With the intensification of urbanization across China, the underutilization of rural housing resources has emerged as a pressing socio-economic and spatial challenge. To enhance the efficiency of shared rural housing transformation and support rural revitalization strategies, a data-driven framework was developed to identify and prioritize hierarchical user demand attributes. Demand items were initially derived through an extensive literature review and subsequently refined using a modified Kano model, informed by structured questionnaire surveys. To strengthen attribute prioritization and functional alignment, the Importance-Satisfaction (I-S) model and the Configuration Index Model were employed for triangulated classification. Findings revealed that structural safety (A11) constitutes a highly attractive attribute, exerting a strong influence on user satisfaction when addressed, yet inducing minimal dissatisfaction when absent. Smart home (A4) and green materials (A7) were identified as key quality attributes, essential for functional enhancement and user experience optimization. In contrast, cost-effectiveness (A1) and investment return (A2) were classified as high-value-added attributes, playing a pivotal role in decision-making among economically motivated users. New energy utilization (A8) and green design (A9) were categorized as fundamental, non-negotiable attributes, reflecting evolving sustainability expectations. Meanwhile, cultural inheritance (A15) and cultural display (A17) exhibited characteristics of low-attractiveness attributes, indicating limited influence on user satisfaction. Salvage (A10) emerged as a potential quality attribute with latent user recognition. The resulting demand classification elucidates a structured pathway for functional optimization, offering a robust analytical lens for the adaptive transformation of idle rural properties into shared accommodation assets. The applicability of the refined Kano model in rural spatial redevelopment was thereby validated. By integrating multidimensional user preferences and sustainability considerations, this study contributes an empirically grounded decision-support tool for policymakers, designers, and stakeholders engaged in rural land use regeneration and housing innovation. The proposed framework holds significant implications for the sustainable utilization of dormant rural infrastructure within broader urban-rural integration agendas.
Rapid urbanization and the formal designation of Malang City as a tourism development zone have precipitated extensive changes in land utilization patterns. In this context, the escalation of economic activity has been identified as a primary catalyst for spatial growth, raising concerns about unbalanced development and environmental degradation. This study investigates the mechanisms by which intensified economic forces—interpreted through the lens of growth machine theory—have influenced the expansion of urban spatial structures and land use conversion within Malang City. A qualitative methodology has been employed, incorporating secondary data derived from municipal planning documents, regional policy frameworks, and peer-reviewed literature accessed through platforms including SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, and Taylor & Francis Online. Findings indicate that significant landscape transformation occurred between 2017 and 2023, characterized by the conversion of agricultural and vacant land into built-up areas spanning several hundred hectares. This transformation has been closely associated with investment-driven infrastructure development, pro-growth regulatory instruments, and the prioritization of commercial interests in urban governance. These dynamics reflect the core principles of growth machine theory, wherein urban land is reconstituted as a commodity leveraged for economic gain. The research highlights the extent to which governance arrangements, policy choices, and development incentives have facilitated the spatial restructuring of the city. It is argued that, while economic expansion has contributed to urban growth, it has also intensified land competition and exacerbated socio-environmental imbalances. Consequently, the need for integrative urban planning frameworks that balance economic imperatives with ecological resilience and social equity is emphasized. It is recommended that future development strategies be grounded in sustainability-oriented governance models, with particular attention given to inclusive spatial policies and environmental impact mitigation.
