A Comparative Study of Traditional Village Renewal Characteristics Driven by Different Entities from the Perspective of Place-Making

Abstract

The renewal of traditional villages should not only focus on the protection of cultural heritage but also comprehensively consider the development of social, economic, and environmental aspects. The concept of place-making offers an effective strategy to address the issues faced by traditional villages today, such as the destruction of cultural heritage, socioeconomic decline, and population loss. At the core of place-making is the establishment of harmonious human–land relationships. This study aims to explore the influence of different entities on place-making during the process of traditional village renewal. This research focused on traditional villages in southeastern China. Based on literature reviews and field surveys, this study employed the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to develop evaluation criteria for traditional village renewal based on place-making. By selecting case studies of traditional village renewal driven by three entities, government, artists, and villagers, relevant data were collected through field surveys and expert assessments, followed by a comparative analysis of these villages using the place-making evaluation criteria. The results indicate significant differences in traditional village renewal due to varying entity-driven approaches, leading to diverse impacts on different facets of place-making. In conclusion, establishing a renewal model for traditional villages that involves diverse entities is crucial for achieving comprehensive place-making and ensuring the high-quality, integrated, and sustainable development of traditional villages.