Scaling the living space: Zipf’s law for traditional courtyard houses in South China

In the traditional feudalistic society of China, there is a characteristic residential pattern several core families with common ancestors living together in one house, as far possible. Hence, habitation large and their social dynamic always have complex function hierarchical structure. this article, we consider courtyard South China an example to enable discussion mathematical relationship among five basic functional spaces it. Based on Zipf’s law, find that distribution types spaces, from small, can be described by Pareto shape parameter close −1. Moreover, Zipf parameters different houses same area conform double distribution. This suggests size residence also follows well-defined scaling laws. Additionally, it indicates houses, at least Chinese strong self-organization self-similarity. It shows power law applicable not only macro scale city but micro housing.