The characters of public space use by various residents in the neighborhoods at urban fringe: a case study of Hegezhuang Village in Beijing

With the rapid urbanization process, the green belts in the fringe of Beijing is gradually becoming the urban-rural junction area. State-owned land used for urban construction is mixed with rural collective land. The long-term urban-rural dual structure makes the urban-rural contradiction in this area prominent. The typical villages in Beijing's green belts have a unique geographical location and spatial organization, and there are not only village and town settlements of aboriginals, but also many villages and communities where immigrants are employed and live. Therefore, researching the characteristics of public space and the social integration of aboriginals and renters in the Beijing's green belts is an important issue for sustainable urban development. In this paper, we take Hegezhuang Village in Beijing as an example, and use the behavioral spot survey method, questionnaire method and field interview method to investigate the behavioral and activity characteristics of the aborigines and renters in the public space. A sample of 100 residents were selected for questionnaire surveys and interviews to summarize the similarities and differences between the psychological and behavioral characteristics of the two groups of people and to analyze their behavioral integration. The research found that: (1) the population of the aborigines participating in public space activities is aging, while the renters are mainly young and middle-aged; (2) the behavioral activities of the two groups can be divided into three types of activities: leisure activities, recreational activities, and other activities, and the communication between the two groups lacks initiative and the degree of interaction is not deep; (3) the aborigines are more familiar with the public space, and the time and place of activities are fixed, while the renters are not familiar with the public space. (4) The activity groups of aborigines and renters tend to be homogeneous, each forming a relatively independent public space; (5) The satisfaction of renters with public space is more differentiated, while the satisfaction of aborigines is generally low. Based on this research, we found that the willingness of both groups to participate in public space activities is influenced by the accessibility, connectivity, sharing, and accessibility of public space; the length of time that both groups spend in public space activities is influenced by the single function of public space and old facilities; the temporary and informal of renters' residence in the village makes it difficult to stimulate a sense of psychological identity and belonging. It is difficult to stimulate a sense of identity and belonging in the village, and the nature and hours of work of renters are often uncertain, making it impossible for them to engage in public space activities at fixed times; the aborigines' residence is fixed and formal, and they tend to have special feelings for the village, and the nature and hours of work of renters are also more stable. Therefore, the psychological differences between the two groups of people, as well as differences in the types of activities and basic types of people, may also affect the initiative of the two groups of people to participate in public activities. The results of this research show that the construction of public spaces effectively promotes the social integration of aboriginals and renters, but does not significantly affect the social integration of aboriginals and renters. Furthermore，both groups are willing to promote their integration through participation in public spaces. Based on this research, the paper attempts to propose strategies for optimizing public spaces that are conducive to the social integration of aboriginals and renters, in order to provide theoretical and practical guidance for the development of public spaces in such areas.