Contemporary Demands of Scenes in Urban Historic Conservation Areas: A Case Study of Subjective Evaluations from Foshan, China

Abstract

A historic area situated within contemporary urban space must adapt to modern lifestyles and aesthetic sensibilities to sustain its vitality and facilitate effective heritage transmission. A key criterion for evaluating adaptation is its ability to fulfill people’s ‘demands’ for it. This paper focuses on people’s demands as its core, employing the post-occupancy evaluation theory and the scene theory to develop a subjective evaluation framework for scenes within urban historic conservation areas. An application case study uses the typical historical area of Foshan, China, as an evaluation framework. The discussion encompasses spatial vitality, extraction of scene elements, construction of an indicator set, satisfaction evaluation, and differences in evaluations across areas and individual indicators. The research findings reveal several key points: (1) People’s attention and demands regarding scene elements in urban historic conservation areas are multifaceted. (2) There is a high degree of tolerance among people towards urban historic conservation areas, with varying preferences for different areas. (3) The approach to area protection and development needs diversification. (4) People’s overall perception of an area is influenced by various elements within the scenes. The application of this evaluation framework can aid in understanding people’s “demands” and their underlying reasons while also providing assistance for future optimization efforts related to urban historic conservation areas. Furthermore, the subjective evaluation framework has potential applicability for research into other historical cultural street areas.

1. Introduction

The focus of this research is to examine how historical areas adapt to the demands of modern society during the process of urban development, and identify potential points for optimization to achieve a harmonious balance between preservation and progress. This research is in line with the themes discussed in the journal such as “Strategies for Sustainable Urban Development” and “Multi-Dimensional Organic Conservation of Historical Neighborhood Buildings in the Context of Sustainable Urban Renewal”.

In the process of urban renewal, the preservation and development of urban historic areas always play a pivotal role. In China, there exist urban historic areas with abundant cultural heritage and a concentration of historic buildings, which authentically and comprehensively reflect traditional patterns and historical styles on a large scale. These designated areas are reviewed and designated by the government, known as “Historic Blocks”, “Historic Districts”, “Urban Historic Conservation Areas”, or “Historic and Cultural Areas/Blocks” [1]. Within this study, these areas will be referred to as “Urban Historic Conservation Areas”. Urban historic conservation areas have consistently retained their urban functions while exuding vitality, thereby holding immense significance in preserving traditional culture, showcasing regional characteristics, and establishing contextual networks [2]. Consequently, safeguarding and developing these areas has perpetually constituted an integral component of urban renewal.

In terms of research on the protection and development of historic conservation areas in modern cities, scholars have made significant progress. Palomar [3] proposed that the sustainable development of historic areas is challenged with an ad hoc prioritization of development factors that lead to a bias in the operationalization of strategies towards the interests of policymakers in the city’s economic competitiveness. This study employs a systematic approach to assess the correlation between urban development and the preservation of historical conservation areas. Anestis et al. [4] and Baharak et al. [5] and Gabriele [6] emphasized the importance of cultural heritage disaster risk management, as well as the significant role that Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) tools, 3D digitalization, and machine learning technology can play in urban heritage preservation. In addition, there are also many papers focusing on the land use, economic value, cultural heritage restoration techniques, and material selection in historical areas, as well as research on thermal environment management.

On the other hand, many scholars have shifted their focus in the study of urban historic conservation areas from “objects” to “people”, initiating research on the interaction between area environments and human beings. This perspective places greater emphasis on the experiential feelings that historic areas offer to individuals. For example, Xie et al. [7] employed the Analytic Hierarchy Process to conduct a perceptual assessment of historic conservation areas, suggesting that the scene design of areas should prioritize the experiential preferences of visitors to promote cultural identity and historical continuity. He [8] contends that the relationship between urbanization and culture heritage protection is not completely conflicting. Coordinative development between the two is increasingly becoming a social consensus. Tang et al. [9] assert that the enhancement in urban historic conservation areas necessitates an ongoing equilibrium between tradition and modernity. In their research, they constructed an evaluation framework for the visual quality of street space. Jiang [10] discusses the historical area’s impact on people’s experiential perception from the perspective of soundscapes, and finds that positive soundscape perception contributes to enhancing tourists’ satisfaction in historical conservation areas.

Overall, studies on urban historic conservation areas are extremely diverse. The growing emphasis on studies that focus on human experiences indicates that the activation and development of urban historic conservation areas have become another key focus alongside preservation.

As integral parts of a city, urban historic conservation areas cannot be detached from urban development and must progress in tandem [11]. Moreover, the lifestyles of individuals active within these areas have undergone significant transformations compared to the past. Consequently, the contemporary “demand” for urban historic areas reflects people’s desires for such areas within the city. This demand may encompass functional aspects like residential housing or spiritual needs such as a historical ambiance [12]. The response of urban historic conservation areas to this demand is reflected in their scenes. Various elements within these scenes interact with individuals, evoking feelings of comfort or pleasure for some while inducing boredom or irritability in others, all of which significantly impact area vitality [13]. Therefore, this study is dedicated to extracting these elements and conducting a systematical evaluation to ascertain people’s demands and determine whether they are being met. This serves as an essential foundation for the preservation and development of urban historic conservation areas.

2. Theoretical Framework and Methodology

2.1. The Theory of Post-Occupancy Evaluation and the Theory of Scenes

The theory and method of post-occupancy evaluation (POE) constitute the primary theoretical framework underpinning this research. The POE theory, developed by Professor Wolfgang F. E. Preiser and other scholars, is defined as “a structured process of evaluating the performance of a building after it has been built and occupied” [14]. It encompasses the objective performance of buildings as well as the subjective experiences of individuals. The individuals engaged in activities within the built environment are referred to as “users”. This theoretical framework and methodology enable the quantitative analysis of subjective perceptions, leading to its rapid expansion into broader research areas. This approach can be applied to evaluate and analyze any environment where human activities occur, with these “individuals” being considered as the “users” of the environment.

In studies focusing on urban historic conservation areas, employing POE allows for an assessment of current cultural heritage status to develop corresponding preservation strategies [15,16]. Additionally, it facilitates evaluations and recommendations regarding the physical environmental performance within street districts while also analyzing landscape quality [17,18,19]. Furthermore, from a subjective perception perspective, POE can be utilized to analyze local characteristics and assess the impact on cultural inheritance within urban historic conservation areas [7,20,21].

