A Human-Centered Design Approach: Research on Urban Memory Perception and Preservation Intentions in Urban Villages

Abstract

Urban villages represent a unique product of China's urban spatial transformation, bearing the social memories and cultural imprints of specific historical periods. During current renewal and redevelopment processes, urban memories often face risks of dissolution, leading to cultural fragmentation and spatial homogenization.Analysis of urban village data in Hohhot reveals that effectively identifying and preserving memory resources within these communities remains an unresolved challenge. This study focuses on the Shi la men geng urban village in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China. Guided by a human-centered design philosophy, it constructs an evaluation system for urban memory cognition. Data collection methods include questionnaires and in-depth interviews, with quantitative analysis conducted using a multiple logistic regression model. Centered on the dual dimensions of “material variables—intangible variables,” the study systematically extracted memory elements and characteristics of urban villages. It constructed a multi-level memory perception influence factor system encompassing two primary variables, 23 secondary variables, and 92 tertiary variables. This framework comprehensively reveals the diverse factors affecting memory perception in Hohhot's urban villages and provides an in-depth analysis of preferences regarding the perception and transmission of memory elements. The findings analyzed urban memory elements in village-in-the-city areas and identified their cognitive and transmission preferences. Results indicate that villagers exhibit significantly higher cognitive awareness of intangible memory elements (e.g., village naming, cultural customs) than tangible ones (e.g., building materials, structural forms). Middle-aged and elderly groups demonstrate stronger recognition of cultural customs, while higher-educated groups show greater attention to material carriers.Based on these findings, the study proposes strategies including differentiated transmission of historical and cultural information, and the integration and recreation of material carrier memory elements. These aim to achieve effective preservation and revitalization of urban memory during urban renewal, maintain the continuity and uniqueness of urban memory, and fully leverage the cultural value and social functions of urban villages.

Keywords: urban memory, urban villages, local identity, urban renewal, urban-rural integration

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006857