THE ROLE OF ARCHITECTS IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS IBD

Sinopse

With over one billion people worldwide living in informal settlements and enduring substandard housing conditions, these areas present one of the greatest urban challenges of our time. The existence of informal settlementsáis deeply intertwined with global issues such as climate change, war-inducedádisplacement, and colonialism. As sustainability becomes a central focus in various disciplines, including architecture, the path to sustainable urban development lies in addressing the problems of informal settlements.áArchitectureâÇÖs relevance to this discourse is paradoxically highlighted by its perceived âÇÖirrelevanceâÇÖ. Informal settlements are often overlooked as legitimate sites for architectural practice. This neglect stems from two assumptions:áfirst, architectureâÇÖs traditional dependenceáon power and capital, isolating the marginalised who rarely have the chance to receive architectural services, and second, architectureâÇÖs perceived incapability to address urban-scale infrastructural problems, and thereby its reduction to aesthetic creativity and form making.áThis book challenges architectureâÇÖs focus on the âÇÖcentreâÇÖ and its lack of ambition for creating a pervasive impact on cities. Instead, it highlights the professionâÇÖs potential to serve the common good and address urban-scale infrastructural issues and proposes the effective engagement of architects in informal settlements.áDrawing on Henri LefebvreâÇÖs dichotomy of margin versus centre in urban spaces, informal settlements are interpreted as spaces on the cityâÇÖs periphery, created by the marginalised with limited access to power, capital, and authority. By revisiting interrelated concepts such as the productionáof space, the right to the city, social architecture, and spatial agencyáwithin the context of informal settlements, the book claims a space for architectural practice in these areas. It incorporates discussions on insurgent citizenshipáand critiques of theáself-helpáapproach, contextualising its arguments with architectural intervention precedents from around the world. The book concludes with a brief manifesto on practising architecture in informal settlements.áThe book aspires to inspire architecture students, practitioners, and researchers to explore the professionâÇÖs potential in social problem-solving and to push the boundaries of practice towards inclusiveness for all urban inhabitants.