Architectural Features of Rural Residential Buildings in Western Zhejiang

Abstract

With the change of land policy after 1949 and recent upgrade of the National Beautiful Countryside Construction Progress in 13th five-year Plan of China, The objective of construction activities for new rural appearance in Zhejiang province are required to include habitability and vernacular features, and the design of residential building of Zhejiang Style has been attached the top priority of the series governmental work. Through in-depth field investigation and mapping of about 200 dwellings in 20 villages in Quzhou City, and afterwards analysis on the function layout and space relationships of local modern residences, this paper determine several fundamental and enduring characteristics of the local construction and the preservation methods of these features in current rural construction situation. The paper also explain the reasons for these traits from the aspects of cultural aspects and the results can also be reference to practical design methods of rural vernacular buildings.