Juxtaposition or integration: the formation mechanism of architectural form in a cultural transition zone

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper explores the formation mechanisms of various architectural forms in a cultural transition region. A field investigation involving 504 ancestral shrines with Guangfu and Hakka styles in Shenzhen was performed. Then, spatial distribution analysis was conducted to reveal the regional structure of aggregation, penetration and juxtaposition of the architectural forms. Case studies were adopted to explain the integration modes of the architectural forms. The results show that, juxtaposition, as a typical mode of coexistence of architectural forms in cultural transition zones, mainly occurs in regions dominated by weak cultures. Through gathering densely in a small region, a weak culture can gain the ability to compete with a strong culture, thus forming a basis for achieving an equilibrium state. The approaches to the integration of architectural forms are diverse. The transformation of the architectural plane involves changes in social organization and cultural essence. The alteration of construction details and decoration involves a compromise regarding noncritical elements adopted by the weak culture to maintain its original characteristics. Finally, their shared human and natural environmental “genes” give the buildings in the cultural transition region an underlying commonality. This study offers a significant addition to the cultural geography and architectural morphology literature.