Research on the Sustainable Development of Traditional Village Residential Dwellings in Northern Shaanxi, China

Traditional villages, protected as cultural heritage in our country, are rich in historical information, cultural landscapes, and traditional domestic architecture. This article explores the spatial distribution of traditional villages and proposes a new paradigm for the sustainable development of traditional dwellings. It addresses the challenges these villages face, such as natural, social, and inherent issues, arising from rapid socioeconomic development and urbanization. This study analyzes the spatial distribution and architectural features of traditional villages and dwellings in Northern Shaanxi based on 179 national and provincial villages. Using ArcGIS 10.1, the geographic concentration index, kernel density analysis, and the analytic hierarchy process, this study applied both macro and micro level perspectives. The research shows that: (1) The traditional villages in northern Shaanxi exhibit a spatial distribution pattern of “overall aggregation, local dispersion, and uneven distribution.” This pattern is influenced by interactions between natural and human factors. (2) Traditional dwellings in these villages are primarily cave dwellings and courtyard buildings, each reflecting unique architectural features in terms of floor plan layout, facade form, structure, materials, and decoration. (3) Traditional village dwellings in northern Shaanxi face practical challenges related to protection, development, and governance. The top three challenges, based on weighted indicators, are issues related to inheritance, an imperfect protection mechanism, and inherent shortcomings of the buildings. Based on these findings, this study proposes three practical suggestions for the sustainable development of traditional village dwellings in Northern Shaanxi. These suggestions aim to enhance the comprehensive and multi-dimensional sustainable development of traditional village dwellings.