The theory of scenes, proposed by Professor Terry Clark and his research team, suggests that a combination of “amenity”-oriented elements can form “specific cultural environments” known as scenes, which embody diverse cultural values and different modes of production and lifestyles [22]. This theory emphasizes the interaction between individuals and scene elements, highlighting the impact of various scene elements on people’s emotions and consumption patterns [23,24]. As a result, the theory of scenes has found numerous applications in urban studies.

The theory of scenes contributes to the extraction of various elements of scenes in the study of urban historic conservation areas [25,26,27,28], stimulating interaction and feedback between users and cultural spaces within these areas [28]. It also aids in establishing a framework for identifying cultural values and analyzing scenes [26,29,30].

2.2. A Demand-Centered Subjective Evaluation Framework for Scenes

This study explores the development direction of urban historic conservation areas in modern cities, focusing on people’s demand for these areas. The research path is based on the theory of scenes for extracting scene elements of urban historic conservation areas, and employs the theory of post-occupancy evaluation for subjective assessment of these elements.

The research methodology employed combines a quantitative statistical analysis with a descriptive analysis. Quantitative data are utilized to capture phenomena in urban historic conservation areas, such as the distribution of population vitality, service facilities, users’ cognitive focus on the areas, and their evaluation of scene elements. The analysis of quantitative data aids in identifying the characteristics and patterns of these phenomena. The descriptive analysis, on the other hand, is a qualitative research method that provides explanations for the causes and development trends of phenomena [31,32]. It also contributes to understanding evaluators’ perspectives and analyzing their requirements for urban historic conservation areas.

Therefore, based on the overall research concept, a subjective evaluation framework for scenes (Figure 1) was developed with the core focus on users’ demand for urban historic conservation areas. This evaluation framework starts from the “user’s demands” (the red box in Figure 1) and is derived upwards. Understanding the demands of users for urban historic conservation areas and their underlying reasons can be obtained from their opinions on the current status of the areas.

One of the methods for subjective evaluation in the post-occupancy evaluation theory is the satisfaction evaluation [33], which can capture user opinions. This method assigns values to evaluation opinions, facilitating the quantitative analysis. Therefore, the “Satisfaction Evaluation” step is included in the framework. In a statistical analysis of satisfaction evaluation results, a mean analysis can display the satisfaction evaluation level for each indicator, providing a comprehensive understanding of respondents’ overall opinions on the evaluation indicators; a variance analysis can be used to compare evaluation situations in different areas; and a correlation analysis can be employed to investigate potential relationships between indicators. These three analytical methods discuss users’ demands from three perspectives: intuitive assessment levels, indirect difference comparison, and correlation relationships. This constitutes the primary component of the evaluation framework.

How are the indicators for satisfaction evaluation determined? They are derived from both the material and spiritual elements present in the area scenes. The process of establishing these indicators involves summarizing these elements into representative words and phrases. However, given the multitude of elements that constitute an area scene, determining which ones can serve as evaluation indicators and which should be excluded depends on the core of the evaluation framework: users’ demands.

As such, extracting these elements necessitates starting from aspects that users care about. This requires collecting users’ experiences within the area scenes, encompassing both subjective cognitive results and objective descriptions of phenomena. This forms the right side of the evaluation framework. In accordance with the theory of scenes, conducting professional sorting of elements within areas and gathering background information are essential to effectively categorize and index users’ disorganized element information. This constitutes the left side of the evaluation framework.

Its role in relation to urban historic conservation areas is to provide a basis and recommendations for optimizing the area scenes and enhancing the value of areas. This is also the goal of the entire evaluation framework.

Finally, the evaluation framework has been established. Within this framework, scene elements were extracted from background research on the areas and user experiential feedback, while also utilizing online data collection for the quantitative analysis. Subsequently, these scene elements were synthesized into evaluative indicators to assess user satisfaction with the areas. The resulting evaluations were then statistically analyzed in conjunction with in-depth research of the areas to interpret and analyze the quantitative findings. Through both qualitative and quantitative analyses, insights into user demand for area scenes were obtained, leading to discussions about the development of urban historic conservation areas.

To validate the feasibility of this evaluation framework, a case study was conducted using Foshan City’s urban historic conservation areas in China as an example for subjective scene evaluation.

3. Application of Evaluation Framework

3.1. Background of the Cases

Foshan boasts a rich history with numerous renowned figures, making it one of the core regions for Guangfu Culture. Situated in the central south region of Guangdong Province within the Pearl River Delta hinterland, Foshan enjoys favorable geographical advantages. As a result, it has historically thrived with a dense population. Foshan possesses 20 provincial-level urban historic conservation areas (Figure 2), second only to Guangzhou [34]. These areas serve as symbols of Foshan’s prosperity throughout its urban development history; many have fulfilled important urban functions while some remain as core or significant functional areas within the city even today [35]. Their strategic locations, environmental conditions, and distinctive cultures make them vital contributors to urban vitality while representing key forces in highlighting urban characteristics and preserving heritage values. Consequently, during rapid processes of urban renewal over time, urban historic conservation areas have never been neglected.

These areas are distinctive and distributed across three administrative districts. Among them, there are eight areas in Chancheng District, eight in Shunde District, and four in Nanhai District [34]. Based on their heritage type and development direction, some revolve around clan culture, such as the Changjiao Li-style Jiamiao urban historic conservation area; others focus on showcasing traditional village folk customs, like the Li Bian and Yanqiao urban historic conservation areas. Some emphasize the residential culture of an old city, such as the Renwei and Pinzi Street urban historic conservation areas. Some areas inherit a prosperous commercial culture, such as the urban historic conservation area of Ancestral temple-Donghuali. Additionally, there is Lianhua South’s urban historic conservation area characterized by religion; Liangyuan, Xiqiao Mountain, and other urban historic conservation areas featuring landscape culture; and Nanfeng Ancient Stove urban historic conservation areas centered around handicrafts [36]. Most areas serve multiple functions—especially residential–commercial—and often incorporate area features in a mixed manner. Particularly during the revitalization process of urban historic conservation areas, highlighting traditional characteristics while promoting commerce becomes an important means to maintain vitality.

The Chancheng District is the most densely populated old urban area in Foshan, with an area of 153.91 square kilometers, accounting for approximately 4% of the total city area. It has a permanent population of around 1.33 million people, constituting about 13.9% of the city’s total population [37,38,39]. Within the district, eight urban historic conservation areas are situated in the northeast (Figure 3 and Figure 4). Areas numbered 1 to 6, covering an area of 121.3 hectares (the data include the core protection area, the construction control area, and the environmental coordination area of the urban historic conservation areas; data source: Foshan Natural Resources Bureau, https://fszrzy.foshan.gov.cn/, accessed on 27 November 2023), are home to numerous traditional buildings and renowned historical and cultural heritage sites. They also serve as important urban centers for residential, commercial, leisure, and educational activities [36].

