Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development: Avoid Three “Blind Spots” in the Development of Characteristic Towns
分类： News Updates
发布时间：2017-07-12 15:38
BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) — The Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development recently issued a notice stating that local authorities should advance the planning, construction, and development of distinctive small towns in an orderly manner, maintaining a livable scale for these towns by refraining from indiscriminately erecting high-rise buildings, demolishing historic neighborhoods without careful consideration, or uncritically adopting foreign cultural practices.
The “Notice on Several Issues Concerning the Preservation and Highlighting of the Distinctive Features of Characteristic Towns” states that small-scale, open-block residential neighborhoods should be developed. Such neighborhoods should be the primary model, with a typical block size of 100–150 meters, in order to maintain the original neighborhood ties among town residents and avoid simply replicating the urban residential community model.
According to the notice, the development of distinctive small towns should prioritize the creation of pleasant street and alley spaces. Traditional block-level street and alley networks should be preserved and restored, while newly constructed residential streets should have a height-to-width ratio of 1:1 to 2:1. Green spaces should primarily consist of neighborhood green areas that are closely integrated with daily life and work, thereby fostering vibrant public spaces where town residents can easily interact. The construction of wide roads, large plazas, and expansive parks that are inconvenient for residents, excessively costly, or purely for aesthetic display is strictly prohibited.
With regard to building height and massing, the notice stipulates that newly constructed residential buildings should be low-rise or mid-rise, with a maximum building height generally not exceeding 20 meters and a single-building facade width not exceeding 40 meters, in order to avoid the construction of high-rise or large-scale buildings that are out of harmony with the overall urban environment.
At present, the development of distinctive small towns is still in its early stages, and some localities have failed to place sufficient emphasis on cultivating unique characteristics. The notice stresses the need to respect the existing urban fabric of these towns, preserve their current built environment and traditional aesthetic qualities, and refrain from indiscriminately demolishing historic neighborhoods. Town planning should be closely integrated with the local topography and landforms, incorporating natural elements such as mountains, water bodies, forests, farmland, and lakes, so as to highlight the region’s picturesque landscape and a dynamic, varied skyline. Any activities that involve excavating mountains to fill in lakes, disrupting water systems, or damaging the ecological environment are strictly prohibited.
“It is strictly prohibited to straighten roads in a blind and arbitrary manner, as well as to undertake large-scale demolition and reconstruction or crude, heavy-handed demolition-and-rebuild projects in historic neighborhoods. Development models that involve the wholesale relocation of existing residents must also be avoided,” the notice states. It further specifies that the style, color, materials, and other characteristics of new buildings should uphold traditional architectural aesthetics, and that sculptures and other structures should reflect outstanding traditional culture. The construction of “large, foreign-style, and bizarre” buildings is strictly forbidden.
The notice emphasizes the need to preserve and carry forward the traditional culture of small towns, while refraining from blindly adopting or imitating foreign cultures. It also stipulates that old houses must not be demolished, old trees must not be cut down, and historical landmarks and other site-specific features must not be damaged. The Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development has made the preservation and expression of local characteristics a key criterion for the designation of distinctive small towns and will conduct regular inspections of designated towns to ensure compliance with these standards.
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