Spatial Form Research Articles

Research on improving urban park green space landscape quality based on public psychological perception: a comprehensive AHP-TOPSIS-POE evaluation of typical parks in Jinan City

During rapid urbanization, environmental issues significantly affect urban residents health. Urban parks and green spaces play a crucial role in urban planning and layout, significantly impacting residents quality of life and livability. This study constructs a comprehensive landscape evaluation model, “AHP-TOPSIS-POE” from the perspective of behavioral psychological perception. It uses four urban parks in Jinan City (Qianfoshan Park, Baotu Spring Park, Daming Lake Park, and Quancheng Park) as case study samples. This method validates its feasibility by converting subjective perceptions into objective data. The research findings are as follows: (1) Urban park green space landscapes are significantly correlated with public psychological recovery; (2) The weight ranking of the criteria layer is as follows: Landscape Perception (B4) 0.5135 > Social Interaction (B3) 0.3015 > Spatial Form (B2) 0.1244 > Visual Quality (B1) 0.0606; (3) The relative closeness ranking of the four typical urban parks in Jinan City is as follows: Qianfoshan Park > Quancheng Park > Daming Lake Park > Baotu Spring Park. This study aims to reduce the subjectivity of evaluation indicators, raise public awareness of high-quality cognition and emotional experiences, and provide a scientific basis for the development of scientifically reasonable urban park green landscapes.

Investigation of the Initiation of Composite Mode I/II Crack in Gas‐Bearing Rock Caused by Nonuniformly Distributed Heat Flux

ABSTRACTTo investigate the patterns of rock crack initiation caused by the nonuniformly distributed heat flux resulting from fracture air‐vapor pressure, the fracture air‐vapor pressure control equation was deduced, and five spatial distribution forms of heat flux were established. The crack initiation criterion considering nonuniform heat flux conditions was proposed based on the modified maximum tangential stress criterion, the theory was validated using FEM and FE‐FEM numerical methods. The results show that the peak value of nonuniform heat flux determines the maximum value of the crack surface temperature, and the distribution form determines the range of high‐temperature and low‐temperature regions on the crack surface. Axisymmetric heat flux induces centrosymmetric cracking, and nonaxisymmetric heat flux induces noncentrosymmetric cracking. It was observed that when qmax = 5000 mW/m2, there is a mutation line in the critical crack initiation angle, which mutates from −90° to 90°. The position of the mutation line decreases with increasing heat flux.

Urban green spaces as regulators of thermal comfort for different age groups in the context of heat waves

ABSTRACT This study aims to bolster the resilience of cities in the face of heat wave disasters by considering climate regulation and residents’ thermal sensation. We chose a humid-hot climatic region for the experiment and used blend of objective climatic measurements and subjective questionnaires to analyze the thermal environment characteristics of different spatial forms of green spaces and the thermal sensation of people from different socio-demographic groups. The results demonstrate that (1) waterfront vegetation (semi-enclosed spaces) and mixed vegetation area (semi-open spaces) are the most effective in regulating urban microclimate effects and improving subjective thermal experience, (2) the subjective thermal sensation ranges reported by individuals consistently exceed the corresponding grading criteria under high heat pressure defined by the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), and (3) both elders (>65 years old) and children (<14 years old) exhibit weaker thermal sensitivity and a gentler response to temperature changes than people in other age groups. These results imply that green spaces with different structures and compositions have different effects on people’s thermal perception and people from different age groups respond heat waves differently. Consequently, it is necessary to implement real-time temperature monitoring in areas where these individuals gather, and to strengthen the early warning systems and guidance for their outdoor activities. These findings provide a reference for optimizing urban spatial forms and developing integrated ‘Heat-Health Action Plan’ in humid-hot regions around the world.