3.2. Vitality of Scenes

On-site field research of scenes reflects the phenomena of several local sites and temporal points, making it challenging to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the scenes. Furthermore, in addition to various “amenities”, human participation is an essential component of scene composition, necessitating an understanding of human activities. Population heatmap data can provide real-time insights into people’s aggregation within areas; high levels of concentration symbolize vibrant spatial dynamics and richly diverse scenes. Additionally, POI (Point of Interest) data can help to elucidate the reasons for human gatherings and demonstrate the foundational material conditions that give rise to scenes of urban historic conservation areas. Both sets of data are used to present a comprehensive panorama of the vitality of the scenes, and can also prepare for the subsequent extraction of scene elements and the selection of evaluation subjects.

The heatmap depicts the dynamic state of space resulting from user gatherings, serving as a spatio-temporal representation that portrays the real-time spatial distribution of the population in cities using various colors. It comprises seven colors, red (density > 60 people·hm⁻²), orange (60 > density > 40~60 person·hm⁻²), yellow (density > 20~40 people·hm⁻²), green (density > 10~20 people·hm⁻²), cyan (density ≤ 10 person·hm⁻²), light blue (default value), and blue (default value), each indicating different population concentration densities [40]. Currently, there are numerous platforms that can provide heatmap data, which are sourced from the location information generated by user interactions with platform products. Although these heatmaps may not accurately and comprehensively capture population activity data, they can to some extent reflect general patterns of population aggregation due to high per capita mobile phone usage rates and platform product access scales. Most areas without population concentration consist solely of streets, buildings, and other material elements that will deteriorate rapidly over time. This holds particularly true for urban historic conservation areas whose material existence serves as carriers for human activities’ history and emotional culture. Once people are gone, the value of areas will no longer be sustained. At the same time, preserving and revitalizing any cultural heritage rely on user participation to maintain vitality or even revive prosperity; thus, ensuring a certain level of population gathering guarantees area vitality.

We selected the Baidu platform to obtain the heatmaps of the urban historic conservation areas in Chancheng District. Avoiding public long holidays, we chose a non-consecutive, complete two-week period as the research time. During these two weeks, we captured several heatmaps at two different scales every hour from 9 am to 10 pm. A total of 298 heatmaps for Chancheng District and 313 heatmaps for Areas 1–6 were acquired. Based on the thermal distribution and variation, forty representative maps (the heatmap was chosen based on the equilibrium degree of time distribution and the significance of thermal change) were selected to construct the heatmap comparison chart (Figure 5 and Figure 6). As shown in Figure 5, a more concentrated area of vitality is observed in the northeastern region of Chancheng District, and this distribution remains consistent across all time periods. This suggests an imbalance in population distribution across the entire administrative district. The coverage of the lower heat zone, represented by green and cyan, remained relatively stable from morning to evening. However, significant changes were observed in the middle- and high-heat-value regions covered by yellow, orange, and red. The coverage area of the middle- and high-heat-value region reaches its maximum extent every day at approximately 19 to 20 o’clock in the evening. Friday and Sunday evenings exhibit the broadest coverage within the middle- and high-heat-value region. This pattern aligns with the typical commuting schedule observed across various professions.

The heatmap of Areas 1–6 is presented in Figure 6, with the black box representing the area boundary. The degree of population concentration is lower during the morning and after 10:00 p.m., gradually increasing after 3 p.m. until reaching a peak between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Throughout Monday to Thursday, there is minimal variation in this pattern; however, on Friday evenings, the degree of aggregation significantly surpasses that of Monday to Thursday and even exceeds weekend levels during the sampling period. On weekends, high aggregation begins around noon with minimal fluctuations thereafter, resulting in an overall balanced state of spatial concentration.

For each area, the degree of the population concentration state varies. The degree of population concentration is the lowest in Block 1, relatively the highest in Block 5, and moderate in Blocks 2–4 and 6. The vitality state of the areas, ascertained through field investigation, agrees with the heatmap.

Despite Area 1’s garden being relatively well known, it has limited capacity and cannot sustain long-term people gatherings except for major events. Although Area 1 features a renowned garden, its limited capacity and restrictive layout hinder the establishment of sustained user gatherings beyond major events. Moreover, the garden’s ambiance is unsuitable for accommodating large crowds, which would compromise its serene spatial qualities. Consequently, its spatial vitality fails to stand out. The traditional residential houses surrounding the garden provide a limited heat value due to their predominantly elderly and a small number of mobile populations. However, it would be premature to conclude that their area lacks vitality. During scene investigation, we discovered a distinct scene style that distinguishes itself from bustling cities: a liveliness, deep breath of life, and high space utilization rate serve as evident indicators of good spatial vitality (Figure 7).

Area 5 stands out as a comprehensive urban historic conservation area featuring renowned religious historical buildings alongside successfully revitalized traditional residential clusters. Its primary functions include exhibitions and commerce; particularly prosperous businesses attract users to gather and prolong their stay within this area. Furthermore, its added value lies in history and culture, which further enhances the overall vitality of the area—an observation corroborated by on-site research.

The areas numbered 2–4 and 6 primarily consist of traditional residential buildings, which exhibit a certain level of revitalization and reuse but have not yet achieved a significant scale. The users in these areas are predominantly elderly individuals, tenants, and a small number of transient populations, who contribute relatively low or unstable levels of social engagement. Moreover, the area has limited capacity to attract external visitors for gatherings or visits. Notably, Area 2 is characterized by its large size; however, it does not possess a high degree of a heat value. Based on our field survey findings (Figure 8), we observed that numerous traditional buildings in these areas are currently undergoing repairs or scheduled for renovation work, resulting in an inability to accommodate large gatherings of users. The peak periods of social activity within these four areas typically occur during the evening hours and are mostly concentrated along the periphery of the areas. To investigate this phenomenon further, we collected Point of Interest (POI) data (POI data source: provided by Shenzhen Shuweihuiju Technology Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen, China, https://www.swguancha.com/home/about, accessed on 10 December 2023.) pertaining to the case study area as depicted in Figure 9, Figure 10 and Figure 11.

