Abstract
This paper presents project-based research focusing on regeneration for sustainable tourism in a rural village in China, namely Dongjingyu Village, Yuyang Township, Ji County. The research by design approach was applied, introducing to the Chinese context the concept of landscape services, with a particular focus on tradition and the evolution of historical landscape element (HLE) categories and types, whose value is determined by a qualifying relationship between human beings and the environment. The aim was to regenerate and transform the village for uses that are suitable to contemporary ways of coexistence between villagers and the growing tourism industry. Although there are partial limitations to the application of participatory methodologies in the Chinese context, the authors opted for a methodological approach based on research by design in order to foster dialogue and create awareness for both government authorities and citizens regarding potential design solutions, which were determined based on landscape patterns and not only land use. Two outcomes were achieved: (1) the research working package might lead to experimental actions, including changes to land-use models, administration capabilities and considerations of feasibility; and (2) the entire work package can be applied to and implemented in other rural villages in China. Moving beyond environmental scenarios, the outcomes provide evidence that participation and social inclusion might have a deeper and more positive impact on rural village regeneration.
Highlights
The concept of social innovation has recently been receiving increased attention, yet has received limited attention together with the topics of the environment, and even less if considered together with environmental design [1]
This evident opposition between research and results is the context in which the current research is placed, addressing this problem through a research by design approach, applying the concept of landscape services (LS) [2,3,4,5,6], along with the categories and types of historical landscape elements (HLE) [7,8], whose wealth is determined by a qualifying relationship between human beings, the environment and cultural services
The project was developed through an iterative process of landscape and architectural design that aimed to regenerate and transform the village for uses that are suitable for contemporary ways of living, while encouraging the coexistence of villagers and the growing tourism industry
Summary
The concept of social innovation has recently been receiving increased attention, yet has received limited attention together with the topics of the environment, and even less if considered together with environmental design [1]. One can observe a considerable number of studies and publications on these topics (as well as increased interest from the media, governments both local and national, and citizens in general) Those findings remain confined within specific disciplinary sectors and there is little, if any, interaction between the the triad of terms: inclusive tourism, social innovation, and culture and heritage. The research by design approach in the field of environmental design was selected to guarantee an interdisciplinary framework approach and, as a process, is committed to creating and facilitating a sustainable “life–environmental ecosystem” [9] using holistic, life-based and sustainable means Within this framework, the research question is: How can we use design to renew the lost relationship between the environment, culture, heritage and citizens, with the aim of fostering inclusive tourism as a social integration tool?
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