Inlämning av Examensarbete / Submission of Thesis

Linnea Hagenbjörk , pp. 77. DSN/School of Planning and Media Design, 2011.

The work

Författare / Author: Linnea Hagenbjörk
Titel / Title: An analyse of Chinese Urban Public Space, Beijing as an Example
Översatt titel / Translated title: En analys av det kinesiska offentliga stadsrummet, Beijing som exempel
Abstrakt Abstract:

Urban public space is one of the main components in urban planning because it emphasizes the interaction between people and the city itself. Public space often refers to a place that is open and accessible to all citizens but the idea of public space has changed during time and different cultures.

This thesis is an analyse of urban public space in a large scale city, Beijing. The historic capital of China is right now in an intensive development phase where the urban public space is transforming. Although Beijing is more and more influenced by Western urban planning, the city still retains the traditions
and symbols of ancient imperial times mixed with communist planning ideals.

The analyse focused on three different categories: Form, Activities and Image/Symbols and were done through a field study of four different public spaces. These observations were also combined with literature studies and interviews with Chinese planners. The main questions were:
• What perceptions does planners in Beijing hold of the idea of public space?
• How is the urban public space in Beijing organized and shaped?
• What kinds of activities do the residents of Beijing pursue in the use of urban public space?
• How is symbolism used in Chinese planning of the urban public space, and what role does it have?

It was found that Beijing has a top-down urban planning system which seems to carry on short-term goals where citizen participation is absent. Because of the rapid development, the relation to the urban context and the design quality is often poor. Chinese public space are generally of large scale, many of them expressing the power of the regime.

Another conclusion was that the shape of the space is very different from Europe. Chinese public space can generally be divided into two different categories; spaces of spatiality -rooms within rooms or monumental spaces of symmetry. There is an
obvious connection between outdoor quality and outdoor activities. A hypothetical conclusion is that well-defined human scale spaces results in spaces of vitality that encourages people to take part in social activities.

It was also found that symbolism is an important part of Chinese culture and urban community. Feng shui is important in the way of avoiding bad elements. Colours, orientation, hierarchy and shape are important factors to consider when planning Chinese urban public spaces.

Populärvetenskaplig beskrivning / Popular science summary: Detta examensarbete är en analys av det offentliga rummet i Kina, med Beijing som exempel.

Analysen fokuserar på tre olika kategorier; form, aktiviteter och symbolism och har gjorts genom en fältstudie i Beijing. Fyra olika urbana offentliga rum har studerats och observationerna har kombinerats med litteraturstudier och intervjuer med kinesiska planerare. Följande frågor diskuteras i examensarbetet:
• Vad har planerare i Beijing för uppfattning om det offentliga rummet?
• Hur är det urbana offentliga rummet i Beijing organiserat och utformat?
• Vilka typer av aktiviteter utförs i det urbana offentliga rummet i Beijing?
• Hur används symbolism inom kinesisk planering av det offentliga rummet, och vilken roll har den?
Ämnesord / Subject: Fysisk planering - Spatial Planning\Urban Design
Fysisk planering - Spatial Planning\Social Planning
Fysisk planering - Spatial Planning\Recreation
Nyckelord / Keywords: China, Urban planning, Urban public space, Public space, Beijing, Space, Activities, Symbolism, Form, Fysisk planering, Kina, Offentliga rum, Aktiviteter, Symbolism, MFS

Publication info

Dokument id / Document id: houn-8j3cfw
Program:/ Programme Fysisk Planering/Spatial Planning
Registreringsdatum / Date of registration: 06/22/2011


Handledare / Supervisor: Thomas Hellquist, Rolf Möller
Examinator / Examiner: Mårten Dunér
Organisation / Organisation: Blekinge Institute of Technology
Sektion / School: DSN/School of Planning and Media Design

+46 455 38 50 00
I samarbete med / In co-operation with: Prof. Han Linfei, Jiaotong University

Files & Access

Bifogad uppsats fil(er) / Files attached: bth2011hagenbjork.pdf (16732 kB, öppnas i nytt fönster)