The distribution locations of the eight types of interest points are indicated in Figure 9. Except for Area 5, most of the interest points in the remaining five areas are situated along the periphery of each area. Notably, this pattern is also observed in the distribution of interest points related to catering retail and life service, which have strong connections with daily life and tend to attract crowds (Figure 10 and Figure 11). Therefore, we can gain a preliminary understanding as to why regions with higher thermal values exhibit such distributions. In contrast, Area 5 features numerous interior interest points that effectively activate its vitality. However, other areas lack essential functions for modern cities and fail to meet users’ demands within the core protection area, thereby somewhat hindering their enhancement in vitality.

3.3. Selection of Two Case Study Areas

The preservation and revitalization of urban historic conservation areas have long been a focal point for government attention. In July 2019, the Foshan municipal government issued a document outlining the protection planning for Areas 1–8 [37]. This document established principles and objectives for the preservation and rejuvenation of urban historic conservation areas. Preservation efforts are primarily focused on safeguarding the authenticity, integrity of distinctive features, and continuity of cultural and societal aspects. Meanwhile, rejuvenation efforts prioritize enhancing infrastructure and residential environments to sustain area vitality.

Under the guidance of principles and objectives for preservation, the document outlines distinct requirements for the specific revitalization and activation of each area. For instance, Area 2, 3, 4, and 6, which are characterized by a prevalence of traditional residences, necessitate the restoration and refurbishment of street textures, courtyard layouts, and houses as their primary focus. Additionally, they require the addition of service facilities without altering the original area style. Furthermore, these areas should cultivate their unique cultural features such as calligraphy culture in Area 2 while maintaining the area’s traditional character [41].

Area 1, 7, and 8 are characterized by their distinctive features in landscape, handicrafts, and religious culture. Consequently, the direction of their revitalization is oriented towards tourism development and cultural experiences [42].

Area 5 has historically been a mixed residential–commercial area with an amalgamation of ancestral temple culture. It is situated in the urban core with convenient transportation access and significant local characteristics. Therefore, the emphasis is on highlighting its commercial value and local culture, utilizing traditional architecture to create a unique experiential commercial street [43].

As of the end of 2023, the government and implementing agencies are still in the process of carrying out projects aimed at protecting and utilizing these urban historic conservation areas.

The landscaping within Area 1, designated as a scenic area, has been well maintained. Surrounding the scenic spot are traditional residential buildings and street spaces, characterized by unique architectural forms and residents’ lifestyles. However, some houses in this area are severely damaged. The conservation and restoration efforts for Area 2 have progressed slowly, with traditional buildings frequently closed for construction work; it is currently in a state of pending development.

Overall protection and repair work for Area 3 has been essentially completed with varying degrees of development achieved while preserving its overall style. Area 4 predominantly maintains its residential functions and has undergone renovations along with functional conversions.

The renovation and utilization of Area 5 are highly comprehensive, with a predominant transformation from residential to commercial functions that are seamlessly integrated with modern culture. Simultaneously, the sacrificial purpose has been converted into an exhibition commemorative function, effectively enhancing its cultural value.

Despite its relative underdevelopment, Area 6 primarily preserves its original functions while incorporating some renovations to traditional structures. Serving as a cultural landscape, Area 7 has been subject to comprehensive restoration and repurposing efforts that have converted its initial purposes into exhibition venues, research establishments, and recreational areas. Covering a smaller land area, Area 8 is primarily characterized by the preserved and renovated ancestral temple complex, which has been repurposed for exhibition purposes. Near Areas 7 and 8 lie no remnants of traditional architecture; due to limited buffer space available in these areas, their integration with the city is comparatively lower than other areas.

Based on the extent and type of renovation, the fifth and sixth area have been chosen as the target locations for the subjective evaluation of scenes. These two adjacent areas differ in scale, with the fifth block primarily serving commercial functions and being larger in size, while the sixth block is smaller and mainly designated for residential purposes.

3.4. Extraction and Standardization of Scene Elements

To investigate people’s demands for urban historic areas, the scenarios for human activities within areas should be studied with a focus on the “human” perspective as the core of research. Therefore, determining “amenities” and understanding people’s perceptions of these scenes should be obtained from users of area scenes. To gather a substantial number of opinions about scenes, this study utilizes online platforms to access publicly available information regarding people’s feelings and evaluations of scenes, and extracts relevant insights from them.

The data collection process involved various websites (the websites covered include Weibo, Dianping, Hornet’s Nest, Ctrip, Baidu News, WeChat articles, and other platforms). A total of 10,968 comments were collected about Area 5 and 342 comments about Area 6. The difference in data volume between the two areas can be attributed to their varying popularity and scale. After conducting word segmentation and text cleaning procedures, we extracted high-frequency words (the selected words in the figure all have word frequency values greater than 10 and belong to the noun part of speech; common words such as street names, store names, food names, personal pronouns, etc., as well as less meaningful words like “here”, “place”, and “inside”, have been excluded) and visually represented them as a word cloud map (Figure 12 and Figure 13). Among the extracted high-frequency words from both areas (183 from Area 5 and 68 from Area 6), they were categorized based on their meanings into five categories: environmental ambience (e.g., style, history, tradition), area resources (e.g., architecture, food, ancient trees), area planning and design (e.g., street, decoration, traffic), service facilities (e.g., parking, lighting, sanitation), and special pronouns (e.g., photo, clock, coffee). High-frequency vocabularies reflect the scene elements of areas that users pay more attention to or have a deeper experience with, and can serve as an important basis for formulating subjective evaluation indicators [44].

The high-frequency vocabularies obtained cannot be directly used as evaluation indicators; in-depth research on the area scenes is also necessary. It involves extracting the elements of the area scenes from a holistic to detailed perspective. The extraction direction encompasses the overall environment of the areas, fundamental material components of the scenes (such as buildings, streets, and various facilities), spiritual aspects of the scenes (e.g., historical and cultural value representation), and resource elements for revitalizing the area (e.g., cultural heritage and local characteristics). Additionally, existing research findings are referenced, and after deliberation by six experts, these elements are organized into indicators, as shown in Figure 14.

3.5. Subjective Evaluation of Satisfaction with Area Scenes

Area 5 is a popular tourist destination, with average daily foot traffic of approximately 90,000 individuals in the core protection area from January to June 2024 (the data are sourced from the publicity platform of the Information Office under the Foshan Municipal People’s Government). The primary demographic comprises tourists. The area has an estimated 20,000 permanent residents and around 6000 individuals engaged in business and management services within the area (the data are provided by Shenzhen Shuweihuiju Technology Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen China https://www.swguancha.com/home/about, accessed on 5 August 2024); the data include the environmental coordination zone outside the core protection area). In Area 6, there are approximately 7000 permanent residents and about 2000 people involved in business and management services (the data are sourced from the publicity platform of the Information Office under the Foshan Municipal People’s Government). The number of visitors within the core protection area fluctuates significantly, with fewer than 50 visitors on weekdays. On weekends, there is a slight increase in the number of visitors, and if tour groups visit, the number can exceed 100 (data source: counted on-site and at specific times based on a survey conducted over four workdays and five weekends).

