- To Alleviate Spatial and Social Divisions by Modifying Grids: City Planning and Social Orders in Ancient Multi-ethnical Chinese Cities   click here to open paper content705 kb
by    Yibo, Xu | xybvsxyb@hotmail.com   click here to send an email to the auther(s) of this paper
Short Outline
This paper is part of research into the relationship between grid and
social orders. It aims to argue that the modification of grids may
alleviate social divisions between migrants and locals by increasing
accessibility and centrality. Cases are based on ancient migratory cities
in China.
Abstract
This paper is part of research into the relationship between grid and
social orders. It aims to argue that the modification of grids may
alleviate social divisions between migrants and locals by spatial models
that increase the accessibility and centrality.
The economical and political ends push families and clans move from their
hometown to other territories. The grid, as a spatial for governors to
sustain social orders, played a vital role in remedy the ethic conflicts:
the first migratory settlements usually arise physical/social boundaries to
calm down possible conflicts among ethic communities, as official or
spontaneous regulations. In case new migrants[simplequote] grids are
planned with new focuses containing high accessibility and fluidity with
the old, diverse communities may benefit mutually and coexist in harmony
under proper social regulations. These spatial intervention included macro
and micro actions based on the revisions on physical boundaries, say focus,
orientation, internal borders and external borders.
The study is based on cases from ancient migratory cities in Chinese
history. The motive is not as antiquarians or amateur historians but as a
planner to borrow the past spatial experiences upon contemporary frontier
problems. As well, conflicts between migrants and locals have essential
problems that do not vary upon time and cultures. The historical studies
from sino-background are not pointless in helping present problems.
The theoretical framework borrows Henri Lefebvre[simplequote]s idea of
Centrality. The physical accessibility to the centre
provided by good spatial design is a key to improve citizenship as well the
conflicts between diverse ethic communities. The notion to emphasize grid
as the spatial tool is from Prof Luigi Mazza[simplequote]s lectures on
spatial planning and citizenship.
This paper gives the suggestions that the spatial models that increase
accessibility and centrality among ethic communities may remedy the shocks
in contemporary global migrant era. Of course, this tool does not work
without proper social, economical and political regulations.
This study concludes with a contemporary case about Chinatown in Milan. The
spatial intervention in favour of accessibility and centrality has made Via
Paolo Sarpi one of tourist pedestrian areas. The social mixture of Italian
and Chinese communities happens not only in business but also on cultures
such as language, fashions, arts and of course food. In
Lefebvre[simplequote]s word, as an for both ethics.
Keywords
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