Space and culture acculturation: Exploring urban regeneration in historic conservation areas, Yangmeizhu Street in Beijing, China

Abstract

The regeneration of cultural spaces in historic conservation areas aims to enhance these spaces while preserving their heritage. Achieving sustainable regeneration requires an understanding of the interplay between spaces and their underlying cultures. This study examines the urban regeneration of courtyard spaces on Beijing's Yangmeizhu Street, using Space Syntax and acculturation theory to explore spatial and cultural attributes. A Kruskal-Wallis H analysis is conducted to investigate the correlation between these features. Findings demonstrate cultural acculturation along Yangmeizhu Street, evaluated through behavior, knowledge, values, and identity. Three typologies emerge: separation (maintaining a unique identity), integration (adopting a broader culture while preserving a distinct identity), and assimilation (complete adoption of the surrounding culture). The assimilation type shows notable differences in spatial characteristics compared to integration and separation. This research highlights the impact of space managers or designers with diverse cultural backgrounds on the transformation of cultural spaces during urban regeneration, revealing contributions from both foreign and indigenous cultures.

Keywords

Acculturation theory / Urban regeneration / Space Syntax / Historic conservation areas / Beijing

References

[1] Arcos-Pumarola, J. , Paquin, A.G. , Sitges, M.H. , 2023. The use of intangible heritage and creative industries as a tourism asset in the UNESCO creative cities network. Heliyon 9 (1).

[2] Arnold, T. , 2011. Using space syntax to design an architecture of visual relations. J. Space Syntax 2 (2), 201- 222.

[3] Arslanli, K. , Unlukara, T. , Dokmeci, V. , 2011. Transformation of public spaces in Istanbul. Eur. Plan. Stud. 19 (6), 1061- 1089.

[4] Artiles, A. , 2003. Special education's changing identity:paradoxes and dilemmas in views of culture and space. Harv. Educ. Rev. 73 (2), 164- 202.

[5] Bassett, K. , 1993. Urban cultural strategies and urban regeneration:a case study and critique. Environ. Plann. A 25 (12), 1773- 1788.

[6] Benkirane, S. , Doucerain, M.M. , 2022. Considering intersectionality in acculturation:bringing theory to practice. Int. J. Intercult. Relat. 91, 150- 157.

[7] Berry, J.W. , 1979. Research in multicultural societies:implications of cross-cultural methods. J. Cross Cult. Psychol. 10 (4), 415- 434.

[8] Berry, J.W. , Phinney, J.S. , Sam, D.L. , Vedder, P. , 2006. Immigrant youth:acculturation, identity, and adaptation. Appl. Psychol. 55 (3), 303- 332.

[9] Chen, X. , Zhu, H. , Yuan, Z. , 2020. Contested memory amidst rapid urban transition: the cultural politics of urban regeneration in Guangzhou, China. Cities 102, 102755.

[10] Chung, H. , Lee, J. , 2021. A study on cultural urban regeneration using modern industrial resources:focusing on the site-specific cultural places of Gunsan, South Korea. Land 10 (11), 1184.

[11] Commission, N. D. A. R. , 2022. Data overview:related urban and rural data for 2022.

[12] Della Torre, S. , 2021. Italian perspective on the planned preventive conservation of architectural heritage. Front. Archit. Res. 10 (1), 108- 116.

[13] Dinçer, I. , 2011. The impact of neoliberal policies on historic urban space:areas of urban renewal in Istanbul. Int. Plan. Stud. 16 (1), 43- 60.

[14] Evans, G. , 2020. Measure for measure:evaluating the evidence of culture's contribution to regeneration. Cult. Urban Regen. 116- 140.

[15] Fang, L. , 2020. Acculturation and academic achievement of rural to urban migrant youth:the role of school satisfaction and family closeness. Int. J. Intercult. Relat. 74, 149- 160.

[16] Ghabouli, E. , Soltani, A. , Ranjbar, E. , 2023. Heritage and the regeneration of urban brownfields:insights on public perception in Tehran, Iran. Heritage 6 (5), 4451- 4471.

[17] Gibson, C. , Homan, S. , 2004. Urban redevelopment, live music and public space:cultural performance and the re-making of Marrickville. Int. J. Cult. Pol. 10 (1), 67- 84.

[18] Graham, B. , Ashworth, G. , Tunbridge, J. , 2016. A Geography of Heritage. Routledge.

[19] Griffiths, S. , 2017. Space syntax as interdisciplinary urban design pedagogy. In:Explorations in Urban Design. Routledge, pp. 183-194.

[20] Hakkarainen, V. , Soini, K. , Dessein, J. , Raymond, C.M. , 2022. Place-embedded agency:exploring knowledge—place connections for enabling plurality in governance of social—ecological systems. People Nat. 4 (5), 1141- 1158.

[21] Helms, J.E. , 1996. Toward a methodology for measuring and assessing racial as distinguished from ethnic identity. In: Sodowsky, G.R., Impara, J.C. (Eds.), Multicultural assessment in counseling and clinical psychology. Buros Institute of Mental Measurement, Lincoln, NE, pp. 143-192.

