The effect of a cultural gene on the spatial configuration of the ethnic Nu’s traditional house layout in China

In China, the vernacular houses of ethnic minorities are gradually losing their distinctive features. Spatial configuration research is regarded as a viable approach to excavating the intrinsic characteristics of architectural layout. To investigate the spatial configuration of the Nu ethnic group’s dwellings, the spatial configuration of Nu’s houses in Gongshan County was quantified by calculating the global integration value and the mean step depth using Depthmap X. Three typical spatial configuration patterns of the Nu’s dwellings were identified using cluster analysis: the separate central room pattern, the three-step-depth central room pattern, and the three-room main house pattern. After investigating the cultural genes that influence the typical patterns, it was found that the separate central room type reflects the custom of “using the central room as the core for daily life” and “relatives live together as a big family”. The three-step-depth central room type reflects the custom of “organic renewal of houses” and “the preference for an enclosed space”. The three-room main house type is the result of modern trends. Commonalities across the three patterns were identified to further illuminate the correlation between spatial layout and ethnic culture. Finally, recommendations for the renewal and construction of Nu’s houses were proposed.