Reflection on Shenzhen’s urban village renewal from the perspective of urban fabric

Urban villages characterised the urban landscape of China’s Pearl River Delta. Particularly in Shenzhen, they represented a unique urban phenomenon shaped by the city’s unprecedented urbanisation. This study seeks to answer three key questions: how the urban fabric of Shenzhen’s urban villages has evolved under rapid urbanisation; how different renewal approaches have disrupted or preserved this fabric; and what lessons can be drawn for future heritage conservation and policy. Urban fabric here refers to the spatial configuration of streets, plots and buildings that constitute the morphological structure of urban settlements. This study evaluates contrasting renewal strategies by analysing three representative cases: Dachong Village (demolition and redevelopment), Hubei Village (partial demolition) and Nantou Ancient City (fabric enhancement). Findings reveal that while redevelopment improved infrastructure, it erased community memory; partial conservation preserved historic centres but created fabric discontinuities; and fabric-sensitive enhancement fostered vitality but risked gentrification. These insights highlight the need to integrate fabric retention with affordable housing policies, such as unified renting, to balance conservation and social equity. By reframing urban villages as evolving cultural landscapes, the study contributes to broader debates on urban heritage and offers practical insights for policymakers and planners seeking to balance conservation with sustainable urban development.