Commercial color impact on traditional heritage features in Suzhou Shiquan historic district

Modern commercial elements can invigorate historic districts but risk clashing with traditional aesthetics through bright, saturated colors. This study evaluates commercial color impacts in Suzhou’s Shiquan Street historic district using subjective and objective methods. Subjectively, Likert scale surveys assessed perceptions among non-local tourists, local students, and residents. Objectively, Mask2Former (VIT-based) segmented commercial elements, with color harmony evaluated via CIE2000 standards. The analysis identified 48 disharmonious color centers detrimental to historical authenticity and proposed traditional Chinese color codes as alternatives. Results revealed generational divides: younger groups (tourists/students) perceived negative colors less acutely, while older residents were more sensitive. The Mask2Former method proved effective for precise segmentation and color assessment, enabling informed optimization strategies. By integrating subjective and objective color evaluations, this research offers a framework to balance commercialization and heritage preservation in global historic districts, prioritizing color harmony to safeguard cultural identity.