Cultural topography of publicness: Assessment of the publicness of public spaces in traditional settlements

In the process of rapid urbanization in China, the public spaces of traditional settlements are undergoing significant transformations and facing numerous challenges. Systematically assessing their publicness and improving spatial quality have become critical issues. This study employs the space syntax method and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to assess the publicness of the public spaces in Zengchong Dong Village and Langde Miao Village, two traditional settlements in the Qiandongnan region, China. Drawing on field research and questionnaire data, we constructed an evaluation index system for publicness from both subjective and objective perspectives, encompassing five dimensions: accessibility, visibility, functionality, iconicity, and inclusiveness. The results show that: 1) The publicness of public spaces varies regionally, with riverside areas exhibiting higher publicness and more vibrant activities compared to adjacent mountainous areas; 2) Validation tests confirmed system reliability (R 2 = 0.832) between calculated publicness scores and expert rating; and 3) Residents’ living habits and the differences in urban-rural perception are the main factors affecting the evaluation of public space publicness. On this basis, our study suggests building unique facilities, involving multiple parties in governance, and boosting cultural exchanges. These steps aid in reviving traditional village spaces, backing rural tourism and spurring economic and cultural growth.