Utilizing the evaluation indicator set depicted in Figure 14, a questionnaire was developed (Figure 15), featuring five satisfaction levels for each indicator, “Extremely Satisfied”, “Satisfied”, “Accepted”, “Dissatisfied”, and “Extremely Dissatisfied”, corresponding to scores ranging from 1 to 5. To ensure targeted evaluation information acquisition, all questionnaires were completed on-site by randomly selected individuals representing various roles within the core protection areas.

In Area 5, a total of 116 evaluation questionnaires were collected through participation from 72 tourists, 28 merchants, 10 residents, and 6 management staff members; among these questionnaires, 113 were deemed valid. In Area 6, a total of 65 evaluation questionnaires were received with participation from 15 residents, 22 merchants, 22 tourists, and 6 management staff members; 62 of these questionnaires were considered valid.

We generated a graph (Figure 16) of the average user satisfaction rating based on the collected user evaluation data. According to the quantification standard of user satisfaction evaluation (

Table 1. Quantification standard of user satisfaction evaluation [33].

Evaluation Value xi	Comment	Rating
xi ≤ 1.5	Very good	E1
1.5 < xi ≤ 2.5	Good	E2
2.5 < xi ≤ 3.5	Average	E3
3.5 < xi ≤ 4.5	Poor	E4
Xi > 4.5	Very poor	E5

), a “very good” rating indicates that most evaluators are extremely satisfied with the indicator, while a “good” rating suggests that evaluators are satisfied with the indicator. An “average” rating implies that most evaluators find the current state of the scene indicator to be acceptable, whereas “poor” and “very poor” ratings indicate varying degrees of dissatisfaction among evaluators regarding this scene indicator.

Based on the collected evaluation opinions, users have demonstrated a relatively high level of recognition regarding the significance of the preservation and utilization of both areas. Area 5 is strategically situated in a favorable geographical location and has emerged as one of Foshan’s prominent landmarks after its activation. Area 6 portrays a distinctive representation of local life in Foshan, with these two adjacent areas showcasing contrasting styles. While overall user satisfaction in both areas is commendable, there are still notable variations across different evaluation indicators.

4. Analysis of Evaluation Results

4.1. Analysis of Satisfaction Evaluation Results for Scene Indicators

4.1.1. Overall Perception of Area Scenes

In terms of the overall user experience, the evaluations for Area 5 in each aspect (indicators A1–A6) are quite similar, with scores around 2.5, which falls at the boundary between “E2- Good” and “E3- Average” rating levels. This suggests that most evaluators express approval, but also indicates significant room for improvement.

Based on the user evaluation information extracted from the online review and the on-site interview survey, users express less satisfaction with the integration of traditional architecture and modern trend commerce, particularly in the “Lingnan Tiandi” area within this area. Some users perceive an excessive commercialization, as many business forms and models resemble those found in areas like “Shanghai Xintiandi” or “Yongqing Fang”, thereby suppressing local characteristics (Figure 17 and Figure 18). Additionally, they believe that the infusion of trendy culture compromises the sufficient representation of traditional historical and cultural values and styles. However, many users also appreciate the revitalization efforts made in this area as they find it more appealing to preserve history and culture through a modern approach, which contributes to its economic revival. The outcome thus integrates both perspectives, resulting in a relatively positive assessment of the overall environment.

The indicators of Area 6 exhibit significant variations. The rating for A1 was deemed as “E3- Average”, while the remaining items were all rated as “E2- Good”, with A5 receiving the highest level of satisfaction. However, it is noteworthy that Area 6 exhibits a smaller level of popularity, scale, and population compared to Area 5. Moreover, the number of on-site evaluation samples collected is limited. Consequently, extreme evaluations exert a more pronounced influence on the outcome. This phenomenon can be observed in Figure 16 where significant fluctuations in the line occur due to this reason.

Area 6 primarily functions as a residential area, exuding a relatively tranquil ambiance inside. The street dimensions are conducive to pedestrian activities, creating a striking contrast with the bustling urban surroundings and accentuating its serene and unhurried temperament (Figure 19). Particularly for tourists, it is deemed to offer superior environmental comfort. Within this area, traditional structures coexist harmoniously alongside post-built houses, resulting in a slightly eclectic architectural style. Despite housing notable attractions such as Guogong Temple, Hongsheng Ancestral Hall, Chen Tiejun’s former residence, and Xiuyan Fugong Temple, the popularity of these landmarks remains limited. Consequently, users possess only a modest understanding of the area’s cultural significance.

4.1.2. Utilization and Activation of Area Resources

The six evaluation indicators of Area 5 are all at the “E2- Good” level (indicators B1–B6). Publicity and brand building were evaluated well. Compared with other urban historic conservation areas in Foshan, the development of the No. 5 area is more vigorous and the results are remarkable.

However, the assessment of B2 is close to the “E3- Average” level due to divergent attitudes towards the expression of humanistic heritage among users. For instance, while some commend the transformation of “Ancestral Temple” into museums and their integration with lion dance culture, Cantonese opera culture, and martial arts culture; others criticize it. The proponents of this transformation argue that it has enhanced the functional connotation of the ancestral temple, imbuing it with greater humanistic value. Furthermore, they assert that the exquisite traditional architecture serves as a medium for integrating Foshan’s traditional culture in a manner that is accessible and relatable to the public. The less satisfactory aspects mainly revolve around the exhibition quality and management level such as unreasonable location arrangements for watching performances, leading to overcrowding and the obstruction of vision along with incomplete sunshade facilities (Figure 20). These issues are caused by high user expectations resulting from excessive publicity, creating a gap between realities.

In addition, the modern business model of Donghuali’s elimination of the original history and style is also a contributing factor to its lower evaluation (Figure 21). An insufficient incorporation of contemporary commercial culture fails to stimulate vitality, while excessive infusion dilutes the distinctive features of traditional culture and ultimately leads to a decline in dynamism. Consequently, the model of combining traditional architecture with modern business necessitates the meticulous consideration of the arrangement and level of integration.

