The Structural Characteristics and Formation Logic of the Physical-Virtual Living Space: A Case Study of the Dangdai–Yimei Community Life Circle in Beijing
Abstract：
With the widespread application of information and communications technology (ICT) in daily life, urban residents' daily activities and living spaces are undergoing digital transformation. This paper proposes a conceptual framework of community living space that includes concepts of physical living space, physical-virtual colocated living space, physical-virtual synchronized living space, and physical-virtual hybrid living space. Based on this, this paper draws upon a combined daily and Internet activity diary and GPS survey of community residents in the Beijing Dangdai-Yimei community life circle to study the structural characteristics and internal connections of the four types of community living spaces. We also analyze the formation logic of the physical-virtual hybrid living space. The research has found that, compared to the community physical living space that only considers offline activities, the spatial distribution of the community physical-virtual living space that consider both offline and online activities has significant differences. Specifically, compared to the physical living space, the physical-virtual hybrid living space of shopping, leisure, and socializing are more distributed within homes and outside of the community life circles, indicating that some functions defined by community life circle planning guidelines–such as cultural leisure, social interaction, and material procurement–may be more likely to be undertaken by home and the space outside of the life circle. This would pose a challenge to community life circle planning. In addition, the research has found that the synchronous occurrence of online and offline activities brought about by background ICT use has a significant impact on the living space, especially reflected in the expansion of the living space of the three types of activities outside the community life circle, and the lack of direct connection between some living spaces and corresponding types of facilities. Finally, this paper discusses the implications of the physical-virtual hybrid living space for the planning and governance of community life circles.