[22] Hillier, B. , Hanson, J. , Graham, H. , 1987. Ideas are in things:an application of the space syntax method to discovering house genotypes. Environ. Plann. B Plann. Des. 14 (4), 363- 385.

[23] Hillier, B. , Leaman, A. , Stansall, P. , Bedford, M. , 1976. Space syntax. Environ. Plann. B Plann. Des. 3 (2), 147- 185.

[24] Huang, B.-X. , Chiou, S.-C. , Li, W.-Y. , 2019. Study on courtyard residence and cultural sustainability:reading Chinese Traditional Siheyuan through space syntax. Sustainability 11 (6), 1582.

[25] Huang Xu, Y.P. , Yang, Zhenshan , Tan, Luojian , Tang, Ruien , Ma, Jingyi , 2023. Polymorphism and differentiation in the sense of place:different people's perceptions of old city neighborhoods. Hum. Geogr. 38 (1), 36- 43.

[26] Iverson Nassauer, J. , 1995. Culture and changing landscape structure. Landsc. Ecol. 10, 229- 237.

[27] Jia, A. , Liang, X. , Wen, X. , Yun, X. , Ren, L. , Yun, Y. , 2023. GIS-based analysis of the spatial distribution and influencing factors of traditional villages in Hebei Province, China. Sustainability 15 (11), 9089.

[28] Karim, S. , 2021. Acculturation in a globalised world:implications for theory and educational policy and practice. Int. J. Comp. Educ. Dev. 23 (1), 44- 58.

[29] Kim, J.Y. , 2016. Cultural entrepreneurs and urban regeneration in Itaewon, Seoul. Cities 56, 132- 140.

[30] Kim, Y.O. , 1999. Spatial Configuration, Spatial Cognition and Spatial Behaviour:the Role of Architectural Intelligibility in Shaping Spatial Experience. University of London, University College London (United Kingdom).

[31] Kuenkel, P. , Kuhn, E. , Stucker, D. , Williamson, D.F. , 2021. Leading Transformative Change Collectively:a Practitioner Guide to Realizing the SDGs. Taylor & Francis.

[32] Li, Y. , Chen, J. , Xie, S. , Huang, X. , 2022. Acculturation, urban identity, and psychological well-being of ruraleurban migrants in China. Appl. Psychol.:Health Well-Being 14 (4), 1129- 1150.

[33] Lin, S. , Wu, F. , Liang, Q. , Li, Z. , Guo, Y. , 2022. From hometown to the host city? Migrants' identity transition in urban China. Cities 122, 103567.

[34] Marra, G. , Barosio, M. , Eynard, E. , Marietta, C. , Tabasso, M. , Melis, G. , 2016. From urban renewal to urban regeneration:classification criteria for urban interventions. Turin 1995-2015:evolution of planning tools and approaches. J. Urban Regen. Renew. 9 (4), 367- 380.

[35] Martí-Costa, M. , Miquel, M.P.I. , 2012. The knowledge city against urban creativity? Artists' workshops and urban regeneration in Barcelona. Eur. Urban Reg. Stud. 19 (1), 92- 108.

[36] Munasinghe, H. , 2005. The politics of the past:constructing a national identity through heritage conservation. Int. J. Herit. Stud. 11 (3), 251- 260.

[37] Nag, A. , Mishra, S. , 2023. Stakeholders' perception and competitiveness of heritage towns:a systematic literature review. Tour. Manag. Perspect. 48, 101156.

[38] O'Connor, J. , 2010. The cultural and creative industries:a literature review (Creativity, Culture and Education Series). Creativity, Culture and Education.

[39] Pan, X. , Hao, A. , Guan, C. , Hsieh, T.-J. , 2020. Affective and cognitive dimensions in cultural identity: scale development and validation. Asia Pac. J. Mark. Logist. 32 (6), 1362- 1375.

[40] Poe, M.R. , Norman, K.C. , Levin, P.S. , 2014. Cultural dimensions of socioecological systems:key connections and guiding principles for conservation in coastal environments. Conserv. Lett. 7 (3), 166- 175.

[41] Redfield, R. , Linton, R. , Herskovits, M. , 1936. Memorandum for acculturation. Am. Anthropol. 38, 149- 152.

[42] Refaat, A.M. , 2019. Space syntax theory and its contribution to urban design. In: Handbook of Research on Digital Research Methods and Architectural Tools in Urban Planning and Design. IGI Global, pp. 203-222.

[43] Reggiani, M. , 2022. Urban regeneration strategies and place development in contemporary Tokyo:the case of Shibuya Station area. J. Place Manag. Dev. 15 (1), 40- 54.

[44] Relph, E. , 1976. Place and Placelessness, vol. 67. Pion London.

[45] Rogler, L.H. , 1994. International migrations: a framework for directing research. Am. Psychol. 49 (8), 701.

[46] Salmistu, S. , Kotval, Z. , 2023. Spatial interventions and built environment features in developing age-friendly communities from the perspective of urban planning and design. Cities, 104417.

