Style evolution rules of Tibetan dwellings in the Amdo Tibetan region: An architectural typology perspective

Abstract

The Amdo Tibetan region is one of the three major Tibetan regions in China, along with the Jiarong Tibetan region and the Kangba Tibetan region. The Amdo Tibetan region is located in the Tibetan-Qiang-Yi corridor, where many ethnic groups have migrated for a long period, and the Tibetan dwellings in the region have typical characteristics such as the intermingling of multiple cultures and various construction methods. With post-disaster reconstruction and rural revitalization work, the architectural landscape of the dwellings in the region has gradually become homogenized with that of other Tibetan regions, suffering construction damage and distorting the architectural culture. However, the current academic circle lacks a description of the evolution rules of folk styles in the Tibetan areas of Amdo. To fill this knowledge gap, this paper selected typical folk styles in Jiuzhaigou Valley in the Tibetan areas of Amdo as the research subject. Based on the perspective of architectural typology, this paper classified folk styles based on field research and constructed a quantitative analysis framework using a “classified-iconic index- characteristic calculation index.” Finally, the following conclusions were reached: (1) The Tibetan dwellings in Jiuzhaigou, as a whole, are evolving in a direction that reflects originality in the plans, modernity in the structure, and autonomy in construction. (2) In the rural settlements of the Ando Tibetan region, the environment, managers, and villagers interact with each other, and the method and degree of influence are intuitively reflected in the appearance of the dwellings. The results of the above study reveal the evolution of the residential landscape in the Tibetan area of Amdo, enriching the theoretical perspective and implementation approaches for the study of residential landscapes, and providing new ideas for the conservation and development of residential houses in ethnic areas in the future, contributing to rural revitalization.