The correlation between water‑carbon and urban spatial form in built-up areas: Evidence from Shenzhen City, China

The correlation between water‑carbon and urban spatial form in built-up areas: Evidence from Shenzhen City, China

Data-driven optimization design method and tool platform for green residential area layout

ABSTRACT In early design stage of residential area layouts, sustainable design and performance optimization are crucial for minimizing environmental impact of buildings. This work integrates environmentally-friendly sustainable design with artificial intelligence technology to enhance residential area layouts. A parametric generative algorithm is developed to automatically generate design schemes for typical Chinese urban residential areas based on a sustainable, performance-oriented design flow. The workflow of architects is summarized into the following steps:1) Extraction of spatial form features from the residential area layout database;2) Automatic generation and sunlight duration simulation of new design schemes;3) Evaluation and screening of generated schemes. The generative algorithm is implemented using Rhino/Grasshopper, Python, and Matlab. In a case study involving residential area layouts in Beijing, the design scheme with the lowest values of DF, WinH, QuVue, SiteH, and UTCI among 42,691 automatically generated schemes was identified as the optimal scheme. This optimal scheme’s total load is 40.7% lower than the original scheme. To validate the design flow, two additional case studies were conducted. The results demonstrate that the parametric generative design of residential area layouts facilitates passive sustainable design in the early design stage and enhances environmental effects without increasing construction costs.

Interpretation of the Jiangnan Landscape and Countryside (Shan-Shui) Pattern: Evidence from the Classification and Spatial Form of Traditional Settlements in the Nanxi River Basin

Against the backdrop of accelerated globalization and urbanization, traditional settlements in the Jiangnan waterside areas of China face challenges such as morphological distortion and a simplified spatial structure. The ecological adaptability and cultural value of settlements urgently need scientific protection. There has not been enough research on how to better classify settlements, how to conduct systematic morphological analysis, or how to use dynamic protection methods. This makes it hard to fully show the variety of settlement types and how they differ in different areas. To this end, this study uses a combination of GIS spatial analysis, type classification, and case study methods to classify and morphologically analyze 159 traditional settlement patches in the Nanxi River Basin. We construct a settlement type map from quantitative research on topographical, water system, and spatial morphological characteristics, and extract a spatial organization model of mountains and water. The results show the following: (1) The main morphological types, such as the plain–waterfront–strip-shaped and cluster-shaped/finger-shaped types, are typical patterns of traditional settlements in the basin. This indicates how well settlements can adapt to their natural surroundings. (2) This study summarizes six typical settlement sample spaces. (3) The settlement digital protection strategy suggested in this paper uses GIS and 3D modeling technology to make it easier to record, show, and manage information about settlement spaces. This offers a new way to protect traditional settlements scientifically. The study not only enriches the theoretical understanding of the settlement morphology of Jiangnan landscape pastoral areas but also provides an important reference for the protection and sustainable development of settlements in similar basins around the world.

Public Value in Historic Environment Regeneration in China: A Public Perception Perspective on Spatial Form, Urban Governance, and People’s Experience (2000–2020)

This study, grounded in the theory of public value, explores how spatial form, urban governance, and people’s experiences influence the realization of public value in the regeneration of historic environments (HER) in China. Addressing the current dilemma faced by historic districts between “destructive construction” and “frozen preservation”, this research proposes that integrating public value into the HER process is crucial for promoting sustainable urban development. This study reviews key theories of public value and critically evaluates their application in historic environment regeneration. From a public perception perspective, this study constructs a hexagon public value model encompassing intrinsic, instrumental, and institutional values, analyzed through the dimensions of spatial form, urban governance, and people’s experiences. Through an empirical analysis of five case studies in China (Chengdu Kuanzhai Alley, Shanghai Tianzifang Alley, Guangzhou Enning Road, Beijing Nanluogu Alley, and Taiyuan Zhonglou Street), this research employs structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the interactions between these factors. The results reveal that spatial form has a significant positive impact on intrinsic value, while urban governance and people’s experiences have significant positive impacts on intrinsic, instrumental, and institutional values. The methodology combines bottom-up (based on grounded theory analysis of online user reviews) and top-down (literature review) approaches, ensuring the authenticity and theoretical depth of the questionnaire. The findings offer in-depth understanding and practical guidance for future HER work, contributing to bridging the knowledge gap in this field and providing a reference for urban managers and planners to balance preservation, development, and public interests in historic environment regeneration.

