Urban Conservation and Renaissance: Theory, Methods and Practices

This volume compiles over forty essays authored by Professor ZHANG Jie across three decades, systematically presenting his theoretical and professional thinking in urban conservation and regeneration in China. Structurally divided into a theory section and a practice section, the book first interrogates the spatial culture of traditional settlements and buildings, the conservation of urban-rural heritage, and urban design and housing; it then elaborates on historic conservation and regeneration through key projects such as the Beijing Guozijian Historic Conservation District, Nanjing City Wall and Laochengnan, Fuzhou SanfangQixiang, and Jingdezhen’s ceramic industrial heritage. Grounded in the principle that "urban construction is for the people", the book proposes a heritage-led paradigm of urban regeneration that reconciles cultural continuity with contemporary development. Serving as both an academic reference and a professional guide, it offers critical insights for architects, urban designers, and heritage conservation practitioners navigating the complexities of urban regeneration in rapidly transforming historic cities.