[47] Sam, D.L. , 2006. Acculturation: conceptual background and core components. In: The Cambridge Handbook of Acculturation Psychology, pp. 11-26.

[48] Sam, D.L. , Berry, J.W. , 2010. Acculturation: when individuals and groups of different cultural backgrounds meet. Perspect. Psychol. Sci. 5 (4), 472- 481.

[49] Singh, R.P. , Rana, P.S. , Kumar, S. , 2019. Intangible dimensions of urban heritage:learning from holy cities of India. In: The Routledge Handbook on Historic Urban Landscapes in the Asia-Pacific. Routledge, pp. 275-293.

[50] Spennemann, D.H. , 2023. What actually is a heritage conservation area? A management critique based on a systematic review of New South Wales (Australia) planning documents. Heritage 6 (7), 5270- 5304.

[51] Strange, I. , Whitney, D. , 2003. The changing roles and purposes of heritage conservation in the UK. Plann. Pract. Res. 18(2-3), 219- 229.

[52] Tang, Y. , Yang, D. , 2021. Urban Regeneration in China:Institutional Innovation in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Shanghai. Routledge.

[53] Tazim, J. , Steve, H. , 2017. Developing a framework for indicators of authenticity:the place and space of cultural and heritage tourism. In:The Political Nature of Cultural Heritage and Tourism. Routledge, pp. 211-230.

[54] Tong, Y. , Xin, Y. , 2018. A comparative study on the street space form in the old city of Beijing:a case study of Shijia Hutong, the White Stupa Temple Area, and Dashilanr. J. Landsc. Res. 10 (2).

[55] Tweed, C. , Sutherland, M. , 2007. Built cultural heritage and sustainable urban development. Landsc. Urban Plann. 83 (1), 62- 69.

[56] Waddell, S. , 2017. Societal Learning and Change:How Governments, Business and Civil Society are Creating Solutions to Complex multi-stakeholder Problems. Routledge.

[57] Wang, M. , 2015. A gradual evolutionary progress:Yangmeizhu Xiejie renovation plan and mixed-courtyard public space design, Beijing. Landsc. Archit. Front. 3 (5), 42- 52.

[58] Wang, M. , Luo, Z. , Jiang, R. , Zhao, M. , 2023a. Heritage space, multiple temporalities, and the reproduction of Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Village. Emot. Space Soc. 48, 100958.

[59] Wang, Y. , Crompton, A. , Agkathidis, A. , 2023b. The Hutong neighbourhood grammar:a procedural modelling approach to unravel the rationale of historical Beijing urban structure. Front. Archit. Res. 12 (3), 458- 476.

[60] Ward, C. , 2020. Models and measurements of acculturation. In:Merging Past, Present, and Future in Cross-Cultural Psychology. Garland Science, pp. 221-230.

[61] Washington, A. S. O. , 1882. Transactions of the Anthropological Society of Washington, vol. 1. Society.

[62] Wilczewska, I.T. , 2023. Breaking the chains of two dimensions:the tridimensional process-oriented acculturation model TDPOM. Int. J. Intercult. Relat. 95, 101810.

[63] Xie, S. , Chen, J. , Wei, L. , 2023. The strength of culture:acculturation and urban-settlement intention of rural migrants in China. Habitat Int. 138, 102855.

[64] Xie, S. , Hou, H. , Sun, Y. , Huang, X. , Wei, L. , 2024. Acculturation of ruraleurban migrants in China:strategies and determinants. Int. J. Intercult. Relat. 101, 101991.

[65] Xin, Y. , Shuang, H. , Qi, Z. , 2020. Thermal comfort measurement and landscape reconstruction strategy of street space based on decomposition grid method:a case study of Yangmeizhu Street. J. Landsc. Res 12 (3).

[66] Yan, W. , Zhang, L. , Duan, X. , Wu, F. , 2023. Strategic approaches to realize sustainable neighborhoods in urban renewal:a case study of Banan, Chongqing, China. Sustain-ability 15 (4), 3515.

[67] Yang, J. , Yang, L. , Ma, H. , 2022. Community participation strategy for sustainable urban regeneration in Xiamen, China. Land 11 (5), 600.

[68] Yue, Z. , Fong, E. , Li, S. , Feldman, M.W. , 2020. Acculturation of ruraleurban migrants in urbanising China:a multidimensional and bicultural framework. Popul. Space Place 26 (1), e2278.

[69] Zeng, M. , Wang, F. , Xiang, S. , Lin, B. , Gao, C. , Li, J. , 2020. Inheritance or variation? Spatial regeneration and acculturation via implantation of cultural and creative industries in Beijing's traditional compounds. Habitat Int. 95, 102071.

[70] Zhang, A.Y. , 2020. Address urban regeneration challenge with temporary creative uses:the case of Beijing's Dashilar area. In:Transforming Cities Through Temporary Urbanism:A Comparative International Overview, pp. 187-197.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

The Author(s). Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Higher Education Press and KeAi.