Architectural Atlas and Differentiation Mechanisms of Vernacular Dwellings in Hunan and Guangdong

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-593-5_85How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Hunan traditional residence; Guangdong traditiona residence; Architectural Atlas

Abstract

Although both Hunan and Guangdong lie in southern China, the Nanling Mountains separate them, creating contrasting natural and cultural contexts that condition vernacular dwellings. Existing research largely treats each province in isolation and seldom provides systematic cross-provincial comparison or visual synthesis. Using a cultural-geography lens, this study samples representative types: northern Hunan “Da Wu,” migrant settlements in southern Hunan, western Hunan stilted buildings, Guangfu vernacular dwellings, and courtyard-style dwellings in northern Guangdong. It then constructs an “Architectural Atlas of Traditional Vernacular Dwellings in Hunan and Guangdong” across five dimensions: architectural style, plan, elevation, structural system, and decorative arts. Results show that Hunan dwellings tend toward restraint and implicit expression, strong family orientation, and pragmatic adaptation to local conditions, reflecting inland Huxiang culture. Guangdong dwellings display greater openness, a balance between commerce and clan, and richer ornamentation, consistent with the maritime and inclusive Lingnan tradition. The Nanling range functions not only as a climatic barrier but also as a historical divider of cultural formation, producing systematic differences in architectural form, technology, and decoration. The atlas-based comparison clarifies how geographic barriers and cultural interaction jointly drive architectural evolution, offering a reference for heritage conservation and contemporary regional design.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Zhu Wang
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/30
TI  - Architectural Atlas and Differentiation Mechanisms of Vernacular Dwellings in Hunan and Guangdong
BT  - Proceedings of the 2026 5th International Conference on Humanities, Wisdom Education and Service Management (HWESM 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 782
EP  - 793
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-593-5_85
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-593-5_85
ID  - Wang2026
ER  -