Natural ultramarine is a traditional and expensive blue pigment widely used around the world. It has been found recently in the decorative paintings (caihua 彩畫) of historical Chinese buildings. Interestingly, the preparation and application methods for this pigment have not been documented in Chinese painting reviews and artisans’ manuscripts before the 20th century. The sedimentation method (also named “Shuifei 水飛”) was likely the approach used by Chinese artists and craftsmen to produce this blue pigment. The extraction method (recorded by Cennino Cennini) was another representative method. Both methods have been used to prepare this blue pigment. Through the experiments of pigment and color sample, 21 natural ultramarine pigments produced by these two methods were collected. By means of color measurement and polarized light microscopy, this study aimed not only to summarize the color properties of this pigment mixed with gelatin but also to try to reveal how preparation process and raw rock quality influence its color effect. The colorimetry study of natural ultramarine pigments will provide data and visual references for heritage conservation and restoration, as well as traditional color design. Analyzing the pigment’s color properties from the perspective of materials and techniques will help uncover the intentions behind its history.

Parametric heritage 3D reconstruction using iconographic evidence has the potential to extend modelling data sources and enhance the modelling efficiency. This study presents a novel and preliminary workflow to document, 3D reconstruct and interpret architectural massing typologies in the Song Dynasty of ancient China, integrating iconographic evidence. Multi-source historical images are collected and screened through chronological and appraisal assessments. The extracted massing principles are translated into parametric algorithms using Rhino-Grasshopper, then tested on 3D reconstruction of historical images by student participants. Furthermore, it is applied in an interactive design way through the Biomorpher plugin. The results show that the algorithms successfully enhanced the modelling efficiency, while limitations are also reflected. The interactive design application facilitates scenario comparisons in Song architecture 3D reconstruction and design. This study also sheds light on future applications in architectural conservation, interactive heritage education, and other research aspects in art and architecture.

‘Home and homemaking’ is a topic with a long history and relevance to everyday life, and one that has taken on greater diversity and importance facing contemporary global migration. Moving beyond merely the antithesis of migration, the meaning, experience, and practice of home and homemaking in migration represent ways that migrants struggle for place attachment and appropriation, and on their aggregate and societal impact (Boccagni, 2023b). To bridge the gap between the separated attention on ‘home’ and ‘migration,’ the Handbook on Home and Migration, edited by Paolo Boccagni, is a comprehensive collection of multidisciplinary studies related to the complex mutual entanglement of these two concepts. [...]

Community participation in heritage management is increasing. Actively participating communities, groups, and individuals can help identify and protect values and attributes that convey these values and guide sustainable management. However, how can diasporic communities participate in built heritage management? In addition to existing studies on community participation in built heritage management, this systematic literature review draws from 106 scholarly articles and distils how diasporic communities participate in built heritage management. The results categorise four relationships between diasporic communities and built heritage, from the conservation of built heritage, the reconstruction and design of diasporic spaces and places, and the use of built environments as venues, to the representation and interpretation of built environments. The five categories of research trends summarised in this study represent multidisciplinary research interests, including the analysis of well-implemented heritage management strategies, reflections on challenges in managing participatory heritage practices, studies on creating community-centred heritage, the design of participatory methods and tools, and surveys on future-oriented heritage preferences. Strategies and challenges related to twenty factors of participation are identified through SWOT analysis, revealing strengths (heritage initiatives, participation, and sense of identity), weaknesses (regulation, authorised heritage discourse, and resources), opportunities (participation, sense of identity, and resources), and threats (stakeholders’ interests/relationships, authorised heritage discourse, and resources), followed by a discussion of cross-domain factors and interconnectedness. The findings can be considered, referenced, and adapted for future participatory built heritage management that engages diasporic communities. This study also discusses current research limitations and recommendations.

Diasporic communities and their heritage are vital in shaping cultural diversity in urban planning and management. However, diasporic heritage management overlooked cross-geographical networks that constitute cultural significance. This study develops a workflow to explore diasporic heritage’s spatial and semantic networks. Global social media data about Chinatowns on Flickr is collected and analysed through Named Entity Recognition, and Spatial and Semantic Network Analysis. Findings reveal the diasporic flows based on places frequently recognised as origin and destination of Chinese diasporic heritage, and the distribution of places, zooming in from worldwide to the Netherlands. Semantic networks in different Dutch cities are compared.

Drawing on existing archaeological evidence and visual materials, this paper conducts an analysis of the linguistic evolution and formal development of Xiewu. It further investigates the distinctive characteristics of its forms, structures, and spatial configurations. It reveals that Xiewu experienced a period of flourishing and innovation during Song dynasty, marking a pivotal era for its architectural significance. This paper also represents an endeavor to elucidate Song dynasty architecture through the lens of architectural massing typology, enriching the understanding of this historical architectural paradigm.