Identifying and Mapping Streetscape Locality of Shanghai Hengfu Historic and Cultural Preservation Area

Objective As one of the major open spaces, urban streets not only carry the transportation function, but also promote social interaction, economic growth and display the aesthetic, cultural and historical characteristics of the city. However, many new or updated streets have gradually lost their identity due to the compromise of large-scale construction and short-term delivery. This study proposed that it is important to explore ways to protect and optimize streetscape identity since street constituents the most direct impression of a city. It not only forms the identity of a city together with architecture, historical and cultural heritage, geographical characteristics and social life, but also is an independent carrier of local expression. The identification and optimization of the streetscape locality cannot only protect the landscape uniqueness, enhance the urban identity and construct the urban image, especially for historical and cultural preservation areas in modern cities, but also can work as an important step to retain urban memory and enhance residents" sense of belonging.