• Journal of architectural history
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.19-34
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• 2012

This paper focuses on the spatial analysis of traditional houses in Huizhou during the Ming and Qing period in China. It first reviews the spatial characteristics of the houses in Huizhou. Typical configurations, spatial elements and spatial compositions of the houses are briefly examined. It then discusses how those spatial characteristics are applied to the houses. To do so, the review of existing research and literature on the houses was conducted. For a detailed analysis of the houses, a field survey was performed to collect research materials of the houses and to assess the application of the characteristics in the houses. At times, the plans of the houses were redrawn for a further analysis of the spatial compositions of the houses. Attempts have been made to understand the underlying principles of their spatial organization. For example, Jin (2010) examined the spatial organization of unit plans. Boyd (1989), Berliner (2003) and Dan (2005) similarly categorized the organizational typology of its varying designs. Son(1995) further interpreted the spatial relations of the variety of houses in a comprehensive manner. Nevertheless, their analytic methodology falls short of a complete explanation of the spatial expansion and transformation in the houses. Therefore, this paper examines the basic principles behind the spatial expansion and transformation of a variety of traditional houses in Huizhou. In doing so, it strives to make logical sense of design variations in the houses and reveal the theory behind them.