Based on the studies of the former British Concession of Hankou, the article explores the evolving pattern of historical urban texture from prototype to type, with the rationale of architectural typology. Firstly, it builds the prototype concept of urban texture, to analyze the historical significance within it. Secondly, it classifies the urban texture into three types, namely prototypes, types and heterotypes. Methods are also put forward to identify similar texture and isomorphic texture. Focusing on the current situation in which Chinese historical districts are, the research attempt to recognize the value and significance of atypical residential housing forms through the concepts built above, and limit the renovation measures to the units of urban texture with minimal intervention, following the internal evolving rules. Furthermore, the research results are transformed into a ‘minimally invasive’ restoration method, which relies on small-scale and incremental organic renewal strategies, to guide the renovation of historic districts in China.