Journal of South Architecture

Exploring the Application of Quantitative Analysis Methods in Conzenian Urban Morphology: A Case Study of Traditional Urban Blocks in Guangzhou

ZHUZhilin (School of Architecture, South China University of Technology & the State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building and Urban Science), TIANYinsheng (School of Architecture, South China University of Technology & the State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building and Urban Science)

Abstract


The delineation of morphological regions in Conzenian urban morphology has long been constrained by insufficient quantitative analysis. Therefore, its applicability in terms of scale, efficiency, and objectivity is limited. Focusing on the three constituent elements underlying morphological regions—plan type, building type, and land use—this study proposes corresponding quantitative analytical approaches for each element. Space syntax is primarily employed for the analysis of plan units, and different syntactic values and calculation methods are systematically compared and evaluated. K-means clustering combined with GIS technology is then applied for data integration and visualization. The proposed framework is empirically tested through a case study of representative traditional quarters in Guangzhou. The results demonstrate that the method can provide both data support and a customizable analytical framework for further urban morphological research. Nevertheless, the proposed technical approach still requires further refinement due to limitations associated with the research scope and methodology.

Keywords


Conzenian urban morphology; quantification; GIS; space syntax; K-means clustering

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.33142/jsa.v3i2.19691

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