本文承啟聚落研究強調「空間」在理解人類社會時的重要性，以歷時性觀點探討人為環境的社會文化意義。在方法論上，提出面對由傳統城市轉變的現代都市時，研究應側重社會經濟面向，並能在「以地方為研究區」的尺度上分析抽象結構與個人行動間的中介機制。1920年至1941年間，臺南市公部門透過空間計畫，在清領時期經濟重心一大街之外，建立一條由大正町通及末廣町通所構成的新軸線。此一空間變遷的第一種社經意義在於連接都市中提供遠距、地方、區域貿易機能的經濟建設，亦即港口和運河、公設市場、火車站。第二種社會經濟意義則指出該時期都市空間變遷，實與私部門新式工商業的發展為一體兩面。在這個「都市空間－社會經濟」變遷過程中，有兩種中介機制。市政府公部門財稅制度將經濟產出移轉為經濟建設投入，刺激私部門經濟活動。在私部門，有由地方頭人主導的組織，回應利用公部門計畫和建設。本文最後指出，該時期臺南市「都市空間－社會經濟」變遷的一致內在邏輯，即為一都市「指向經濟」的現代化過程。

Emphasizing on the importance of space, settlement study focuses on the socio-cultural meaning of built-environment. This paper methodologically modifies the dynamic analytic method in architectural tradition. To study contemporary cities transformed from traditional Chinese settlement, researchers should lay special emphasis on the socio-economic dimension of spatial transformation and the intermediate mechanism between macro social construction and micro activities of people.There are two socio-economic meaning of the spatial transformation in Tainan City (1920-1941). First, the urban plans and municipal constructions of authority concerned contribute to a new urban spatial axis. The axis connects space with 3 different kind of trading function, local, internal, and external trades. Second, the change of population's economic activities are correspond to the spatial transformations, that is, toward to modern business and industries.There are also two mediate mechanisms between public and private sectors. The city government makes the input-output of public and private sectors economically articulated by establishing financial system. To take advantage of urban plans and economic facilities, the private sector is organized by local leaders. In a word, the inherent coherent logic of this urban spatial-socio transforming process is an economy-oriented modernization.