Riverside building boundary spatial characteristics and utilization patterns in China post-urbanization: a case study on Shantang River, Suzhou

Suzhou, a Chinese “water town”, has undergone an essential transformation in the spatial nature of its riverside area post-urbanization. This research focuses on the spatial characteristics and utilization patterns of the building boundary along the Shantang River in Suzhou through field investigation and correspondence analysis. The constituent elements are determined, and then spatial characteristics are analyzed in terms of space type, river encroachment, and urban connectivity. The relationships between these characteristics and four utilization patterns are discussed. The building boundaries along the river have undergone a fundamental change within the modern era. There are significant relationships between utilization patterns and space type, river encroachment, and urban connectivity. The results presented here can provide workable guidance for effective further development of riverside spaces in Suzhou and beyond.