Urban resilience has become a central framework for advancing sustainable development in the context of escalating urban risks. To investigate the role of population density in shaping resilience, panel data from 114 large Chinese cities covering the period 2006–2021 (excluding the COVID-19 years to avoid potential distortions) were analyzed. A multidimensional urban resilience evaluation system was constructed, encompassing five key domains: economy, society, institutions, environment, and infrastructure. Resilience levels were assessed through the entropy-weighted Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), while a panel threshold regression model was applied to capture potential nonlinearities in the density–resilience relationship. Results demonstrate that urban resilience in China has exhibited a sustained upward trajectory, largely driven by advances in infrastructure provision and economic capacity. However, population density exerts a nonlinear “double-threshold effect”. At low levels of density, the effect on resilience is statistically insignificant; within a medium-density range, a pronounced negative impact emerges, constituting a “medium-density trap”; and at high densities, the adverse effects are attenuated, suggesting that urban systems may gradually adapt to intensified population pressures. This trap is most evident in regional center cities and rapidly developing urban areas, where governance capacity, infrastructure investment, and resource allocation have lagged behind demographic expansion. These findings highlight the stage-dependent vulnerabilities embedded in urbanization processes and indicate that resilience is not solely a function of density itself but also of institutional capacity and infrastructural adequacy. Differentiated governance strategies are therefore required, including targeted improvements in public infrastructure, strengthened institutional and administrative capacities, and the optimization of spatial configurations to accommodate density-specific challenges. By identifying the thresholds at which population density alters resilience trajectories, this study contributes to a deeper theoretical understanding of urban vulnerability and offers actionable insights for policymakers seeking to enhance resilience under conditions of rapid urban growth and high-density development.
Both traditional urban planning and smart cities in many African cities has failed to address the needs of all residents, particularly those in informal settlements, resulting in exclusionary infrastructure and socio-spatial inequalities. This study, with case studies of Benin Metropolis and Warri City, explored how human-centric principles could be embedded into urban planning for inclusive development. Based on thematic analysis of qualitative data obtained from planning professionals, the study identified key barriers such as limited community participation, inadequate infrastructure for vulnerable groups, weak institutional capacity, and low digital integration. Findings demonstrated that current planning frameworks often neglected accessibility for people with disabilities and the needs of informal settlement dwellers. The study recommended that Edo and Delta State governments should revise existing policies to mandate inclusivity, participatory governance, and data-driven decision-making. It proposed targeted investments in inclusive infrastructure such as ramps and communal water points, as well as increased funding for human-centric and digital planning tools like geographic information system (GIS). Decentralized governance, transparent procurement processes, and ethical guidelines for digital engagement were emphasized to promote trust and accountability. To ensure inclusivity across all social groups, the study underscored the requisites for co-design workshops, community forums, and non-digital communication channels such as radio and feedback kiosks. Specific local realities such as flooding in Benin and ethnic diversity in Warri should be factored into planning frameworks to ensure relevance and sustainability. Overall, this research presented a context-sensitive framework that aligned with the trends of global smart cities, while addressing the socio-cultural and infrastructural realities of African cities. By embedding human-centric principles into policy and practice, Benin and Warri could transition from traditional to smarter urban planning models that are inclusive, participatory, and sustainable, thus ensuring that urban development could meet the diverse needs of all residents..
Cultural memory plays a crucial role in shaping the identity and continuity of cities so as to reflect their historical narratives, traditions, and collective experiences. Cities serve as repositories of memory, where architecture, public spaces, monuments, and urban landscapes embody the past while influencing contemporary urban life. However, rapid urbanization, globalization, and socio-political transformations often challenge the preservation of cultural memory, thus leading to the loss or redefinition of historical narratives. Sustainable urban development and adaptive reuse of heritage sites offer pathways to maintaining cultural memory while accommodating modern needs. This paper explored the importance of cultural memory in urban contexts with a particular focus on the relationship between conservation and user experience. The exploration primarily involved extracting fundamental principles and guidelines from leading international bodies such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), whose conferences and charters emphasized the importance of cultural continuity, community involvement, and context-sensitive design in the preservation of urban heritage. These principles were applied as assessment criteria to evaluate the selected sites in Alexandria, a city in Egypt, which has undergone significant renovation projects in recent years. By aligning these projects with international preservation standards, the paper highlighted the successes and shortcomings of local interventions. Ultimately, cultural memory could be embedded into the physical and experiential layers of the city whereas urban development could remain rooted in identity, history, and continuity to preserve the legacy of cultural heritage.
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