Reconsidering the morphological understanding of traditional Chinese cities: a study of the early spatial modernization of Suzhou, 1880–1949
By: Fu, S
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Contributor(s): Wang, J.
Publisher: U K ISUF 2022Edition: Vol.26(1), Apr.Description: 24-43p.Subject(s): URBAN PLANNING AND DESIGN (AR-UPD)Online resources: Click here
In:
Urban morphologySummary: Based on the mapping of nine historical maps of the ancient capital of Suzhou from 1880 to 1949, this paper examines the early spatial modernization of Suzhou in the late-Qing and Republican eras. The mapping is interpreted as four periods to provide a coherent narrative for the spatial transformation of Suzhou, following a discussion of its historico-geographical features and morphological influences that define the course of the city’s modernity by extracting three key components: the modern road network, public building utilizations of significant modernity, and the growth and fringe of built-up areas. To do so the paper draws upon current debates on the feasibility of urban morphological study of Chinese cities in early-modern times, particularly the idea that applications of typical urban morphological approaches are more limited than those of comparable studies in Europe, to provide a new approach to observe the morphological features and spatial cognition of Chinese traditional cities.
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School of Architecture Archieval Section | Not for loan | 2022-1460 |
Based on the mapping of nine historical maps of the ancient capital of Suzhou from 1880 to 1949, this paper examines the early spatial modernization of Suzhou in the late-Qing and Republican eras. The mapping is interpreted as four periods to provide a coherent narrative for the spatial transformation of Suzhou, following a discussion of its historico-geographical features and morphological influences that define the course of the city’s modernity by extracting three key components: the modern road network, public building utilizations of significant modernity, and the growth and fringe of built-up areas. To do so the paper draws upon current debates on the feasibility of urban morphological study of Chinese cities in early-modern times, particularly the idea that applications of typical urban morphological approaches are more limited than those of comparable studies in Europe, to provide a new approach to observe the morphological features and spatial cognition of Chinese traditional cities.
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