Making Rural Micro-Regeneration Strategies Based on Resident Perceptions and Preferences for Traditional Village Conservation and Development: The Case of Huangshan Village, China

Abstract

Micro-regeneration is a gradual renewal strategy that uses small-scale interventions to improve the quality of the living environment and local community, as well as spur industrial development. It is the small-scale interventions that have continued to make micro-regeneration a viable economic rural renewal approach for traditional village conservation and development. As such, in this work we explore potential micro-regeneration strategies and promotions based on assessments of public perception and preferences in an “unlisted” traditional village in China (i.e., an area with limited investment for conservation compared to “listed”, renowned traditional villages). We aim to identify the most perceptible modes of village transformation and industrial development for rural micro-regeneration strategies in the Huangshan traditional village of China. We also tested how the social character of respondents significantly affected their preferences in this regard. The public participatory mapping results illustrated a spatially clustered pattern made up of small spaces and individual buildings demanding micro-regeneration interventions. The survey based on 150 residents living around these sites disclosed that a unified repair approach subsidized by government and traffic condition improvements are the most recognized modes of village transformation, and the tourism is the most perceived and preferred method for industrial development. Significant differences between public perceptions and preferences of both village transformation and industrial development were identified corresponding to gender and income demographics, while village transformation perceptions change is dependent on age. Therefore, our study demonstrates evidence-based recommendations for active and effective rural micro-regeneration practices.

Urban Acupuncture as a Strategy to Enhance Social Interaction: Insights from Enhancing the Infrastructure of the Transportation Network at the Historic Center of Baghdad, Iraq

“…(Tousi et al, 2022) Focuses on urban acupuncture in Greek ex-refugee areas, highlighting its impact on urban morphology and microclimate. (Xi et al, 2021) Examines micro-regeneration strategies for rural renewal, emphasizing resident perceptions in traditional village conservation. (Ding et al, 2021) Delves into urban acupuncture for transforming old communities in historical districts, preserving heritage while improving public spaces.…”

Analysis of Outdoor Activity Space-Use Preferences in Rural Communities: An Example from Puxiu and Yuanyi Village in Shanghai

“…In order to avoid homogenized environmental design, when planning and designing outdoor activity spaces in villages, in addition to the urban-rural differences, the influence of villagers' personal attributes on spatial preferences should also be taken into account. Meanwhile, through the joint participation of designers and villagers, a better combination of "top-down" and "bottom-up" might be achieved [36].…”

“…According to the survey, pre-retirement occupational attributes could affect the spatial preferences such as landscape styles, site noise, activity purposes, and activity status. It indicated that a person's previous occupation could affect their sense of aesthetics-those who have worked in an urban area were more likely to prefer urban-style landscapes and activities [36,41,42]. At the same time, villagers who were mental labors tended to prefer complex activity content, while those engaged in agricultural activities liked simpler activities more.…”

Research on rural tourism environment perception based on grounded theory A case study of Beishan Village, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China

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