Analysis of Cultural Value and Protection Strategies of the Spatial Elements of Tibetan Historic Cities

Abstract

This paper extracts boundary, partition, skyline and street space as four historical space elements of the three national historical and cultural city——Lhasa, and Gyantse, and then analysis their ideological contents and cultural values which include the following contents——boundaries that reflect ecological ethics and social ethics, partition expression changes of World View and street space reflects two aspects of World View. It analysis the situation of these space: double core intention is diluted, artificial skyline and interface is damaged, old town's border intention is weakened and the shape and space texture of streets are damaged. Finally it proposes the following planning strategies: to protect double core structure overall, to control building height and establish vertical purple line, to protect the landscape pattern and Circumanbulations on the peripheries and to protect traditional architectural patterns. Tibet is an inhabited area of ethnic minority with a long history and unique culture, and the historical space elements of Tibetan central cities( symbolized by Lhasa, and Gyantse) are very unique. Lhasa is the most representative cultural and the most abundant historical space; Shigatse is the central city in Tsang Area, and it constitutes the center of politics and religion with Lhasa in the history of Tibet; Gyantse is a hub city which contacts Maekura Area and Tsang Area (1) . The historical space of the three central cities is similar to each other, but totally different from other civilizations. According to the analysis of the historical space elements, this paper extracts the unique cultural value of the space elements of these three historical cities, and then puts forward the protection strategies based on the current situation of the space. (Fig.1)