Landscape evaluation and optimization of urban historic waterfront spaces

Historic waterfront spaces integrate cultural and hydrological elements, shaping urban memory and local identity. Existing studies often focus on single sites with fragmented, non-quantitative evaluations. This study develops a systematic framework to assess landscape quality and applies it to three historic waterfront sites in Fuzhou: Zhuzi Lane Historical District, Nangongyuan Historic and Cultural Preservation Zone, and Shangxiahang Historical District. Indicators were identified via literature review, expert consultation, and the Semantic Differential (SD) method. Questionnaire data were analyzed using factor analysis, followed by One-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) and Revised Importance – Performance Analysis (Revised IPA). The findings reveal that: (a) the overall landscape quality is primarily influenced by artificial landscape and social and cultural factors, with mean differences (I – J) of 0.817 and 0.539 (p < 0.001); (b) significant differences were observed among the three historic waterfront spaces, with comprehensive scores ranked as follows: Shangxiahang (0.093) >Nangongyuan (0.065) >Zhuzi Lane (−0.157); (c) the Revised IPA identifies eight key landscape elements that require priority optimization. Building on these results, targeted optimization strategies are proposed. They include improvements to recreational facilities, enrichment of folk and cultural activities, and optimization of traffic accessibility, thereby providing transferable guidance for historic waterfront management.