An exploration of the self-similarity of traditional settlements: the case of Xiaoliangjiang Village in Jingxing, Hebei, China

Abstract In order to retain the characteristics and style of traditional settlements and respect their layout and structure, it is necessary to carry out original planning and expansion of traditional settlements. This model of planning and expansion aims to protect the unique character of the settlement, maintain its original historical and cultural value, and integrate with the surrounding environment. Early research on the space complexity of settlements was dominated by qualitative analysis, and the depth of quantitative research on the spatial form of traditional settlements was insufficient. This article takes Xiaoliangjiang Village in Jingxing County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, which entered the fifth batch of the list of Chinese traditional villages list, as the research object. The spatial relationship of the settlement was obtained through field surveys and drone oblique photography, and the spatial morphological elements of Xiaoliangjiang Village were analyzed and extracted. Based on three quantitative theories of spatial form, namely topology theory, fractal theory, and space syntax, the self-similarity of settlements is analyzed from the perspectives of buildings, streets, and spaces. The research uses Matlab and DepthMap software to quantitatively analyze the spatial form of Xiaoliangjiang Village and obtains data. Through the analysis of data, it was found that Xiaoliangjiang Village has self-similarity at three levels: buildings, roads and settlement spaces. The buildings iteratively generate various forms of architectural courtyards through the basic “L”-shaped pattern. The spatial structures at all levels of roads and settlement space in Xiaoliangjiang Village are relatively similar, in line with the bottom-up traditional settlement evolutionary law. By studying settlement self-similarity, people can better understand the formation mechanism of traditional settlement space structure and its evolution law. At the same time, it enriches the research perspective of traditional settlements and provides technical support for analyzing the self-similarity of traditional settlements and settlement protection planning.