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Multi-Level Housing Governance in Rural Settlement Lin & Jia

The progressive relationship of environment in different levels has clear
space in the private cell has disappeared hierarchies. Two systems govern the village,
as well. From the front to the back, the which are the administrative management as
space is now integrated as a whole a top-down system, and the self-management
instead of several parts with different by the villagers as a bottom-up system. These
functions. two systems control the village on different
levels, and the spheres of their influences are
distinct during different socio-economic
4. GOVERNANCE HIERARCHY: periods.
AGENT OF CONTROL Besides, three forces are engaged in
Governance hierarchy explores the modeling the built environment. They are the
relationship between the two major government, the individual (family or each
dimensions of the built environment: space, villager), and the intermediate organizations.
and people. The term people here mainly The state and the individual are the two poles
refers to the governance agency groups which of the society. The former represents the
has regulatory powers to change the official ideology that controls the society, and
corresponding spaces, but it also relates to the latter represents the daily life of real
other stakeholders who have similar interests. people. They play different roles at different
In the same way as with the different spatial levels of construction. An intermediate
levels, the governance agents also have levels organization acts as a transitional status
based on social status, and these are between them, it acts as a bridge between the
government entities with formal local government and individual villagers.
administrative responsibilities, institutions Different groups play this intermediate role in
and organizations, and every individual various periods. For example, in Imperial
resident who is living in the specific space. China, the lineage was responsible for
This helps to understand the public-private communication between public and private;
partnership in spatial formation with different and in planned economy of the PRC, this role
levels [Figure 7]. was played by the production brigade.
Moreover, the changing contexts of the
4.1 Governance hierarchy tangible and intangible environment on
The governance of the housing settlement that society, economy, politics, culture, and
controls the transformation of the built technology caused corresponding changes in

Figure 7. Governance hierarchy in different levels. Source: Drawings by the author

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