In this design research seminar, I take Chinatown in Melbourne as my test site to explore the questions above. Various methods are implemented on different scales to explore these topics, such as space syntax, interface catchment counting, street block gravity, and street view analysis.

The two drawings on top give us the following conclusions:

1, Pedestrian movement is necessary for Chinese businesses since many of them are people-oriented, such as catering;

2, Narrow façades (5-8m) ensure that the rental cost is affordable;

3, Old buildings make the inner and outer features can be modified and customized to make the usage more flexible and Chinese elements decorations.

These three aspects contribute to the identity of Chinatown, and urban planners can predict the future Chinese business cluster based on these rules.