Cultural Architectural Assets: A new framework to study changes and continuity of dwellings of Mosuo tribe in transitions

This study aims to explore the relationship between the Mosuo dwelling as ‘inhabited space’ and architectural form, its evolution in the face of modern pressures and the impact of cultural and social change, and the questions this raises for the cultural loss of Mosuo dwellings. This study extends the existing literature in vernacular architecture conservation to establish a Cultural Architectural Assets(CAA) framework, responding to the challenges by bringing together existing architectural anthropological and cultural theorisation from an architectural perspective in the changing context. The Mosuo people are a small ethnic group who live on the highland in Southwest China. This study employs an integrative architecture and anthropology approach by examining the relationship between living culture, building culture and the values of the Mosuo people in the evolution process. The researcher has conducted two-stage fieldwork, choosing nine Mosuo villages in the Yongning basin area, and 23 family members from five Mosuo dwellings in Zhashi village, for investigation. The research methods consisted of observation of locals’ daily routine and activities, photographic surveys of changes in dwelling forms, photo elicit interviews with local Mosuo families, walking interviews with professionals and a questionnaire to the tourists, as well as reviews of the local planning policy. Thematic analysis has been used to analyse the data. This research makes a significant contribution in expanding knowledge through documentation of the evolution of Mosuo dwellings and culture in the contemporary context. The main contribution of this study is the provision of the CAA framework for the Mosuo dwellings that may be used by inhabitants and relevant professionals (government officials, academics, etc.) as a form of guidance to the implementation of conservation works. It is also hoped that it may act as a starting point for the relevant policy makers to develop guidance aimed to safeguard this valuable dwelling culture