Evolving edge : water & economic based approach towards rural urbanization in China

Abstract

This thesis analyzed the process of rural urbanization in Mainland China about the driven forces behind it, powerful player within it and impacts from it and seeks to conclude the emergent issues of environment, society and economy regarding the enormously growth of rural urbanization. Based on the research, the thesis concluded that the rural urbanization pattern is leading to a chaotic urbanized future of condensed urban fabric and urban villages and suggests that by creating a new approach of rural urbanization combining ecological concern and economic reformation, the negative impact of rural urbanization can be reduced and terminated. Then the thesis selected case studies in the North China Plain in Beijing Municipality to further examine the impacts of rural urbanization on local communities and ecology and to test the new approach proposed based on the site situations on rural urbanization that is controlled and regulated by landscape facility. The landscape facility is the core idea of new rural urbanization pattern that combines economic reformation and ecological compensation together as well as brings opportunities for different powerful players in the process of rural urbanization to negotiation through spatial design.