VIRTUAL Lisbon Livable Cities
Abstract
Developing livable cities and towns has been a key goal for urbanization in China. The Evaluation Standards for Livable Cities (2007) in China outline six assessment criteria: social civilization, economic prosperity, environmental ‘beauty’, resource capacity, affordable living, and public security. This study explores the relationship between architectural culture and livability in Yisa Town, located along ancient caravan roads in the Honghe Prefecture of Yunnan, Southwest China. The name Yisa means ‘fortress on horseback’ in Yi language. Established in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Yisa flourished in the late eighteenth century due to copper mining and trading. In nineteenth century, many residents traveled abroad for business in Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and other countries. As a result, many buildings were constructed with combined British, French, and traditional Chinese building styles, especially in the Dongmenjie Village, the town’s cultural heart. Dongmenjie Village has seen the architectural transformation across four historical periods, which not only reflect culture growth, but also significantly enhance the community well-being and encourage social cohesion. By analysing these transformations, the study reveals the role of humanistic values in promoting livability. Based on s student-led design project exploring on place-based identities in, we argue that the developing livable cities requires prioritizing humanistic care, support for vulnerable households, and improvement of public spaces that relate to the sense of belonging. Furthermore, preserving and promoting architectural heritage in Dongmenjie Village is crucial for creating a sustainable built environment that benefits both residents and tourists.
Ling Zhou, a Year 4 PhD candidate at the University of Huddersfield, her research projects focus on rural public spaces, sustainable development of traditional villages, and urban and rural relations under the influence of rapid urbanization. Ling also teaches in the Department of Architecture at Kunming College of Arts and Sciences, teaching students architectural design and urban design.
Dr. Yun Gao works as an academic and an architect. She is a Reader in Architecture and Director of the Sustainable Living Research Centre at the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Huddersfield. Her academic research explores the design of socially responsible and environmentally sustainable built environments, and traditional and cultural changes reflected in architectural and urban development. Yun is also a Royal Institute of British Architects Chartered Architect. Yun is the author of about 100 published research papers and three books. Yun has held a Visiting Professorship at the Yunnan Arts University in China since 2010.
Dr Yisi Liu is a lecturer in Architecture at the University of Huddersfield. His research interest covers a spectrum including digital heritage, computer-aided architectural design, narrativity in architecture, enhanced understanding of the lost architecture, revealing undisclosed history, developing a comprehensive workflow involving analogue and digital representation, and an immersive representation which can be (re)experienced by the public.
5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Friday 11th July, 2025