A Study On The Evaluation Of Urban Blocks’ Spatial Form From The Perspective Of Social Ecology

Since the 1990 s,new town construction,and old-city renewal as the main methods of rapid urbanization has shaped different levels and regions of urban spatial forms,ranging from metropolises like Beijing,Tianjin,Shanghai,Wuhan,and Chengdu to small and medium-sized cities such as Taizhou.In this process of urbanization,urban block as the direct carrier and the basic unit of urban spatial form is confronted with rapid building,completely rebuilding or organic renewal.As a result,various spatial conflicts arise at the aspect of the urban block,like centralization and suburbanization,residential commercialization,pedestrianization and motorization,as well as the inversion of inner and outer space.These phenomena lead to the disintegration of the city of integrity and continuity,the fragmentation of urban spatial form.Besides,the social ecology of urban blocks would be influenced with various degrees as well.How to evaluate urban blocks’ spatial forming scientifically?This research conducts scientific evaluation of urban blocks’ spatial form from the perspective of social ecology,which mainly includes three theoretical dimensions,a social ecological evaluation system which embeds five evaluating indicators,and eight cases.The first chapter analyses the research background and questions,core concepts and related research in China and abroad,as well as the research methodology and framework.In the Chapter Two,the research confirms three theoretical dimensions with the relevant concept,perspective,and method.Specifically,this chapter distinguishes the orientations of commercial exploitation and social integration in concept,the viewpoints of consumer and resident in perspective,as well as the construction design and collage in the method.These three dimensions connect each other closely with different functions.The concept plays a basic and guiding role,while the perspective reflects the position and value orientation of the developers.As a result,different methods of planning practice would be selected based on these dimensions.As for the Chapter Three,the evaluation theoretical framework of blocks’ spatial form in the perspective of social ecology is constructed.The system contains five indexes from physical spatial property,functional orientation,spatial form,spatial behavior,to the spirit of the place,which separately shows the features of integrity,complexity,stability,diversity,and possibility.Additionally,twelve sub-indexes are included in five indexes.The aim is to construct a cumulative and interrelated comprehensive evaluation system from space to society.Then the research constructs a comprehensive evaluation system from space to society as well as block social ecological index SE-B and its mathematical model.Finally,confirming indexes’ weight value with Delphi method,the research conducts three social ecological standard and there threshold division,which are the “Height Level Social Ecology”(Type A),the “Middle Level Social Ecology”(Type B),and“Lower Level Social Ecology”(Type C).Chapter Four sets up a process-based system shaped with urban blocks’ spatial form,which consists of blocks orientation planning,planning design and implementation,and the final place spirit result.While as the empirical study of this research,being based on the above chapters,Chapter Five chooses eight representative Chinese urban block spatial practices to evaluate and assignment with SE-B,which concludes the social-ecological characteristics of three kinds of blocks’ spatial forms with different social ecological characteristics from the Chapter Three.At the same time,this chapter sums up these three types of block spatial forms by pointing out the general features of these three types of urban blocks.The “Height Level Social Ecology” blocks compromise historical culture to have favourable social ecology,the “Middle Level Social Ecology” blocks alienate historical culture and reconstruct social ecology,as well as the “Lower Level Social Ecology” blocks separate historical culture to be lacked social ecology.The last chapter contains the conclusion and future prospects of this research,which claims that the theoretical system and factor system of blocks’ spatial evaluation in the perspective of social ecology are feasible.While the premise is to reassess the basic theory of planning practice,which includes rethinking the development conceptions,perspectives and methods.Value Judgment and Technological Innovation related to social ecological evaluation should keep being deepened.Block regeneration as the part of city,would be the significant field of future urban planning practice.Social Ecology led by social mixing needs more attention and consideration at the process of block sustainable development.Finally,at the aspect of ’ block spatial’ noumenon,there is a need of conducting social ecological analysis,quantitative analysis and interdisciplinary research.According to the above construction of theories and case studies,the evaluating blocks’ spatial form with the perspective of social ecology is an important theory which has demands of reality and operability.In addition,successes and failures of past studies on block space have accumulated much valuable experience for deeper reflection and the strong foundation for follow-up good social-ecological spatial form.Furthermore,it is necessary to emphasize that the ultimate purpose of blocks’ spatial form with the perspective of social ecology is shaping the ’place spirit’ of block space.In other words,whether block space will become a place of memories and meanings with public recognition,and constantly create new meanings in the process of social evolution.As a result,in the light of shaping a principle of good social-ecological community,the negotiation of constructing a progressive blocks’ spatial form is adopted to achieve a real sense of sustainable and healthy way of constructing the urban block form like gradual renewal.