In this context, the satisfaction level of Area 6 is suboptimal, with all indicators except for B5 being rated as “E3- Average”. This can be attributed to the small area size and low activation level, primarily consisting of residential areas with limited interactive spaces for visitors. Furthermore, the inclusion of some modern buildings within the area has compromised its overall architectural artistic characteristics (Figure 22).

Commercial development of Area 6 mainly comprises small-scale private eateries, coffee shops, cultural and creative stores, etc., lacking distinctiveness and being vulnerable to competition from similar business practitioners in adjacent Area 5. The renovation of buildings in the area primarily focuses on a select few key ancestral halls and former residences, while inadequate attention is given to the maintenance of other traditional structures (Figure 23). The culturally significant “fried iron” remains predominantly unexplored and underutilized, with only several cultural propaganda and visual presentations found on ancient temples and walls.

4.1.3. Optimization and Design of Areas

The material environment of the area is the foundation for the scene to be presented, and in this regard, all the indicators for Area 5 are rated as good (indicators C1–C6). Following comprehensive planning and detailed design, the area now exhibits a more cohesive and aesthetically pleasing environmental state. While not all users may be satisfied with the preservation of historical and cultural elements, the majority express contentment with clean streets, organized traffic flow, well-maintained buildings, street textures, landscape arrangements, and other aspects. Notably, in Area 5, it comprises three distinct traditional building zones from west to east. Each zone is surrounded by wider roads to facilitate traffic diversion. The facades along the streets have been renovated or transformed to maintain stylistic harmony and unity.

On the western side, the ancestral temple zone features extensive green spaces and public activity areas that serve as buffers between densely populated eastern and western sides while also accentuating concentrated traditional buildings with expansive green vistas—forming a three-dimensional figure–ground relationship.

The traditional buildings within each zone have been largely restored to ensure that cleanliness and orderliness are maintained. Although lacking the unique beauty derived from mixed logic under traditional ways of life—which may appear somewhat blunt—it aligns well with modern urban functionality given today’s fast-paced lifestyle (Figure 24).

The evaluation of indicators (indicators C1–C6) in Area 6 shows significant differences. Two evaluations, C1 and C2, were rated “E3- Average”, while the other four were deemed good. Of particular significance is the high level of user satisfaction regarding the street scale and landscape greening, which can be attributed to the pedestrian-friendly nature of the area. This includes pleasant street spaces with a height-to-width ratio close to 1:1, as well as winding alleys with a ratio of nearly 3:1, providing ample open activity areas at intersections. Consequently, within this small-scale area, there exists a dynamic interplay between wide and narrow as well as open and enclosed spaces that fosters an intimate relationship between people and their surroundings (Figure 25). This spatial arrangement engenders a slow-paced and leisurely flow of time. In contrast, modern urban areas outside the urban historic conservation area often evoke feelings of alienation where time predominantly flows based on vehicular speed. When walking through such areas, individuals unconsciously quicken their pace in haste. Even within Area 5’s traditional buildings and streetscape, there is greater building volume and spatial scale.

The landscape of Area 6 is relatively small-scale, with few towering trees. The front of a house boasts an abundance of bonsai plants, while the yard is adorned with short trees. The roof and walls are embellished with colorful paintings and graffiti that harmonize perfectly with the surrounding area. As for traditional buildings, many have undergone insufficient repairs, showcased their original appearance, and exuded a lively atmosphere through stacked debris, drying clothes, and mismatched sunshades and awnings, as well as ubiquitous electric wire meter boxes (Figure 26). This stark contrast to Area 5’s orderly arrangement may lead users to perceive inadequate heritage protection.

4.1.4. Service Facilities of Areas

The service facilities in Area 5 generally meet the demands of users, except for “parking facilities” (indicator D4). However, parking consistently remains a prominent source of user dissatisfaction in popular areas, particularly during holiday periods. Within a 1 km radius from the area’s center, there are a total of 149 parking lots/garages available, with approximately half of these spaces restricted to public access. The area management office has established a spacious parking lot, while the surrounding shopping mall offers some parking space. Additionally, there are also several temporary parking spots available on the side of the road, all conveniently located within a short walking distance and with high accessibility. However, during holiday seasons, locating an available spot becomes increasingly challenging, leading to the emergence of numerous “parking strategies” shared online. The evaluation of sanitation facilities is close to an “E3- Average” level, primarily due to a limited number of restrooms and some dissatisfaction stemming from waste left behind by various activities.

In Area 6, the evaluators expressed a lower level of satisfaction with the leisure facilities (indicator D1), while showing relatively higher levels of satisfaction with the other indicators. Interviewees noted that their activities were limited to strolling around and taking photos, with few interactive options available. Most traditional buildings have restricted access inside, and there are limited spaces for relaxation along the narrow streets. Additionally, parking space within the area is scarce, necessitating inconvenient external parking arrangements for users.

4.2. Comparative Analysis of Two Areas

Do the same indicators show differences across different neighborhoods, which may reflect the tendencies of users’ demands to a certain extent? In sociological statistics, there are various methods for studying differences between two variables. The choice of analysis method depends on the characteristics of the two variables [45]. The evaluator’s satisfaction level with the area can be considered as either a “Nominal Scale” or an “Ordinal Scale”, and after assigning values to these levels, the data can be treated as an “Interval Scale”. Different areas are categorized as “Nominal Scale”. Suitable analytical methods for this study include ANOVA and Cross-tab Analysis. Here, we use One-Way ANOVA to compare data from the two areas.

Table 2. Results of One-Way ANOVA.

Ind.	F	Sig.	Ind.	F	Sig.	Ind.	F	Sig.	Ind.	F	Sig.
A1	2.819	0.095	B1	19.724	0.000	C1	2.461	0.119	D1	17.540	0.000
A2	0.841	0.361	B2	1.102	0.295	C2	1.024	0.313	D2	0.160	0.690
A3	0.983	0.323	B3	11.077	0.001	C3	0.769	0.382	D3	1.195	0.276
A4	0.012	0.914	B4	6.575	0.011	C4	2.108	0.148	D4	5.012	0.026
A5	2.049	0.154	B5	0.500	0.480	C5	4.884	0.028	D5	4.210	0.042
A6	0.647	0.422	B6	40.915	0.000	C6	2.962	0.087	D6	1.386	0.241
Overall evaluation										0.857	0.356

shows the results of the calculation, with each area as the independent variable and each indicator as the dependent variable.

