Spatial Morphology and Geographic Adaptability of Traditional Villages in the Hehuang Region, China

Understanding the spatial morphology and geographic adaptability of traditional settlements is crucial for their preservation and management. Accordingly, this study employs Hehuang region, China, as a case study, adopting an integrated approach that combines morphological type analysis and boundary...

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Main Authors: Xinhong Zhang, Haiqin Yang, Yuyuan An
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Buildings
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/244
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author Xinhong Zhang
Haiqin Yang
Yuyuan An
author_facet Xinhong Zhang
Haiqin Yang
Yuyuan An
author_sort Xinhong Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Understanding the spatial morphology and geographic adaptability of traditional settlements is crucial for their preservation and management. Accordingly, this study employs Hehuang region, China, as a case study, adopting an integrated approach that combines morphological type analysis and boundary shape index. This comprehensive methodology systematically investigates the spatial morphological features and reveals the geographic adaptability of the two types of traditional villages, which are river valley and mountain types. Specifically, the results demonstrate that: (1) The boundary morphology of river valley-type traditional villages is primarily composite, with a regular and compact overall tendency, creating a spatial pattern consisting of mountains and water bodies surrounding farmland and villages, which conveniently supports agricultural production. Their streets and alleys are mainly fishbone-shaped, dendritic, and grid-shaped. (2) Mountain-type traditional villages also exhibit composite boundary morphology but with lower compactness, higher fragmentation, and more pronounced belt-shape characteristics. Their spatial pattern facilitates agriculture and animal husbandry, with streets and alleys being predominantly grid-shaped, S-shaped, and Z-shaped. (3) The spatial morphology of both types of villages is well-adapted to local terrain and climate conditions, as well as to the resident’s requirements for water use and disaster prevention, which reflects the wisdom of the Hehuang region’s ancestors regarding settlement construction. This study contributes to comprehending the spatial characteristics and geographic adaptability of traditional villages in a multicultural area and provides a significant reference for advancing analogous traditional settlement protections and rural revitalization initiatives.
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spelling doaj-art-b5fa706e84a54d20856f5f51df6130f52025-01-24T13:26:19ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-01-0115224410.3390/buildings15020244Spatial Morphology and Geographic Adaptability of Traditional Villages in the Hehuang Region, ChinaXinhong Zhang0Haiqin Yang1Yuyuan An2School of Architecture & Art Design, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, ChinaSchool of Architectural Engineering, Dingxi Vocational and Technical College, Dingxi 730500, ChinaSchool of Architecture & Art Design, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, ChinaUnderstanding the spatial morphology and geographic adaptability of traditional settlements is crucial for their preservation and management. Accordingly, this study employs Hehuang region, China, as a case study, adopting an integrated approach that combines morphological type analysis and boundary shape index. This comprehensive methodology systematically investigates the spatial morphological features and reveals the geographic adaptability of the two types of traditional villages, which are river valley and mountain types. Specifically, the results demonstrate that: (1) The boundary morphology of river valley-type traditional villages is primarily composite, with a regular and compact overall tendency, creating a spatial pattern consisting of mountains and water bodies surrounding farmland and villages, which conveniently supports agricultural production. Their streets and alleys are mainly fishbone-shaped, dendritic, and grid-shaped. (2) Mountain-type traditional villages also exhibit composite boundary morphology but with lower compactness, higher fragmentation, and more pronounced belt-shape characteristics. Their spatial pattern facilitates agriculture and animal husbandry, with streets and alleys being predominantly grid-shaped, S-shaped, and Z-shaped. (3) The spatial morphology of both types of villages is well-adapted to local terrain and climate conditions, as well as to the resident’s requirements for water use and disaster prevention, which reflects the wisdom of the Hehuang region’s ancestors regarding settlement construction. This study contributes to comprehending the spatial characteristics and geographic adaptability of traditional villages in a multicultural area and provides a significant reference for advancing analogous traditional settlement protections and rural revitalization initiatives.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/244traditional villagespatial morphologygeographic adaptabilityconstruction wisdomHehuang region
spellingShingle Xinhong Zhang
Haiqin Yang
Yuyuan An
Spatial Morphology and Geographic Adaptability of Traditional Villages in the Hehuang Region, China
Buildings
traditional village
spatial morphology
geographic adaptability
construction wisdom
Hehuang region
title Spatial Morphology and Geographic Adaptability of Traditional Villages in the Hehuang Region, China
title_full Spatial Morphology and Geographic Adaptability of Traditional Villages in the Hehuang Region, China
title_fullStr Spatial Morphology and Geographic Adaptability of Traditional Villages in the Hehuang Region, China
title_full_unstemmed Spatial Morphology and Geographic Adaptability of Traditional Villages in the Hehuang Region, China
title_short Spatial Morphology and Geographic Adaptability of Traditional Villages in the Hehuang Region, China
title_sort spatial morphology and geographic adaptability of traditional villages in the hehuang region china
topic traditional village
spatial morphology
geographic adaptability
construction wisdom
Hehuang region
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/244
work_keys_str_mv AT xinhongzhang spatialmorphologyandgeographicadaptabilityoftraditionalvillagesinthehehuangregionchina
AT haiqinyang spatialmorphologyandgeographicadaptabilityoftraditionalvillagesinthehehuangregionchina
AT yuyuanan spatialmorphologyandgeographicadaptabilityoftraditionalvillagesinthehehuangregionchina