Sustainability Benefit Evaluation and Optimization of Rural Public Spaces Under Self-Organization Theory

Agriculture-oriented rural areas represent one of the forms of specialized agricultural practices and economic development. Public spaces serve as critical carriers within the rural spatial system. Rural public spaces are divided into two forms: explicit spaces and implicit spaces. The interaction between these forms significantly influences the morphological evolution of rural public spaces. This study takes the ancient village cluster in Anyi, Nanchang City, China as a case study. By collecting POI (Point of Interest) data and conducting surveys on visitors’ landscape preferences, it employs a life circle spatial division method and the VEISD (Village Evaluation Indicators for Sustainable Development) entropy model to evaluate the sustainability benefits of rural public spaces. Based on the evaluation results, the study proposes a control and guidance method for public spaces under self-organization theory. This method leverages the interference effects of explicit rural public spaces on implicit spaces to optimize rural public spaces. The study focuses on the planning and renovation of public space nodes in Luotian Village. By adjusting the sub-indicator “Village Public Environment Construction D22”, it validates the scientific robustness of the systems analysis theory and the VEISD framework. By adjusting the spatial layout and attributes of a critical spatial node—the Ancient Camphor Tree Square in Luotian Village—within rural public space planning, the study advances the guidance and control of public spaces during the self-organization evolution of rural areas. It enhances the openness of spatial forms and the functional integration of public space nodes. The results demonstrate that this method can analyze the vitality characteristics of factors within subsystems through the layout and indicator system of rural public spaces. It also validates the findings via correlation tests with the demands for POI and landscape preferences, ultimately constructing the VEISD framework for rural public spaces. This research provides theoretical support for optimizing the resource transformation and utilization of rural public spaces, offering a reference model for the sustainable development of rural areas.

Research on design intervention in spatial planning of traditional rural tourism: based on the perspective of tourists’ willingness to visit again

ABSTRACT Studying tourists’ revisit intention to tourism-oriented traditional villages helps understand the development trajectory of these villages and provides scientific support for their protection and renewal. This study, using LDA topic modeling, structural equation modeling (SEM), and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), systematically explores the key factors influencing tourists’ revisit intentions to traditional Chinese villages and the underlying mechanisms. Through in-depth analysis, the research reveals the significant impact of the overall layout, spatial form, street pattern, planar structure, local decoration, and building materials of traditional villages on tourists’ revisit intentions, while also emphasizing the importance of visitor satisfaction. Based on the data results, a series of strategies are proposed to optimize village appearance and enrich traditional decorations, aiming to promote deeper interaction between visitors and traditional villages, enhance tourists’ cultural experiences and satisfaction, and thereby effectively increase their intention to revisit tourism-oriented traditional villages. The findings provide practical recommendations for policymakers and village managers, helping them promote the sustainable development of traditional villages while preserving cultural heritage. Through scientific management and marketing strategies, traditional villages can not only enhance their competitiveness but also secure a place in the global tourism market, achieving both economic and cultural prosperity.

Mediated Ekistics: An Urban Communication Perspective

Marshall McLuhan, media theorist, known for his assertion the “medium is the message,” argued technological innovation was the driving force of political, economic and social transformations. This extended to a concern with human settlements, the planning of places and cities. His relationship with Constantinos Doxiadis included participation in the Delos Symposium (1973) and published contributions to Ekistics. In a letter to McLuhan, Doxiadis noted McLuhan’s work was “’essential’ to a reconsideration of human settlements.” Today this relationship takes on greater significance, a fact not unnoticed by those in the field of urban communication, which is an interdisciplinary perspective emphasizing the centrality of communication and technology in the understanding of the urban settlements. Planners, architects, and those studying human settlements recognize that space is the creation of social forces, shaped by the needs and expectations of users who today live in media filled environments. The humans in human-centered design are media dependent if not media addicted. New spatial forms must account for the elevated value people now place on temporal, aspatial proximity at the expense of some degree of physical proximity. This human-technology association encompasses more than smart cities and data-driven solutions. The impact of dematerialized spaces of interaction on design of sustainable settlements needs consideration. This article revisits the relationship of media visionary McLuhan, examines media developments from 1973-2024, and using an urban communication perspective, considers the goals of ekistics in light of what has been called the “reconstruction of space on the basis of digitalization.”

