A context-sensitive framework for public space transformation: morphometrics and ethnography in Chengdu's Ma'an neighbourhood

This research formulates a context-sensitive classification framework for the evaluation of public spaces within rapidly urbanizing Chinese neighbourhoods, with the objective of informing regeneration strategies that reconcile modernization with cultural heritage preservation. Focusing on Chengdu’s partially developed Ma’an neighbourhood, the study investigates the transformation of five public space typologies, e.g., street frontages, public open spaces, public green spaces, semi-public areas, and corridor spaces, under contemporary urban pressures. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating historical mapping, urban morphometric analysis, and ethnographic fieldwork, including site observation and semi-structured interviews with residents and local stakeholders. Findings indicate that spatial reconfiguration has altered accessibility, patterns of use, and collective identity. The study is guided by three research questions: (1) How have public spaces in the Ma’an neighbourhood changed under the pressures of urban modernisation? (2) What socio-cultural consequences have these changes had for community identity and social cohesion? (3) How can the Ma’an case inform strategies for balancing redevelopment with cultural preservation? The results show that traditional spatial types continue to support localized interactions and cultural memory, whereas newer spaces prioritize multifunctional and commercial uses. In doing so, the study contributes to theoretical discussions in urban morphology and socio-cultural geography while offering a replicable public space classification framework for cultural heritage-sensitive urban renewal applicable to transitional neighbourhoods in China nationally and in comparable contexts.