Socio-Environmental Responsive Strategy and Sustainable Development of Traditional Tianshui Dwellings

Abstract

The comprehensive and coordinated sustainable development of residential dwellings requires a response to the multidimensional environment. In this study, typical traditional Tianshui dwellings are selected as research objects, through the methods of field investigation, in-depth conversations, and on-site monitoring, in order to investigate the potential of traditional Tianshui dwellings reacting to natural conditions as well as social environment. The performance of traditional dwellings in the process of regional adaptation expounded and discussed based on seven elements under the conditions of two dimensions: (1) an objective regional response to the natural environment, namely, site selection, courtyard layout, orientation, structure, and envelop enclosure; and (2) a subjective regional response to social environment, namely, spatial order, construction technology, and decorative arts. The results show that traditional Tianshui dwellings are well adapted to local natural conditions and the social background, and that they meet both the physical and psychological needs of residents. In conclusion, this paper summarizes the features of the sustainable development of traditional dwellings learning from the principles obtained from the process of socio-environment responsive strategy analysis. These valuable experiences and design principles can provide references and guidelines for the long-term development of modern architecture not to only reduce energy consumption, but also to increase local social influence.