Evolution of a multidimensional architectural landscape under urban regeneration: A case study of Jinan, China

- We explore horizontal and vertical architectural changes with urban regeneration.
- Horizontal landscape changes were concentrated on the edges of the city.
- Horizontal landscape changed according to peoples' urban functional requirements.
- The agricultural landscape was almost entirely converted to other landscape types.
- The vertical landscape tended towards vertical space and upward development.

Urban regeneration is a key to achieving the main goals of China's urbanisation plan. How to analyse the urban landscape of the rapid development in order to meet the challenges of urban planning and build liveable cities is a concern for both government and society. This analysis is based on a case study on downtown Jinan, China, covering the period 2001-2011. It explores urban architectural changes in the horizontal and vertical landscapes after a decade of urban regeneration, focusing on two aspects: construction purpose and number of floors. The study uses the land use transfer matrix method, along with landscape indexes and spatial autocorrelation analysis, based on cadastral data. Results show that the horizontal architectural landscape changed at the city's edges, with no apparent change in the city centre. With changes in urban functions, horizontal landscapes became broken, but patch shapes did not manifest obvious changes. Residential, commercial, and industrial landscapes were the dominant types. Most converted areas became residential landscapes. Vertical landscapes tended to feature upward development. Patch shapes became more complex and broken, landscape richness increased, and building types became less densely aggregated. The dominant landscape type changed from bungalows to multi-layer and low-layer buildings. Vertical space utilisation became increasingly intensive. Urban regeneration was carried out locally. Respective areas marked by horizontal or vertical architectural renewal showed significant positive spatial correlation, implying increasing spatial centralisation. Vertical landscape patches largely changed in line with the horizontal types, but not the other way round. Ramshackle areas and shantytowns were transformed. Urban land use developed intensively, forming vertically dense landscapes. These results will serve as reference source for urban planning, regeneration, land resources management, urban architectural design and layout, optimisation of the ecological environment, and construction of liveable cities.