Inclusive Spatial Design in Haopan Xiyue, Guangzhou: An Everyday Life-Oriented Approach

Haopan Xiyue, located in Yuexiu District of Guangzhou, constitutes a vital segment of the city’s historic core, long characterized by the intersection of diverse cultures and the embeddedness of everyday life practices. With the acceleration of urbanization and the shift in spatial production logic, this area has undergone profound transformations in terms of functional roles, spatial structures, and social relations. Currently, Haopan Xiyue faces a multiplicity of challenges including spatial degradation, the disordering of public spaces, weakened interaction among diverse subjects, and a general decline in everyday life vitality, rendering it a representative case for micro-regeneration practices in historic urban districts of Guangzhou. Grounded in everyday life theory and inclusive design theory, this research aims to restore community vitality by re-identifying the internal subject structure and spatial behaviors of the district, and by exploring progressive regeneration strategies suited to the complex context of historic urban neighborhoods. To address the decline in urban vitality, the research proposes a three-pronged strategic framework: “spatial optimization, subject collaboration, and activity activation.” The core logic lies in enhancing walkability and spatial order through micro-regeneration interventions that refine pedestrian networks and optimize micro-scale scenes. On the subject dimension, the strategy emphasizes not only the establishment of a co-governance mechanism involving multiple stakeholders, but also the creation of inclusive shared spaces catering to diverse groups, through adaptable usage modes and interactive interface design to promote intergroup communication. Regarding activities, the strategy advocates the introduction of regular festival events, community markets, and cultural exhibitions to diversify public space programming and stimulate both the rhythm of community life and a shared sense of cultural identity. The design responses proposed in Chapter 4 focus on key nodal interventions and spatial construction strategies. These include the reconfiguration of shared complex spaces centered on the Haopan Mosque and a former school compound, supported by community service centers, health stations, and open sports grounds to reinforce basic everyday infrastructure. Additionally, the plan introduces a street-level deliberative mechanism and multi-stakeholder governance framework to facilitate collaborative management among varied subject groups and operators. Taken together, the integrated strategy addresses the physical, social, and cultural dimensions of the neighborhood to drive the transition of Haopan Xiyue from “spatial coexistence” to “everyday co-prosperity,” thereby forging a regenerative model characterized by inclusivity and continuity.