Topophilia: A Study of Environmental Perception, Attitudes, and Values. Prentice-Hall.
2.Germann, A., 2013. The Social Significance of Rural Spaces: The Role of Rurality in the Construction of Community. Journal of Rural Studies, 29(1), pp. 14-23.
3. Smith, J. & Brown, G., 2021. Emotional attachment to rural landscapes: A study on cultural and environmental identities in rural Australia. Landscape and Urban Planning, 205, pp. 103922.
4.Harris, L. & Thompson, P., 2022. Exploring cultural identity through rural landscape narratives: The role of heritage and belonging. Journal of Rural and Community Development, 17(2), pp. 12-29.
5.Ramirez Aranda, Nohem, Jeroen De Waegemaeker, and Nico Van de Weghe. 2023. “The evolution of public participation GIS (PPGIS) barriers in spatial planning practice.” Applied Geography 155: 102940.
6.Liu, L. & Yang, Z., 2021. Integrating local knowledge and PPGIS for sustainable rural development in mountainous areas. Sustainable Development, 29(6), pp. 1114-1124.