Daily customs and spatial reproduction: a study on the spatial regeneration of vernacular architectural customs in plateau basin of the Yunnan Plateau

Abstract Against the backdrop of rural revitalisation and tourism-led development in China, vernacular architecture in highland Bazi settlements is undergoing rapid transformation. Current renewal practices often emphasise visual landscaping and formal uniformity while overlooking the customary spaces that sustain collective memory and social relations. This problem is particularly acute in ethnic minority regions, where traditional lifeways and indigenous knowledge are increasingly vulnerable. Focusing on a Yi settlement in Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan, this study adopts an interdisciplinary architectural-anthropological approach, combining participant observation, spatial memory mapping, and oral history interviews. The findings show that cultural resilience in vernacular architecture depends less on preserving traditional forms than on sustaining customs in everyday spatial practice. Although customary spaces may physically recede under modernisation, they persist through daily routines, ritual activities, and intergenerational reinterpretation. Based on field evidence, the study identifies a three-part mechanism for the recurrence of customary space: customs are internalised through everyday practice, memory is reactivated through meaningful spatial nodes, and domestic space serves as a medium for transmitting norms and values across generations. These findings suggest that vernacular conservation should move beyond formal replication and instead prioritise cultural agency and the continuity of spatial-use logic. The concept of the ‘recurrence of customary space’ provides a useful framework for evaluating the cultural effectiveness of architectural renewal in ethnic minority regions and offers practical insight into culturally sustainable development in rural heritage areas.