| This thesis studies the transformation of the urban texture of Chinese cities and the issue of conserving historical centers conservation in an attempt to demonstrate that the urban texture of Chinese cities has its own characteristics in terms of formation and transformation, and that due consideration should be given to these characteristics if effective conservation of the historical centers is aimed at.;This study allows us to propose a new perspective on the issue of conserving China's historical areas based on the recognition of its urban texture, which will be useful and necessary for improving China's conservation system meant for historical districts. In addition, this thesis is one of the rare studies on urban morphology of the Chinese cities that apply the theories and principles of the Italian and French schools, another contribution that the present thesis strongly hopes to make.;Key words: transformation of urban texture, protection, historical area, historical district, urban morphology of Chinese cities, Old-Shanghai, China.;To this end, this thesis examines the case of the Old-Shanghai. As a result of some meticulous research on the formation and the transformation of the urban texture of the Old-Shanghai during the three periods (the period before 1842, the modern period (1842-1949) and the contemporary period (since 1949)) and the conservation measures applied to the historical district, we have noticed that the urban texture of Chinese cities has its own characteristics. The transformation in the modern period showed its own logic concerning the change and the continuity of the identity of the built area, which ensures the cultural heritage value of this historical center, whereas, in the contemporary period, the conservation measures currently in force are very ineffective due to the neglect of the logic of urban texture and this district is experiencing an identify crisis. Therefore, to conserve the traditional identity of the urban texture, it is proposed that the proper logic of the urban texture should be taken into consideration when devising conservation measures intended for an effective control of urban texture changes. |
