Increasing Chinese immigration has seen some Australian suburbs experience rapid changes to their architectural character and urban form, yet local planning schemes and government policy suggest limited awareness of the contemporary ‘Chineseness’ exploding in these places. This paper focuses on how modern ethnic identity is being interpreted through design practices, contributing to various cultural and spatial developments within built environment. The paper is based on the Victorian suburb of Box Hill, with case study exemplifying the recent reshaping of the suburb through Australian-Chinese migration. Through visual analysis of notable built form and the changed urban landscape of the suburb, this paper explores the (re)constructions of ethnic image and place identity in the formation of the contemporary Chinese suburb that justify its recognition as a form distinct from traditional Chinatowns. It also examines the underpinning cultural and social factors that inform this urban transformation and which influence the sense of contemporary Chineseness. In highlighting new design characteristics and spatial patterns in comparison to current planning schemes, the paper provides analytical framework and design recommendations to influence future design and planning practices to enable the development of ethnic diversity in Australian suburbs without the negative effects of unplanned, overdevelopment.

Authors:
Donna Shu-Ting Chang, Swinburne University, Australia

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Posted by Clive Staples Lewis

Last updated: 2023-02-23 23:45:00

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