A Comparative Study On Historical Environmental Character Of Guangzhou Hong Kong And Macao

Three high density cities----Guangzhou Hong Kong and Macao in Pearl River Delta were selected due to their unique locations which were the starting points of the cultural communication between modern China and western countries. Besides these cities are among the earliest cities which involved in the urbanization process. Therefore characteristics of history blended with modernity at the same time in these cities. That s the reason why these three cities fully reflect the multi-cultural conflicts and demonstrate the loss process of historical and cultural characteristic during the rapid modernization progress in China.Historical districts are the ideal places for the observation and exploration on the issue of city characteristic. The thesis selected three typical urban historical districts in Guangzhou Hong Kong and Macao as study objects and taking environment character in GENIUS LOCI theory as a breaking point in interpreting cities. The three cities are similar in eastern geographical culture contexts and high-density commercial characteristics. However the three cities are different in ways of communicating with western civilizations. They have never followed a similar path in history. Although they share similar city characteristics in harmony they are different on the basis. The comparative study of the thesis try to precisely figure out the historical urban environment characters of these three cities while discussing the generality of the cultural continuity in modern urbanization.The thesis consists a comparative study framework starting from four different aspects: historical images urban architecture civil life and city management. From the view of historical images iconographical study in chronological order of these three cities were conducted to investigate the past footprints of historical characters. From the view of urban architecture the thesis recorded and analyzed the studying objects according to architectural methods in order to build up a framework of urban historical characteristic in Guangzhou Hong Kong and Macao. Through analyzing urban characteristics in typology experience and rules of constructing urban characteristic could be found. From the view of civil life the thesis used sociology research method as a reference to describe urban characteristic from the perspective of citizens. In questioning the historical urban characteristic of the three cities this part provided a critical thinking supplement to the previous part of urban architecture as well as the in-depth thinking of the meaning of GENIUS LOCI. From the view of city management through the study of relating regulations of urban characteristic preservation and management by documentary analysis how these documents affect the historical urban characteristic in the three cities are being compared to find out the dominant elements behind city management.On the basis of comparative studies of different historical urban environment in Guangzhou Hong Kong and Macao the thesis made a summary on the generality of the historical urban environment of the three cities. In the aspect of urban architecture the three cities shared the same high density construction and intensely usage which can be considered as the similarity characteristic. In the aspect of civil life humanized space and multi-meanings places are the platform for public life. In the aspect of values the spirit of pragmatism led to open-minded and flexible attitudes of the citizens. In the aspect of culture innovative while traditional taste brings a wild beauty to the cities. To make a brief summary the spiritual core of the three city is the human interest and orientation from nature.The thesis concluded four suggestions for future constructions of Guangzhou historical urban environment characters basing on comparative study learning the urbanization experience from Hong Kong and Macao. First of all renaissance-type conservation should be implemented on the basis of protectiontype conservation. Secondly the integrity of place should be constructed on the basis of the integrity of physical. Thirdly human relations space should be revived on the basis of humanized space. Finally oriental spirit should be preserved and developed while building up regional characteristics. After proposing the four above strategies for preserving historical character of Guangzhou this thesis aimed to bring a new golden age for Lingnan culture in the future conservation of historical district and regeneration of urban characteristic. Through the process an ideal way to inherit oriental culture in modern high density urban context may be found.