Research On The Evolution Process And Mechanism Of Street Interface In Hankow Since Port Opening Period

Hankow is a vital part of the three towns in Wuhan.The urban construction of Hankow began to enter the track of high-speed development since the opening of the port,and the urban form has undergone a sea change.The abundant historical and cultural accumulation facilitates the multiple urban texture and the form of street interface in Hankow.However,with the rapid development of urbanization in recent years,problems such as the destruction of historic conservation area and the loss of regional characteristics have emerged in cities.Street,as a significant public space in the city,the quality of which also declines.Street interface is neglected as well in the development of cities and the protection of historical culture.This paper,based on the collection of the historical maps,focuses on the historical evolution of the form of street interface after the opening of Hankow,applies “Interface density” and “Near-line ratio” to measure the form of street interface in Hankow,combines data visualization methods and historical photos to sum up,to tease out the evolution rule on the form of Hankow street interface and the mechanism behind it.Through the analysis,the historical evolution on the form of street interface in Hankow can be generally divided into five historical periods: the late Qing dynasty,urban construction development period during the Republic of China,the War period,the planned economy period,and the Market Economy period.Its evolvement rule can be summarized as: random and straight opposition-integration and expansion-stagnation and decline-collage-collage enhancement.The process of evolution is influenced by regime change,cultural integration,technological development,planning control and other factors.It is obvious that in the late Qing dynasty,the form of street interface in Hankow was relatively flat in foreign concessions,and concave-convex in Chinese residential areas.During the period of the republic of China,with the integration of China and western countries,the development of modern real estate and the transformation of the ideology of the ruling class,a large number of row houses represented by Lifen made the neat street interface strengthened.During the period from the Japanese occupation of Wuhan to the liberation,the city and street construction were in stagnation and decline under the influence of the war.After the foundation of the People’s Republic of China,owning to the impelling of the socialist transformation,the construction mode as wide road and big block booming,the street interface becoming few and scattered,Collaging with the previous street interface,which presented a diversified form.In the period of market economy,with the intervention of capital and the intensification of urbanization process,the traditional concavo-convex street interface is dispelling and the collage state of street interface is strengthened.Through exploring on the evolution mechanism of the form of Hankow street interface,it is revealed that the site and enviroment are the foundation to construct the street space;social life facilitates the shape of the street interface;planning and management are the direct factors to control the form of street interface;cultural tradition and its aesthetics and architectural views are the factors in deep.This paper shows the development of street interface in Hankow since the opening of the port,sorts out the morphological characteristics of street interface in various periods and regions in Hankow,and explores the mechanism which influences the form of street interface.The research results can provide reference for the creation of streets and the Conservation of historical and cultural blocks under the background of urban renewal.