Speaker
Description
The preservation and revitalization of heritage districts within the context of urban regeneration and cultural economic development have garnered increasing attention. For residential historic districts characterized by complex social fabrics and relatively scant economic resources, the emphasis lies in maintaining the authenticity of daily life, where autonomous participation from community residents is particularly crucial. The human-land relationship, with a focus on the interaction between people and their dwellings, has emerged as one of the core driving forces for urban development. However, due to an inadequate understanding of this interactive relationship, current research and renovation models tend to rely heavily on either spatial or human-centered dominance. The mismatch between the poor quality of the neighborhood environment and the low level of human capital constrains the transformation of residential groups into viable social resources for urban renewal. Therefore, to enable urban cultural heritage to effectively capitalize on the benefits of modern urban development, it is imperative to conduct thorough and systematic research into the operational logic and preservation strategies of residential historic districts.
Drawing on fieldwork data and semi-structured interview materials from the Hehuatang historic district in Nanjing, this study delves into the historical origins and social succession mechanisms of residential historic districts. It uncovers the objective dilemmas faced by these districts in terms of material spatial decay, weakening social networks, and the erosion of cultural attributes. Using the scientific principle of human-dwelling coupling, the study explains the human-land mismatches at levels such as property rights structures, development measures, and community management within historic districts. The findings indicate that the fundamental obstacle to neighborhood revitalization stems from the multiple contradictions accumulated through repeated residential turnover in terms of property rights, responsibilities, and interests. The ambiguity and fragmentation of ownership impede the functioning of traditional incentive mechanisms during preservation and utilization, thereby reducing the inherent motivation for preservation and increasing overall costs. Based on these insights, strategies for property rights integration and mechanism innovation, rehabilitative regeneration, adaptive reuse, and the construction of spiritual places are proposed. These strategies aim to achieve a harmonious unity between preservation and development within residential historic districts, encompassing both material space and socio-cultural dimensions, providing support for the theoretical research and renewal practices of residential historic districts.
| Keywords | historic district; human-land relationship; property rights; sustainable renewal |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
