China City Planning Review (No.3, 2022)

♦Space Gene

Author: Duan Jin, Shao Runqing, Lan Wenlong, Liu Jinhua, Jiang Ying

Translated by Li Min / Proofread by Tang Yan

Abstract：Based on typo-morphological studies, this paper proposes the concept of “space gene” from the perspective of urban spatial development theory. Specifically, space gene refers to a unique and relatively stable pattern of spatial organization formed as a result of long-term interaction among the three dimensions: urban space, natural environment, and socio-culture. It conveys distinctive characteristics of different regions and contributes to a unique city identity and a harmonious relationship among the three dimensions. This paper points out that urban planning and design can be localized through the identification-analysis-guidance process of space genes, avoiding both the design scheme that does not respect culture and nature and the practice that a unified model is adopted to create same images in different cities, as well as prompting the directional turn of urban planning and design approaches from space form creation to space gene analysis. It provides an effective design path for a win-win result among

urban development, natural protection, and cultural inheritance. Furthermore, the paper discusses the prospect of the Space GenBank Project.

Keywords：space gene; spatial development theory; typo-morphology; sustainable development; spatial interaction; cultural inheritance; locality

Full text is available at: <http://www.ccprjournal.com.cn/news/10150.htm>

♦Influence of High-Density Urban Built Environments on Stroke in China: A Case Study of Wuhan

Author：Xie Bo, Zheng Yiling, Li Zhigang, An Zihao

Translated by Li Min / Proofread by Liang Sisi

Abstract：This paper explores the association between high-density urban built environments and stroke through the spatial regression model. An empirical study based on the disease data of Wuhan in 2015 shows that high-density urban built environments have a significant impact on stroke, and that the city center sees a high prevalence of stroke. Among urban built environment elements, net population density, residential land density, and building density are positively correlated with the risk of stroke, whereas the accessibility of community hospitals, parks, fast-food shops, and bus stops is negatively correlated with it. The mechanism analysis demonstrates that urban built environments have an important impact on stroke through such factors as the natural environment, physical activity, dietary habits, and social capital. Accordingly, the paper proposes that during the healthy city planning process in China, it is essential to reduce net population density and building density and relocate the older adults in city centers. In addition, measures should be taken to improve public service facilities at the block level and to control the risk of stroke in the high-density urban built environment.

Keywords：urban built environments; high density; stroke; healthy city planning; Wuhan

Full text is available at: <http://www.ccprjournal.com.cn/news/10151.htm>

♦How Built Environment Affects the Mental Health of Urban Older Adults: Contrasting Perspective Based on Observation and Perception

Author：Yue Yafei, Yang Dongfeng, Xu Dan

Translated by Liu Jinxin / Proofread by Mao Qizhi

Abstract：The basic attributes of urban built environment are important factors affecting mental state of older adults. Observation and perception are expressions of built environment from objective and subjective perspectives, and their comprehensive effects on older adults’ mental health have not yet been explored and verified. Combined with the ecological model of active living, the social-ecological model for health and environmental psychology for health, this paper took Dalian as an example and integrated multi-source spatio-temporal data, to compare and examine the internal influence mechanism of built environment on older adults’ mental health from objective and perceptual perspectives through structural equation model. The model was further validated by excluding the samples of residential self-selection. The study showed that the proximity and aggregation degree of basic service facilities, such as supermarkets, restaurants, and barbershops, affected older adults’ mental health through direct and perceived mediating paths, in which the high degree of aggregation had a negative effect on the mental health of older adults through perceived paths of noise, insecurity, and poor environmental sanitation; the density of walking path and the local integration, depth, and connectivity of vehicle path had limited interventions on mentality dimension of older adults; the diversity of leisure, landscape, and exercise facilities in community positively affected older adults’ mental health through the direct and perceived mediating paths; underground parking in community and lifts in high-rise buildings had a more positive impact on older adults’ mental health than ground parking and stairs in multi-story buildings. Overall, compared with objective built environment, perceived built environment had a mediating effect and played a more significant role in the mental health of older adults.

