A Study of the Spatial Distribution of Danwei Compounds in the Old Town of Hefei, China

Abstract

Danwei compounds have experienced a steady decline since the 1997 Urban Housing System Reform. Existing research suggests that Danwei compounds, which were characteristically walled neighbourhoods of work and residence, have experienced socio-spatial changes in social structure, community management and spatial form. However, there is limited understanding of its current spatial function and relation to the city. This study analysed the spatial distribution of Danwei compounds, their spatial features and accessibility to selected public facilities in comparison with non-Danwei residential sites in the old town of Hefei city. ArcGIS was used to analyse building density, plot ratio of the residential sites and their accessibility to public facilities. Further quantitative analysis was done using binary logistic regression and descriptive statistics to identify spatial features of the residential sites. The results show that even though the urban land reforms have led to a steady rise in non-Danwei residential sites, Danwei compounds predominate the urban spatial structure. Comparatively, Danwei compounds have lower plot ratios with higher levels of accessibility to commercial centres and hospitals but poor accessibility to schools. The paper suggests the need for local planning officials to support the revitalisation of old residential compounds through integrated and community-centred spatial planning.

Socio-Spatial Changes in Danwei Neighbourhoods: A Case Study of the AMS Danwei Compound in Hefei, China

“…From the perspective of urban planning-and in the context of China's current urban transformation and rapid urban renewal planning of old city cores-effective locally oriented planning and spatial development warrants analysis of the socio-spatial changes that have emerged due to the reforms have shown their imperativeness and necessity. This study is therefore, an extension of earlier studies on Hefei city and Danwei compounds by the authors [15,16].…”

“…Table 1 provides details about some of the common socio-spatial elements analysed in existing literature that frames the urban neighbourhood as a socio-spatial unit of human habitation often in processes of change. Drawing on the literature in Table 1, and in agreement with growing body of work on the socio-spatial aspects of old Chinese cities, we derive a framework (Figure 1) that posits that changes in urban neighbourhoods result from major policy or regulatory interventions at the national level in China [15,18], specifically the Urban Housing Reform and the Reform and Opening Up. Following the existing literature, spatial changes are considered from the physical and morphology aspect of the built environment such as building condition, street and public space accessibility and housing facility.…”

The Analysis of the Spatial Production Mechanism and the Coupling Coordination Degree of the Danwei Compound Based on the Spatial Ternary Dialectics

“…In the process of the danwei compound spatial practice in this period, the management structure of danwei-family committee-residents based on the society of acquaintances was not only limited by the rules and regulations of danwei management but also relied more on the close interpersonal relationship network and similar values formed in long-term accompanied work and daily life experience [44]. During the investigation, Uncle Zhang, a former employee of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, recounted such personal experiences.…”

Liveability Dimensions in New Town Developments: An Overview of Senri New Town and Purbachal New Town

“…However, most Asian mega-cities have sought to monitor growth and to promote wellordered trends through the application of urban planning principles originating in western countries (Yokohari et al, 2008). Among the pioneer countries in Asia, Japan and China attempted to control the growth by introducing new towns within the vicinity of large metropolises (Marcotullio, 2001;Shaw, 2004;Ye et al, 2021). Singapore and Hong Kong followed similar developments by decentralizing spatial population distribution from dense core to new satellite towns (Percival and Waley, 2012).…”