Jiaoquan house : a study of an endangered vernacular heritage typology in rural Shanghai

Abstract

The Jiaoquan house is a typical Shanghai-style house. According to historical records, the Jiaoquan houses have existed in Shanghai for a long time and are the basis of Shikumen in a way.For vernacular heritage of Shanghai,most people will think of its Lilong heritage architecture, the Jiaoquan houses have a lower profile. Due to its smaller number, it has not received similar protection and publicity as the Shikumen. Nowadays, most of Shanghai's traditional houses have been demolished, leaving only a few scattered in the city and a few left in the suburbs. In this paper, we will analyze the value of the suburban Jiaoquan houses in Shanghai in order to make people understand more about this architectural form. The purpose of this dissertation is to excavate the forms of old buildings in Shanghai, to increase the awareness of the conservation of historical buildings and to systematize the conservation of buildings. The environment of modernization and urban development has meant that old architectural forms have begun to gradually disappear and have been somewhat neglected in value. A key component of urban culture is their different architectural forms. A microcosm of the development and life of a city can be expressed through its architecture, such as architectural forms, building materials, etc. The preservation of architecture is in a way also the preservation of the cultural development of the city. Through research, surveys and interviews, the various types of values of the Jiaoquan house were identified and the key features that define its important elements were demonstrated. It is hoped that the identification of these elements will reduce the continuing destruction of the status quo and enable the Jiaoquan house to receive protection and attention and become an important part of Shanghai's built heritage.