Research on the spatial morphology of traditional settlements in Turpan Oasis – centred on the karez settlement

The study takes the traditional settlements in the Turpan of China as a case and explores their spatial features under the joint influence of water resource constraints and technological support from the aspects of location, form, and society. The study shows there are intermountain valley-type settlements, pre-mountain alluvial fan-type settlements, and karez settlements in the region, of which karez settlements are the most prevalent. In spatial form, it is characterised by the close association and intertwining of settlements and plantations in different patterns. In the place shaping, it is expressed as a multicultural form centred on the karez. In terms of social space, it’s a form of grassroots organisation linked to the sharing of water dividends. These features are the result of residents adapting to the water environment and creating a better home. At present, the karez settlement continues to play a key role in cultural heritage and social development.

Architectural concretes for 3D construction printing

Introduction. One of the rising architectural trends of the present time is to increase the comfort and aesthetics of the territories of populated areas through artistic improvement, a significant role in which is given to various types of small architectural forms. The most budgetary and, at the same time, reliable and durable material for them is architectural concrete. The bottleneck in the use of concrete for the manufacture of small architectural forms is the relative difficulty of giving it complex spatial configurations. At the current level of development of concrete work technology, this drawback can be easily overcome through the use of construction 3D printing technology. The aim of the work was to develop effective architectural concrete for the manufacture of small architectural forms using the 3D construction printing method, based on composite binders containing weathered quartzite sandstones as a mineral additive, as one of the types of local energy-efficient raw materials. Materials and methods: The section presents comparative characteristics of weathered and unweathered quartzite sandstones.Results. The data on the dynamics of component grinding; compositions and characteristics of composite binders and fine-grained concretes based on them; results of manufacturing a pilot batch of small architectural forms using the construction printing method are presented.Discussion and conclusions. The description and analysis of the obtained experimental data are presented. The conclusions are formulated in which it is noted that for the organization of the production of modern small architectural forms, the technology of 3D construction printing is used, which allows the implementation of complex various spatial forms of products with any level of individualization without increasing costs. The developed molding mixtures confirmed the high efficiency of using weathered quartzite sandstone as part of a composite binder and technogenic sand. The introduction of the developed materials meets the requirements of energy and resource conservation, since the consumption of Portland cement and non-renewable natural resources is reduced.

Equilibrium figures of two liquid masses with synchronous rotation. Dynamics of a double asteroid (190166) 2005 UP156

The problem of equilibrium figures of two liquid masses in a state of tidal mutual capture is posed and solved. The condition of complete synchronous (orbital plus spin) rotation is satisfied in the system, both bodies have the same masses and congruent ellipsoidal surfaces. For each figure, in addition to its own gravity and centrifugal forces, the attraction from the second body is taken into account in the tidal approximation. The spatial form of equilibrium figures in the form of triaxial ellipsoids is found by an analytical and numerical method. It is established that the spin rotation of ellipsoidal equilibrium figures occurs not around small axes, as is usually assumed, but around the middle axes of the ellipsoids. This method is used to study the binary asteroid (190166) 2005 UP156, which approximately satisfies the initial conditions of the problem. The study showed that with the parameters known today, the system of two asteroids (190166) 2005 UP156 is nonequilibrium.

