Dwelling Is a Key Idea in Traditional Residential Architecture’s Sustainability: A Case Study at Yangwan Village in Suzhou, China

Abstract

Previous studies have failed to grasp the essence of traditional building habits responding to natural challenges. Therefore, contradictions arise between unified regulations protecting traditional residential architecture proposed by experts and the diverse construction transformation performed by locals. To resolve these contradictions, fieldwork was conducted in Yangwan, a famous village in South China. The traditional residential architectural characteristics in three periods were obtained and compared. Peirce’s interpretation of the three natures of habit and Heidegger’s dwelling help determine the essence of building habits. The logic in traditional residential architecture is analysed through the “four-layer integrated into one” framework (including the natural environment, livelihood form, institution and ideology), yielding the following results. (1) The characteristics of the residential architectural form change with local livelihood form, institution and ideology. Nevertheless, the process by which local residents think, judge and respond to natural challenges remains unchanged (Thirdness of Habit), forming the core of dwelling. (2) The characteristics of the architectural form are determined by the causal chain of “four-layer integrated into one”. Stable causal chains are formed by the Thirdness of Habit, which represents people’s initiative in addressing natural challenges. Therefore, the protection of traditional residential architecture should centre on dwelling and people’s agency in response to the natural environment rather than on maintaining a unified physical form.

Exploring the Path of Village Protection and Renewal Strategy Based on the Maximum Information Entropy Model in the Context of Rural Revitalisation

“…Ancient village culture is an important part of Chinese traditional culture, which carries rich historical, cultural, and artistic information and is a valuable heritage of the Chinese nation. The cultural heritage of ancient villages has an important role and significance for rural revitalization [3]. Strengthening the cultural heritage can activate the artistic potential of the countryside, promote the economic development of the countryside, enhance the image of the countryside, inherit the historical lineage, enhance cultural identity, and comprehensively promote rural revitalization [4].…”