Adaptive Urban Transformation: Urban Landscape Dynamics, Regional Design and Territorial Governance in the Pearl River Delta, China (The Urban Book Series)

This open access book provides a cross-sectoral, integrative and multi-scale design and planning approach for adaptive urban transformation of fast urbanising deltas, taking the Pearl River Delta (China) as a case study. Deltaic areas are among the most promising regions in the world. Their strategic location and superior quality of their soils are core factors supporting both human development and the rise of these regions as global economic hubs. At the same time, however, deltas are extremely vulnerable to multiple threats from both climate change and urbanisation. These include an increased flood risk combined with the resulting loss of ecological and social-cultural values. To ensure a more sustainable future for these areas, spatial strategies are needed to strengthen resilience, i.e. help the systems to cope with their vulnerabilities as well as enhance their capacity to overcome natural and artificial threats. The book provides a unique approach that integrates research in urban landscape systems, territorial governance and visualisation techniques that will help to achieve more integrated and resilient deltas. Based on an assessment of the dynamics of change regarding the transformational cycles of natural and urban landscape elements, eco-dynamic regional design strategies are explored to reveal greater opportunities for the exploitation of natural and social-cultural factors within the processes of urban development. Preface 6 Contents 9 Contributors 11 Part I Introduction 13 1 Introduction: Adaptive Urban Transformation in the Pearl River Delta, China 14 1.1 Introduction 15 1.2 Adaptive Urban Transformation 16 1.3 Pearl River Delta as a Case Study 19 1.4 AUT Through Landscape-Based Regional Design in the PRD (Research Strand 1) 21 1.5 AUT Through Stakeholder Involvement and Visualisation in the PRD (Research Strand 2) 23 1.6 AUT Through Applications in Urban Design, Planning, and Governance in the PRD (Research Strand 3) 25 1.7 Conclusion 26 References 28 2 Multi-level Regional Governance and Spatial Development in the Pearl River Delta 31 2.1 Introduction 32 2.2 Regional Plans in the PRD 32 2.3 Regional Governance of Coordinated Development in the PRD 36 2.3.1 Cooperation at Ministry-Province Level 36 2.3.2 Cooperation at Province-Municipality Level 38 2.3.3 Integrative Development at the Municipal Level 40 2.3.4 Coordination at the Town/District Level 42 2.4 Discussion and Conclusion 43 References 45 3 Spatial Dynamics in the Pearl River Delta and Development Strategies 47 3.1 Introduction 48 3.2 Materials and Methods 49 3.2.1 Research Scope 49 3.2.2 Research Methods and Data Sources 49 3.3 Spatial Structure of the PRD Region and Its Evolution 50 3.3.1 Spatial Structure of the Whole Region 50 3.3.2 Evolution of the Spatial Structure 50 3.3.3 The Evolution of the Spatial Structure of the Sub-regions 52 3.4 Drivers of Spatial Change 58 3.5 Problems of Existing Spatial Structure 60 3.6 Strategies for Spatial Development 62 3.6.1 Construct a Unified, Integrated and Related Compound Regional Corridor 62 3.6.2 Coordinating Three Spatial Zones 63 3.6.3 Zoning Categories for Regional Land Use 64 3.7 Conclusion 67 References 68 Part II Spatial Strategy and Design 70 4 Territorial Governance and Spatial Planning in Europe: The Relevance for Flood Risk