Based on the results displayed in the table, at a confidence level of 0.05, there are significant differences in eight indicators between the two areas, namely B1, B3, B4, B6, C5, D1, D4, and D5. At a confidence level of 0.01, there are four indicators with significant differences between the two areas: B1, B3, B6, and D1. This indicates that there are indeed substantial differences in evaluations between the two areas. Among these indicators, Area 6 exhibits significantly higher satisfaction levels for the “C5 Landscape Design” and “D4 Parking Facilities” indicators compared to Area 5, whereas for other indicators, Area 5 shows significantly higher satisfaction levels than Area 6.

The development level of Area 5 is higher than that of Area 6, with a greater advantage in resource exploration and utilization, as reflected by four significantly different B evaluation indicators. The landscape design evaluation rating for both areas is “E2-Good”.

The landscape of Area 5 has undergone systematic planning and design, featuring various sculptures, water features, greenery, and wall decorations. In contrast, the landscape of Area 6 tends to grow naturally and without constraint. For instance, the trees in front of houses may have matured over several decades without being trimmed, while the climbing vines on walls and flowers blooming at corners are planted by the homeowners themselves. The scenery in Area 6 is smaller and more fragmented. While its design may not match the impressive level of sophistication seen in Area 5’s scenery from a purely aesthetic perspective, it conveys a more intimate ambiance.

For people living in modern cities, they can see a lot of spectacular modern landscape designs, but they may also experience visual fatigue. The landscape of Area 6 presents an “anti-refined” and “non-design” style, which may be fresh and more culturally distinctive for tourists. For residents and management staff members, the landscape of the street may embody their emotions—the warmth of their hometown and the familiar place. For merchants, in Area 6, they can arrange the landscape around their shops more freely, with a style that is mostly small, cozy, and intimate. This may be one of the reasons why the landscape satisfaction of Area 6 is higher.

For the D4 parking facility indicator, the satisfaction levels for both areas were not very high, but the evaluation for Area 5 was even lower. The reason for this is that the population in the two areas is very different, and the number of facilities required is different. During the survey, it was found that residents and tourists in Area 6 mostly used non-motorized transportation, while merchants who were the main evaluation subjects hoped for more diverse parking facilities.

In summary, people generally approve of the resource exploitation and development utilization of urban historic conservation areas, and hope for better promotion to form the local distinctive economy. However, similar development patterns may cause people to feel visual fatigue, and modern design techniques may make the historical area scenes lack humanistic atmosphere and emotional connotations. In the fast-paced life of a city, perhaps people need quiet, intimate, and casual scenes to relieve stress.

4.3. Correlation Analysis between Indicators and Overall Evaluation

What elements of the area scene contribute to the overall impression? This can be determined by analyzing the correlation between each indicator and the overall evaluation.

Table 3. The correlation analysis between each index and the overall evaluation.

Case	Ind.	r	Sig.	Ind.	r	Sig.	Ind.	r	Sig.	Ind.	r	Sig.
Area 5	A1	0.259 **	0.006	B1	0.288 **	0.002	C1	0.349 **	0.000	D1	0.480 **	0.000
	A2	0.322 **	0.000	B2	0.333 **	0.000	C2	0.418 **	0.000	D2	0.514 **	0.000
	A3	0.395 **	0.000	B3	0.365 **	0.000	C3	0.356 **	0.000	D3	0.551 **	0.000
	A4	0.442 **	0.000	B4	0.233 *	0.013	C4	0.421 **	0.000	D4	0.483 **	0.000
	A5	0.375 **	0.000	B5	0.313 **	0.001	C5	0.423 **	0.000	D5	0.478 **	0.000
	A6	0.392 **	0.000	B6	0.227 *	0.016	C6	0.507 **	0.000	D6	0.423 **	0.000
Area 6	A1	0.639 **	0.000	B1	0.371 **	0.003	C1	0.354 **	0.005	D1	0.239	0.061
	A2	0.711 **	0.000	B2	0.590 **	0.000	C2	0.447 **	0.000	D2	0.314 *	0.013
	A3	0.652 **	0.000	B3	0.426 **	0.001	C3	0.515 **	0.000	D3	0.302 *	0.017
	A4	0.477 **	0.000	B4	0.386 **	0.002	C4	0.334 **	0.008	D4	0.247	0.053
	A5	0.665 **	0.000	B5	0.301 *	0.018	C5	0.472 **	0.000	D5	0.476 **	0.000
	A6	0.480 **	0.000	B6	0.257 *	0.044	C6	0.198	0.123	D6	0.516 **	0.000

** The correlation reached statistical significance at the 0.01 level. * The correlation reached statistical significance at the 0.05 level.

shows the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients calculated for the two areas.

The results presented in Table 3 demonstrate a positive correlation between the evaluation indicators and the overall assessment. At a confidence level of 0.05, all indicators except for C6, D1, and D4 of Area 6 exhibit significant correlations with the overall evaluation. Furthermore, at a confidence level of 0.01, only B4 and B6 of Area 5, as well as B5, C6, D1, D2, D3, and D4 of Area 6, do not show significant correlations with the overall evaluation.

The absolute values of the correlation coefficient “r” in Table 3 indicate the level of correlation between variables, as detailed in

Table 4. The numerical significance of r.

Value of r	Level of Correlation
|r| ≥ 0.8	High
0.5 ≤ |r| < 0.8	Moderate
0.3 ≤ |r| < 0.5	Low
|r| < 0.3	Nought

[45]. Area 5 does not exhibit any indicators highly correlated with the overall evaluation. The moderately correlated indicators are C6, D2, and D3. Additionally, indicators D1, D4, and D5 show correlations close to the moderate level (r > 0.45). In this context, it can be inferred that the overall evaluation of Area 5 is significantly influenced by facilities and equipment. This suggests that there is a greater emphasis on and demand for facilities and equipment within Area 5.

The sixth area also lacks highly correlated indicators with the overall evaluation. There are seven moderately correlated indicators, namely A1, A2, A3, A5, B2, C3, and D6. Additionally, there are four indicators with a close-to-moderate correlation: A4, A6, C5, and D5 (r > 0.45). The results indicate that in the sixth area, the factors influencing the overall evaluation are concentrated in the perception of the area’s overall scene. While resource utilization and facilities in the sixth area are not as comprehensive as those in the fifth area, respondents’ overall impression of the area is not affected by this; instead, they show greater concern for their perception of various aspects of the area scenes.

5. Discussion

By applying the subjective evaluation framework for scenes, we have gained a certain understanding of two urban historic conservation areas in Foshan. More importantly, we have obtained the attitudes of some users towards the area scenes. The analysis of the results has allowed us to uncover users’ demands for urban historic areas.

