Emotionally Immersive Spatial Poetics in Heritage Reuse: Child-Focused Narratives from the Pan Residence, Shanghai

Abstract

This study examines the immersive, narrative-driven transformation of the Pan Residence, a traditional courtyard dwelling located in the heritage zone of Yuyuan Road in Shanghai. Located in a dense urban area, the residence has been transformed into an experiential space designed to be child-friendly, blending conservation, storytelling and participatory spatial design. Through site analysis, behaviour mapping and semi-structured interviews with parents, children and designers, the study reveals how spatial dramaturgy can encourage interaction with intangible cultural heritage via sensory and narrative prompts. The study proposes a dramaturgical model to frame visitor experience sequences and provides a comparative analysis with cases in Kyoto and Barcelona to contextualise the Pan Residence within broader heritage reuse trends. The findings emphasise that small-scale adaptive interventions, such as tactile material palettes, reversible thresholds and participatory design elements, can balance heritage conservation with community needs, particularly in small residential heritage sites. This research contributes to cultural heritage management by integrating spatial poetics, sustainable reuse strategies and user-centred design approaches into the adaptive reuse of domestic heritage architecture. The study concludes with a framework for experience-led, inclusive heritage transformation that emphasises children as co-authors of cultural memory and advocates for future stewardship.