Management in the Chinese Pearl River Delta 71 4.1 Introduction 72 4.2 The Challenge of Territorial Governance 74 4.3 European Experience 79 4.4 Discussion and Conclusion 84 References 86 5 A Landscape-Based Regional Design Approach for Sustainable Urban Development in the Pearl River Delta, China 89 5.1 Introduction 90 5.2 Landscape-Based Regional Design 91 5.3 Four Key Phases of Landscape-Based Regional Design 94 5.3.1 Diagnosis: Understanding Urban Landscape Systems and Their Dynamics 94 5.3.2 Strategy Formation: Envisioning, Backcasting, Adaptive Design Principles 97 5.3.3 Design Explorations 99 5.3.4 Action Perspective: Strategic Pilot Projects 100 5.4 Towards Adaptive Urban Transformation in the Pearl River Delta 101 5.4.1 Mapping the PRD’s Natural and Urban System 101 5.4.2 Towards a Sustainable Future for the PRD 108 5.4.3 Pilot Projects: Nansha Lingshan Island and Pazhou West District 112 5.5 Conclusion 119 References 120 6 Design Studios as Method for Exploring Complex Challenges in the Pearl River Delta 123 6.1 Introduction 123 6.2 Design Studio as a Work Form 125 6.3 Three Design Studios on the Pearl River Delta 126 6.3.1 Adaptive Urban Landscape Design Studio 127 6.3.2 Globalisation Studio 128 6.3.3 Design Workshop on Pazhou 128 6.4 Results 129 6.4.1 Project-based Explorations 129 6.4.2 Form-based Explorations 131 6.4.3 Idea-based Explorations 132 6.5 Discussion 134 6.6 Conclusion 138 References 139 7 Unrelenting Change 141 7.1 Introduction 142 7.2 Dadun: A Village in the Dyke and Pond Landscape 143 7.2.1 Managing Flood Risks and Water Quality 144 7.2.2 Authority and Social Values 147 7.3 Whampoa Harbour 2010 151 7.4 Xinxi 2013 152 7.5 Jiangmen 154 7.6 Pazhou Island East 158 7.7 Conclusion 161 References 164 Part III Stakeholder Participation and Visualization 165 8 Stakeholder Participation and Visualisation in Sustainable Urban Transformation 166 8.1 Introduction 166 8.2 Methods 168 8.2.1 Study Area and Urban Planning System 168 8.2.2 Document Analysis 169 8.3 Results 171 8.3.1 Participation Phase 171 8.3.2 Participatory Tools 172 8.3.3 Visualisation Media 174 8.4 Discussion 175 8.5 Conclusion 176 References 177 9 Bridging the Analogue–digital Divide in Stakeholder Engagement 181 9.1 Introduction 181 9.2 Materials and Methods 184 9.3 Results 186 9.3.1 Enriching Maps 187 9.3.2 Enriching Physical Models 189 9.3.3 Enriching Reality 192 9.4 Discussion 194 9.5 Conclusion 196 References 197 10 Urban Planning Exhibition Halls in the Pearl River Delta for Planning Communication and Public Participation 200 10.1 Introduction 200 10.2 Methods 201 10.2.1 Case Study 201 10.2.2 Methodological Framework 202 10.2.3 Data Analysis 205 10.3 Results 205 10.4 Discussion 207 10.5 Conclusion 208 References 209 Part IV Socio-ecological Perspectives 211 11 Industrial Transformation and Sustainable Urban Planning in the Pearl River Delta: A Landscape-based Approach 212 11.1 Introduction 212 11.2 Industrial Transformation in the PRD 214 11.2.1 The Three Phases of Industrial Transformation in the PRD 215 11.2.2 Industrial Typologies in the PRD 217 11.3 Industrial Transformation: From Industry to the Production of Multiple Values 219 11.3.1 Opportunities and Challenges in Industrial Transformation 219 11.4 An Integrated Landscape-based Approach to Industrial Transformation for Sustainable Urban Development 221 11.4.1 Key Phases of the Approach 222 11.5 Two Applications in the PRD 225 11.6 Results 226 11.7 Discussion and