Heritage values of ancient vernacular residences in traditional villages in Western Hunan, China: Spatial patterns and influencing factors

Traditional residences are among the most important tangible cultural heritage. This paper evaluates and explores the quality of individual traditional residences and the heritage value of a complex of traditional residences in Western Hunan in China. The former indicates how well the external characteristics of the building are preserved, whilst the latter refers to the integration of use values, ecology principles and cultural features. Based on the survey of the selected 7 traditional villages, the authors have built a spatial database of these villages on the strength of GIS, RS and GPS techniques, and employed an architectural evaluation method to grade the exterior quality of individual traditional residences, followed by the construction of an evaluation indicator system and the use of entropy weight method to score the value of traditional residences, thereby systematically unveiling how indicators influence the value of traditional residences. The results reveal that well-preserved and prime-quality traditional residences are quite rare. Average-quality individual traditional residences outnumber other quality levels in all selected traditional villages. These villages differ in the value of their traditional residences, which is susceptible to both natural and cultural factors. Architectural elements play a dominant role, and the change in architectural form serves as an important criterion for determining whether the traditional residence in question has been transformed into a modern building. The value of traditional rural residences is mainly reflected in the authenticity of the architectural form and the building material, which are crucial to the intact pass-down of their unique architectural styles.

Automated summary

This paper evaluates and explores the quality and heritage value of traditional residences in Western Hunan, China, finding that well-preserved and prime-quality traditional residences are rare. The value of traditional rural residences varies among different villages, influenced by both natural and cultural factors. Architectural elements play a dominant role in determining the value of traditional residences, with authenticity of architectural form and building material being crucial to their unique architectural styles' intact inheritance.