What Is the Critical Factor and Relationship of Urban Regeneration in a Historic District?: A Case of the Nanluoguxiang Area in Beijing, China

Abstract

Although investigations and evaluations are being carried out, there is little research on the relationship between urban regeneration factors, in which various stakeholders participate, and various projects are underway simultaneously. Therefore, this study aims to understand the critical factors and influence relationship among factors in urban regeneration projects in the Nanluoguxiang area, where such projects have been carried out for the historical and cultural preservation in Beijing, China. The implications of this study are as follows: First, both factor public space environmental improvement and building restoration and improvement were analyzed as the most important factors. Second, the elements of the public space environmental improvement and the building restoration and improvement were closely related, influenced by policies and plans, guidelines and criteria, investigation and research, and the subsidy support project. Third, despite the fact that the project was promoted with the aim of revitalizing culture, it was analyzed that the influence of cultural elements on other factors was very minimal because of excessive commercialization.

Perception Difference and Conflicts of Stakeholders in the Urban Regeneration Project: A Case Study of Nanluoguxiang

“…In addition, since individual urban regeneration projects and interests are intricately intertwined over a long period [37], DEMATEL analysis is useful for analyzing complex relationships and identifying solutions to recognize complex stakeholder perceptions [48,49]. It is also appropriate for analyzing the impact relationship of various urban regeneration project factors [39], as DEMATEL is an analysis method that has been used in many fields such as supplier selection, remanufacturing management, human resource management, and risk management [50]. The great advantage of this analysis is that it is possible to analyze causality as well as the influence among variables [51,52].…”

“…In China, urban regeneration has been adopted and implemented as one of the new urban development approaches [38]. After the national reform and opening up in 1978, China's government was faced with improving the environment by enhancing old houses and infrastructure [39]. Since 2014, China's central government has actively used urban regeneration models to solve the limitations of large-scale urban redevelopment models, urban degradation and deterioration of vitality, lack of urban land efficiency, and reckless expansion of urban areas [37,[40][41][42].…”

“…Urban planning academia has begun to pay attention to research showing that public participation and stakeholder consensus in urban regeneration projects significantly impact project implementation in China [37]. In one study, local governments attempted collaborative governance, such as resident participation and opinion gathering in urban regeneration projects; nevertheless, stakeholders' perception of these factors' importance was low [39]. A study on urban regeneration in Guangzhou and Shenjing Village revealed that the collaborative workshop helps participants make their opinions and coordinates stakeholders' opinions [37].…”

“…Nanluoguxiang is regarded as the first successful urban regeneration project in a region designated as a Chinese historical and cultural reserve [39,57]. Nanluoguxiang is a representative example of urban regeneration using history and cultural assets, encompassing one side of Beijing's fortress.…”

“…The site was selected as one of the first 25 historical and cultural preservation areas in Beijing in 1993 because of its status as a cultural heritage area with 850 years of history [55]. The Nanluoguxiang area is China's largest checked-patterned traditional residential area, where the only Yuan Dynasty urban planning philosophy and "Palmyoyuan" style Hutong structures are completely preserved [39] (Figure 1). The main street is in the northsouth direction, the length is 787 m, and the average width is 6m from the northeastern Gulou East Street to the southernmost Di'anmen East Street.…”