Measurement and optimization of sustainable urban form elements in New Urban districts using multi-source data

IntroductionAt the crucial stage of China’s transition from extensive expansion driven by external factors to intensive, connotation-focused development, scientifically optimizing the spatial form of new urban districts, promoting dynamic and adaptive spaces, and enhancing the quality and diversity of urban environments are issues of substantial importance.MethodsBased on urban morphology, this study proposes that high street accessibility, appropriate building density and typology, and a sufficient degree of functional mixing are the foundations of spatial morphology for promoting sustainable urban development. Using spatial syntax, a spatial matrix, and mixed-function indices, this study measures urban spatial morphology elements and explores differences and rhythms in sustainable spatial morphology in new urban districts with varying development functions and cycles.ResultsThe results of the study show that: 1) the overall synergy of the accessibility spatial network in the new urban districts of Yinzhou and Xianlin is high. The building typology was dominated by mid-rise slab and enclosed types, low-rise enclosed types, and high-rise slab types, while the multistory high-coverage forms were interspersed with intervals. 2) Development in new urban districts primarily adopted a large land plot development mode with a single function. The degree of multifunctional mixing was observed to be relatively low. The dual-functional mixing degree in the Yinzhou New Urban District is higher than that in the New Xianlin urban district. 3) A significant level of overlap was observed among functional mixing, accessibility, building density, and typology. Of the functional mixing units, 42.41% of the dual-function and 78.57% of multi-function types were clustered in high-value areas of urban vitality. Additionally, 50.25% of dual-function and 85.71% of multi-function units were aggregated in high-accessibility areas.DiscussionThe mixed-use of sites contributes to the creation of urban vitality and sustainability, and the effect of the correlation between mixed-functionality and accessibility is more pronounced when mixed units involve utility land. The research results provide a reference for evaluating the current sustainable challenges of spatial patterns and offer specific tools for optimizing new urban districts.

The evolutionary characteristics and driving factors of Chinese coastal defense settlements—a case study of Dacheng Suo Citadel

ABSTRACT Wei-suo citadels originated during the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644 AD) played a pivotal role in China’s marine military defense system, forming a distinctive component of global maritime military facilities. During the decline of the Ming Dynasty, many Wei-suo citadels transitioned from military fortifications to residential settlements. Today, they represent unique examples of ancient military urban planning and residential environment construction. The Dacheng Suo Citadel has a substantial scale and remarkable authenticity and integrity in terms of preservation. Focusing on it, this study employs systematic diachronic analysis through literature research of local gazetteers and ancient maps, field surveys, and interviews with inhabitants. The development trajectory of Dacheng Suo Citadel encompasses periods of growth, decline, and regeneration. As it transitioned from a military fortress to a settlement, its spatial form exhibited characteristics of central diversification., functional complexity, texture intensification, and boundary blurring. This research offers a scientifically grounded understanding of maritime defense settlements throughout the lifespan of Dacheng Suo Citadel. It provides reliable references for the conservation, tourism development, and daily management of these heritages by uncovering the historical evolution trajectory of its settlement spatial form, identifying complex driving forces, and revealing local historical memory and cultural characteristics.

Evaluation of the CFD simulation method for wind prediction in complex urban spatial forms

Evaluation of the CFD simulation method for wind prediction in complex urban spatial forms

Comparative Analysis of Form and Compass Schools in Feng Shui Architecture

This study examines the relationship between different approaches to Feng Shui architecture, beginning with the origin of Feng Shui architecture in the Zhou and Qin Dynasties and the influence of Confucianism and Daoism. We then compare the Form and Compass Schools of Feng Shui architecture, providing insights into the design principles and spatial form analysis of traditional courtyard houses in Chaoshan and Beijing, China. This study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive understanding of Confucianist and Daoist principles in architectural practices and identifies their design criteria, safety factors, and sustainability aspects. DepthmapX software was used to analyze spaces of social interactions in Beijing courtyard houses, revealing the dynamics of social interactions within the architectural layout. The Compass School, which incorporates bāguà and bāzì, gained prominence in the early Republic of China due to its incorporation of bāzì and more systematic analyses. Both the Chaoshan and Beijing courtyard houses follow Confucianist principles but differ in their execution approaches. The Chaoshan house design aims for a single balanced environment, whereas Beijing houses use multiple layers of balance and incorporate secondary walls and entrances to combat harsh winter climates. The Compass School's use of Yin and Yang, along with the Five Elements, employs energetically aligned spaces that promote well-being and harmony, a concept less emphasized in the Form School.