Conclusions 230 References 234 12 Historical Canals as Urban Landscape Infrastructure in Guangzhou: Reactivating Public Life Through Water 236 12.1 Introduction 237 12.1.1 The Forgotten Urban Canals 237 12.1.2 Objective 238 12.1.3 Relevance 239 12.1.4 Structure of the Chapter 239 12.2 Theoretical Background 240 12.2.1 Urban Landscape Infrastructure 240 12.2.2 Resilient Landscape 240 12.2.3 Learning from the Past 241 12.2.4 Design Research 241 12.2.5 Research Through Design 241 12.3 Learning from the Past 242 12.3.1 Development of the Canal System 242 12.3.2 Types of Waterfronts 242 12.3.3 Design Principles 246 12.4 Design Exploration 247 12.4.1 The Application of Design Principles 247 12.4.2 Donghao Chong as a Typical Example 248 12.4.3 Reconnecting the Urban Canal System 249 12.5 Discussion and Conclusion 249 References 251 13 From Modelling and Analysis of Accessibility of Urban Green Space to Green Infrastructure Planning: Guangzhou as a Case Study 252 13.1 Introduction 253 13.1.1 Accessibility of Urban Green Space in Urban Planning 253 13.1.2 Methods of Accessibility Modelling and Measurement 254 13.2 Materials and Methods 256 13.2.1 Study Area 256 13.2.2 Data Source and Pre-processing 257 13.2.3 Methods 259 13.3 Results 260 13.3.1 Two Types of Accessibility 260 13.3.2 Public Perception on Visiting Parks 263 13.4 Conclusion 264 References 266 14 Inclusive Urban Transformation: Embracing the Values of Urban Villages in the PRD Region 270 14.1 Introduction 270 14.2 Theories and Practices Related to the Phenomenon of Urban Villages 272 14.2.1 The Formation and Transformation of Urban Villages 272 14.2.2 Inclusiveness and Liveability 273 14.2.3 Social Resilience Versus Entrepreneurship 274 14.2.4 Mapping as a Way of Thinking 275 14.3 Two Cases of Urban Regeneration in Guangzhou and Shenzhen 275 14.3.1 The Lijiao Village in Guangzhou–Urban Redevelopment in Central Urban Areas 276 14.3.2 The Dalang District in Shenzhen–Alternative Development Model in Peripheral Areas 278 14.4 Discussion 282 14.5 Conclusions 284 References 285 15 Wetland Parks in Guangzhou: Ecosystem Services and Perception 287 15.1 Introduction 287 15.1.1 Wetlands and Deltaic Sustainability 287 15.1.2 Ecosystem Services 288 15.2 Wetlands and Their ESs in Transition, Guangzhou 288 15.2.1 Spouting (1958–2003) 289 15.2.2 Forming (2004–2012) 289 15.2.3 Maturing (2012–2019) 290 15.2.4 Developing and Upgrading (2020 Onwards) 290 15.3 Wetland Park and Their ESs in Guangzhou 291 15.3.1 Habitat 292 15.3.2 Water Purification 293 15.3.3 Flood Regulation 293 15.3.4 Air Regulation 293 15.3.5 Recreation 293 15.3.6 Environmental Education 294 15.4 Public Perception of Ecosystem Services Delivered in Wetland Parks 294 15.4.1 The Case of Tianhe Daguan Wetland Park 294 15.4.2 Perceived ESs 296 15.5 Conclusions 298 References 299 16 Community Supported Agriculture in the Pearl River Delta 302 16.1 Introduction 302 16.2 CSA as Ecological Farming 303 16.3 CSA in the Pearl River Delta 305 16.4 Catalysts for Developing CSA Ecological Agriculture in the Pearl River Delta 305 16.4.1 A Favourable Environment for Farming 305 16.4.2 Ecological Farming and Culture Heritage 307 16.4.3 Economic Demand 307 16.4.4 Infrastructure for Tourism 307 16.4.5 Policy-Driven Technological Developments 308 16.5 Barriers to CSA 309 16.5.1 Pressure on Land Resources 309 16.5.2 The Workforce Shifting of the Rural Population in the Pearl River Delta 310 16.6 Discussion and Outlook 311 References 312