Hierarchical Water System: A Study on the Interconfiguration Mechanism of the Water Conservancy System and Settlement Units in the Lougang Polder Area of South Tai Lake
Abstract：The South Taihu Lougang polder area has, through long-term water conservancy development, formed a complex water conservancy system and a unique polder settlement landscape. From a water conservancy perspective, this study systematically examines the construction history of the Lougang water management system and its impact on the spatial structure of settlements. It identifies three typical types of Lougang settlement units: Tang-lou interlaced, Lou-lake converging, and Lou-dense longitudinal types. The results reveal a multi-level mutual-construction relationship between the water management system and settlement units: the water system drives the formation of agricultural production patterns and residential spaces, while settlements, through social organization and management mechanisms, adapt to and optimize the system in return. The Lougang settlements represent a complex system characterized by the interweaving and co-evolution of hydraulic, productive, residential, and social units. This research deepens the understanding of the development dynamics of settlements in the South Taihu polder area, provides a new perspective for regional settlement studies, and offers theoretical foundations and practical guidance for the renewal of polder settlements.
叶露1，2 唐嘉慧1 王慧宾1 罗辉1，2*. 有层次的水
——南太湖溇港圩区水利体系与聚落单元的互构机理研究[J]. 新建筑, 2025, 43(5): 136-142.
YE Lu TANG Jiahui WANG Huibin LUO Hui. Hierarchical Water System: A Study on the Interconfiguration Mechanism of the Water Conservancy System and Settlement Units in the Lougang Polder Area of South Tai Lake. New Architecture, 2025, 43(5): 136-142.
2025, Vol. 43 
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