Landscapes of state capitalism: Reconciling the vernacular, national development imaginaries, and green capital accumulation

This article theorizes ‘state capitalist landscapes’ as a unique spatial form shaped by state‐owned developers that reconcile economic goals with national development imperatives and symbolic national imaginaries. State capitalist landscapes, I argue, integrate economically productive spaces with natural spaces to symbolize imaginaries of the nation. Through an inductive case study methodology, this article surveys three industrial zones developed and/or under development by state owned developers: Singapore's Jurong, China's Xiong’an New Area, and Thailand's Wangchan Valley. In each of these cases, natural landscapes are integrated into new economic zones in order to construct specific symbolic and/or political imaginaries of the nation: Singapore's ‘garden city’, China's ‘ecological civilization’, and in Thailand the ‘sufficiency economy’. By bringing together work on ‘infrastructural landscapes’ and ‘state capitalism’ this paper provides a concrete material perspective to contemporary discussions of state capitalism, while also bringing more grounded, political and institutional perspectives to landscape infrastructure studies, which has tended to set aside discussions of institutional forms or national political dynamics in a focus on form and materiality of infrastructure landscapes worldwide.

Morphology of the Manangamesi area, East Sumba

The architecture and spatial form of the Old City of Waingapu are the result of the development of Manangamesi Harbor, which occurs between the city space and the environmental elements behind it so that an overview of its problems can be obtained to date. This research aims to provide suggestions for factors that can be integrated from the Manangamesi area using qualitative descriptive methodology. The analysis used is Urban network analysis by approaching the location or object being studied. The research results indicate that the Manangamesi area originated from the estuary's geographical location as a fishing anchorage and the barter trade between inland tribes and coastal residents in the pre-Swampaja era. During the Swapraja era, this trade became the foundation for the Manangamesi area's development. During the colonial era, the Manangamesi area began to flourish. Current population, economic, and ecological growth are causing a decline in regional quality in the Manangamesi area. Examining regional ecology, architecture, and design, this study addresses the shortcomings of earlier research on the Manangamesi region and is superior to other interdisciplinary sciences that concentrate on science, environmental studies, and more economic research. Recommendations for additional multidisciplinary research in the fields of architecture, urban planning, ecology, economics, tourism, and politics are necessary for the development of the Manangamesi area.

Spatio-Temporal Evolution, Internal Diversity, and Driving Factors of Economy of Guanzhong Plain Urban Agglomeration in Northwestern China Based on Nighttime Light Data

Urban agglomeration (UA) is a highly developed spatial form of urban complex, which is one of the important carriers of regional economic cooperation, international industrial division of labor, and flow of capital and information elements. In China, urban agglomerations (UAs) have become the spatial subject of the national new-type urbanization strategy since the early 21st century and have made irreplaceable contributions to China’s urbanization and economic development. The Guanzhong Plain urban agglomeration (GPUA) is an important economic growth pole in northwest China and a key node in China’s open-door pattern. Exploring the spatial and temporal characteristics and driving factors of its economic development will be an important revelation for the promotion of high-quality economic development of the GPUA. This paper characterizes the level of economic development of GPUA with a long series of nighttime light data between 2002 and 2022. The standard deviation ellipse, spatial autocorrelation analysis, the economic difference index, and grey correlation analysis are used to analyze the characteristics of spatio-temporal evolution, internal diversity, and driving factors of economic development of the GPUA. The results show that the economic development level of the GPUA continued to increase from 2002 to 2022. The spatial distribution of the GPUA economy is “northeast-southwest” axial distribution, and the center of gravity of economic development gradually moves westward. The differences in the level of economic development within the GPUA show a typical core–periphery structure, but the degree of difference tends to weaken over time. The internal expansion force and economic promotion force were the dominant factors for the economic development of the GPUA in the early years. However, with the passage of time, scientific and technological support and government support have gradually become the main influencing factors for the economic development of the GPUA nowadays.