In the average satisfaction evaluation, we obtained the evaluation rating of every indicator in the two areas. From the overall trend, it was observed that the satisfaction evaluation rating of the indicators in Area 5 changed little, while those in Area 6 changed significantly.

The data only provide the evaluation results, while the reasons for the evaluation result are derived from conversing with interviewees and observing and analyzing the scene. Through the data analysis and interview results, it was found that people have different evaluation standards for areas with varying levels of development. The cost of investment in protection and activation aspects in Area 5 is much higher than that in Area 6. Consequently, the presented scene of Area 5 aligns more closely with modern urban characteristics such as “cleanliness”, “beauty”, “orderliness”, and a strong sense of experience. On the other hand, Area 6 exhibits scenes characterized by free development and disorder; however, evaluators’ overall satisfaction level is not low. This leads to an inference that people exhibit a high degree of tolerance towards a historical area.

The evaluation of each indicator can reflect people’s specific demands.

For a well-developed area, the emphasis on demand is more towards “historical and cultural experience”, which involves experiencing a different ambiance from modern areas while still requiring basic convenient services. As a result, finding a balance between creating unique scenes and not alienating them from modern life becomes the focal point of scene design.

For areas with low levels of development, people’s demands tend to manifest in two directions. Some individuals appreciate the historical authenticity and prioritize a strong sense of immersion in the environment, preferring to avoid any prominent modern elements that might disrupt the scene ambiance. Conversely, others perceive these areas as lacking in experiential value and underexploiting their historical and cultural resources, thus expressing a higher demand for development. Consequently, following an assessment of various factors influencing development decisions (the determination of the level of development is closely related to various factors such as the geographical location, scale, original function, property rights, development costs, and investment attraction), area scene design should aim to enhance the integrity of its distinctive features while judiciously increasing interactive scenes and service facilities.

In a comparative analysis of two areas, it is evident that people generally support the development of urban historic conservation areas, with a desire for local cultural features to be widely promoted. The demand for additional facilities indicates an increasing willingness among people to visit urban historic conservation areas for experiential purposes. However, the repetition of similar development models and scenes may lead to fatigue. Therefore, there is a need for more diverse directions in area development, richer cultural connotations, and more detailed scene designs.

Through the analysis of relevance, it is evident that people’s overall perception of an area is influenced by various elements within the scene. As discussed in the analysis of mean satisfaction ratings, for the well-developed fifth area, the main factors influencing overall evaluation are the experiential aspects during activities in the area, including the comfort and convenience provided by various facilities. In contrast, for the low-developed sixth area with fewer experiential services and facilities, attention tends to focus on historical and cultural values embodied in the area.

It can be inferred that while Area 5 provides a sense of place with distinctive commercial and cultural tourism characteristics, Area 6 serves as a showcase for traditional life and residential dwellings. The former exhibits deeper integration with modern urban environments while the latter conveys historical and cultural heritage more purely.

In this study, the investigation into the reasons for evaluators’ opinions during the satisfaction evaluation process was thorough and could explain the average scores of various indicators. However, due to a limited number of questionnaires, it was not possible to support discussions on classifying evaluation subjects, which is a limitation of this research. People’s demands vary with different identities, leading to differing perspectives on area scenes. Therefore, scene design should consider the primary users’ identities and cater to their specific needs. We hope to continue researching this aspect in future studies.

Furthermore, each indicator’s importance in optimizing area scenes within the evaluation framework may differ. Calculating weights for these indicators is essential for refining an entire study and will be pursued in subsequent research stages.

6. Conclusions

Urban historic conservation areas are an integral component of cultural heritage, serving as crucial sites for the preservation and promotion of urban cultural continuity. Their significance is evident in their enduring functional use throughout history, as well as their long-standing integration with the urban landscape, bearing witness to the evolution of urban development. The exploration of optimizing urban historic conservation area scenes is an endeavor to unearth their modern-day significance, representing a crucial step in revitalizing the pathways of cultural heritage.

In order to facilitate the contemporary development of a city, urban historic conservation areas must possess not only an inherent disposition but also delve deeply into their potential beyond culture, particularly in terms of economic aspects. Urban historic conservation areas demonstrate sufficient inclusivity and flexibility to accommodate a diverse range of new urban functions, catering to the demands of urban residents in terms of housing, employment, commerce, education, culture, tourism, science and technology, and medical and healthcare services. Consequently, these new demands stimulate the pluralistic development of urban historic conservation areas. During the process of renovating and activating these areas, it is crucial not only to analyze their impact on macro-level urban development but also to explore their inner dynamics while studying users’ personal experiences from a humanistic perspective.

Urban historic conservation areas are deeply embedded with a multitude of users, whose behaviors, spiritual thoughts, aesthetic interests, experiences, and backgrounds are intricately intertwined in every aspect of the area. Consequently, area scenes with profound humanistic connotations are formed [46]. Regardless of how an urban historic conservation area may change, it has always existed as a result of the mutual achievements of its users and material environment. Therefore, the development of urban historic conservation areas needs to fully consider the demands of users, fostering a positive interactive relationship between users and the area’s scenes.

This article provides an overview of the current status of the urban historic conservation areas in Foshan, with a particular focus on subjective evaluations of two specific areas. The obtained evaluation results are closely centered around the feedback from users and area scenes, allowing us to understand what the “demands” are and why they arise. This is precisely the goal that the evaluation framework of this study aims to achieve. Based on the users’ demands, it can provide assistance for the future optimization of the two areas. Additionally, the evaluation method employed can be extended to research in other urban historic conservation areas.

In future research, we will continue to conduct scene evaluations in these urban historic conservation areas. Firstly, a second round of data collection will be initiated, with the sample size expected to significantly increase. A comparative analysis will then be conducted between the two sets of evaluation results. Additionally, we will perform an in-depth comparative analysis of the evaluation opinions in the new data based on differences in the identity of the evaluators. Secondly, we will calculate the weights of each evaluation indicator to refine our index system and obtain insights into people’s perceptions of the importance of different elements within a scene. Thirdly, we plan to undertake a larger-scale scene evaluation using street view images from urban historic conservation areas in Foshan. Machine learning techniques will serve as our primary assessment method aimed at exploring key factors influencing scene quality. The results obtained will be cross-validated with previous research findings to accomplish a multifaceted subjective evaluation study on the scenes of urban historic conservation areas in Foshan, China.