Preservation and sustainable cultural inheritance of Chinese historical architecture: a case study of Taimen architecture in Zhejiang

Architecture serves as a comprehensive carrier of regional culture, architectural technology, and social transformations, reflecting the evolving characteristics of different historical periods. To enhance the historical inheritance of historical architecture, this study focuses on Taimen architecture (a traditional courtyard house in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China), exploring the application of digital technology in its preservation and sustainable cultural inheritance. Given the inefficiency and insufficient precision of traditional surveying and mapping methods, this research adopts digital equipment including drones, total stations, and laser rangefinders to collect spatial data from Chen Jiangong’s Former Residence (a representative Taimen architecture). Utilizing SketchUp and D5 renderer, a high-fidelity 3D visualization model was constructed. The results demonstrate that digital technology can accurately capture and present the structural composition, architectural features, and form characteristics of historical architecture, enabling virtual reconstruction. Furthermore, the architectural color scheme and intricate door and window designs reflect the cultural essence of Jiangnan’s introverted residential style and the Confucian philosophy of “The Doctrine of the Mean” (Zhonghe). This study offers innovative insights into preserving historical architecture through digital tools, ensuring sustainable cultural inheritance while mitigating physical degradation risks.