Keywords built environment; older adults; mental health; perception; structural equation model

Full text is available at: <http://www.ccprjournal.com.cn/news/10152.htm>

♦Quantitative Health Impact Assessment for Urban Planning Schemes

Author：Wang Lan, Jia Yinghui, Sun Wenyao, Jiang Fangfang

Translated by Li Min / Proofread by Liu Jiayan

Abstract：Health impact assessment (HIA) is an approach to identification of potential health benefits or hazards in urban planning schemes. Quantitative HIA provides uniform and comparable health outcomes (e.g., the morbidity of a specific disease), which could effectively assist planning decisions. However, there are currently few quantitative HIA methods specifically for urban planning applications. Based on a review of existing HIA methods, this paper has developed a quantitative HIA system for urban planning schemes in China, and specifically evaluates health risks, health behaviors, and health outcomes. Taking the Territorial and Spatial Master Plan of the Gucun Township of Shanghai as an example, we have illustrated how to evaluate the reduced health risks and increased health behaviors, as well as how to calculate changes in potential health outcomes in order to provide a reference for relevant HIA practices.

Keywords：health impact assessment; urban planning; health risks; health behaviors; health outcomes

Full text is available at: <http://www.ccprjournal.com.cn/news/10153.htm>

♦Impacts of Neighborhood Built Environment on Obesity and Related Behaviors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 

Author：Zheng Xili, Chen Xiaojian, Yu Lu

Translated by Li Caige / Proofread by Liu Jian

Abstract：The identification of built environment elements in neighborhoods that have significant impacts on obesity is the basis for scientifically preventing obesity and related chronic diseases, as well as formulating and implementing spatial intervention policies. In recent years, studies on the relationship between neighborhood built environment and obesity and related behaviors have increased rapidly in China with preliminary progresses. This paper systematically reviews the empirical research on the impacts of neighborhood built environment on obesity and related behaviors which was done in China from 2011 to 2021 and selects 44 papers to extract, summarize, and quantitatively synthesize the research results by using the meta-analysis method and through the weighted Z-test. The meta-analysis shows that, according to their significance, the measured built environment elements in neighborhoods that have significant impacts on obesity and related behaviors are ranked in a descending order as accessibility density of physical activity facilities, accessibility-density of bus stops/transit stations, street connectivity–crossing density, and mixed land use rate–destination amount. Meanwhile, the elements of residential density–population density, accessibility-distance to bus stops/transit stations, and accessibility-distance to physical activity facilities do not show remarkable statistic difference. This implies that community planning should highlight the measures of increasing land use for sports facilities and green spaces, improving public transport system, optimizing road network, and strengthening mixed land use to build healthy communities that can facilitate the prevention of obesity.

Keywords：healthy community; neighborhood built environment; obesity; physical activity; meta-analysis; weighted Z-test

Full text is available at: <http://www.ccprjournal.com.cn/news/10154.htm>

♦A Comparative Study on the Measurement Methods of Urban Mixed Land Use

Author: Zhao Guangying, Song Jusheng, Liu Shujuan

Translated by Qian Fang / Proofread by Tang Yan

Abstract：The study aims at exploring the applicability and limitations of domestic and foreign methods for measuring the function mixing of urban land use, and sorting out various classic measurement methods according to the logic of “conceptual reflection – characteristics comparison – limitation analysis.” The study shows that: ① the connotation and types of mixed land use functions are still controversial at home and abroad; ② there is a lack of research on measurement methods in China; ③ for medium and micro-scale planning, current measurement methods cannot fully reflect the differences in the degree of mixing caused by the planar and three-dimensional layout of building functions within the grid; ④ the measurement methods for refined planning governance should improve the measurement model in terms of the number of functional types and the mixed layout of various functions in the horizontal and vertical directions at the medium and micro-scales, and improve its accuracy of the measurement results of a single grid and the whole area.

Keywords: urban planning; function mixing of land use; measurement; model; limitation; improvement

Full text is available at: <http://www.ccprjournal.com.cn/news/10155.htm>

♦Strategies of Culture-Led Urban Regeneration: A Case Study of West Bund in Shanghai

Author:Wang Cunsong, Huang Jingnan, Wang Song, Zhou Junzhao

Translated by Liu Jinxin / Proofread by Liu Jiayan

Abstract: As China enters the stage of stock-based planning, new challenges emerge for traditional urban renewal mode. By sorting out the connotation of urban regeneration, this paper analyzes the regeneration mode driven by cultural industry with the case of Shanghai’s West Bund along the Huangpu River, and its inspirations for current urban regeneration planning. The enlightenments are as follows: changing the mindset of urban operation and development and reducing dependence on real estate; establishing effective interaction among urban public space, culture and art, and urban industries; and involving culture, sports, technology, and other industries with extensibility and compatibility to promote the upgrading of urban industry and interest balance of regeneration.

Keywords: urban regeneration; culture-led regeneration; Shanghai

Full text is available at: <http://www.ccprjournal.com.cn/news/10156.htm>