Spatial configuration analysis of a traditional garden in Yangzhou city: a comparative case study of three typical gardens

Abstract

This study examines the spatial layout characteristics of three existing traditional gardens from the 18th–19th century with featured historical backgrounds and landscape designs in Yangzhou City: Heyuan Garden (1862), Geyuan Garden (1818), and West Garden of the Daming Temple (1751). Two space syntax models, i.e. visibility graph analysis and segment angular analysis, were used to clarify the characteristics of the garden spaces. A quantitative analysis was conducted using statistical programs to reveal similarities and differences in invisible space-structure relationships among the three gardens. These gardens exhibited comparable centralities in terms of their accessibility distribution characteristics. The “mean depth” and “intelligibility” values were allocated such that visitors could access the global spaces effortlessly owing to the arrangement of these gardens. Scrutinising the “connectivity” parameter revealed that the intuitive perceptions of visitors were more diverse at the knee and eye levels because of the spatial structure of the gardens. This study can help understand the effect of cultural practices and societal norms on the design of traditional gardens. The findings of this study can aid in the conservation of cultural heritage and help restore the gardens in Yangzhou City from the perspective of analysing invisible space structures.

Keywords

• built heritage
• space syntax
• spatial configuration
• traditional garden
• yangzhou