From material remains to institutional logic: a Three-dimensional synergistic framework for architectural heritage research

Abstract In this study, a Three-dimensional synergistic framework is proposed to address persistent material–cultural disconnection in architectural heritage research. The framework systematically integrates material remains, historical records, and technological intervention as interconnected analytical dimensions, establishing a scalable and transferable methodology for holistic heritage interpretation. Through rigorous theoretical construction, we develop an operational model that enables the systematic extraction of spatial–material indicators, contextual reconstruction from textual sources, and technological cross-analysis of physical and cultural structures. The applicability of the framework is empirically validated through an in-depth case study of traditional residential architecture in Fujian, with a particular focus on its property division practices. Our findings demonstrate how this integrated approach not only bridges the methodological fragmentation in conventional studies but also provides an effective tool for decoding institutional mechanisms in complex heritage contexts. This research contributes both a refined methodological paradigm for architectural heritage studies and a practical template for interdisciplinary cultural analysis.