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Abstract Vernacular settlement is a sum of settlements that keep traditional landscapes in the process of urbanization, and its coverage coincides with that of urban community and rural settlement to some extent It is a phenomenon of social development against the background of rapid urbanization. As a national famous historic and cultural city, Tianshui City should have had excellent traditional cultural genes as the driving force for its development, however only fragments of some historic blocks have been left in the recent urbanization. This paper, on the basis of investigating the old urban district of Tianshui Gty, analyzing the historical phenomenon, summarized the root causes for the status quo of vernacular dwellings in the city, so as to raise the concerns on humanistic thought, and provide proper guidance for the sustainable development of vernacular settlement
Keywords Vernacular settlement, Historical evolution, Tianshui Gty
DOI 10.16785/j.issn1943-989x.2016.2.014
In the face of rapid urbanization in China and upsurge of traditional cultures, the authors again focused on old urban district of Tianshui City. Since the previous researches centered on historic buildings, folk dwellings in the old urban district, and also the relationship between architecture and culture, this paper attempted to explore the means of maintaining the endangering old images of the city, and presenting the traditional images to both local residents and visitors so that the former can enjoy their life and the latter experience history and culture of the dty.
1 Connotations of vernacular dwelling
Vernacular dwelling is not a popular academic term, because it is only a derived concept on the basis of rapid urbanization. First, Yang Y1 proposed "vernacular settlement" in Tourism Resource Research in the Renovation of Vernacular Settlements in Yunnan in 2001[1], as "rural settlement with traditional folk dwellings, i.e. traditional rural settlement". Second, Professor Chang Qing at Tongji University gave a clear definition of vernacular settlement in the project of National Natural Sdence Foundation of China-Protection of Chinese Vernacular Settlements and Adaptation Mode for Its Regeneration, "Vernacular settlement refers to the old urban district or historic villages or towns in suburbs formed in a spedfic historic environment and dominated by regional identifiable cultures and technological systems. Its concept is superior to that of pure rural settlement or urban settlement. In terms of...