Description
Book Synopsis Latin American cities have always been characterized by a strong tension between what is vaguely described as their formal and informal dimensions. However, the terms formal and informal refer not only to the physical aspect of cities but also to their entire socio-political fabric. Informal cities and settlements exceed the structures of order, control and homogeneity that one expects to find in a formal city; therefore the contributors to this volume - from such disciplines as architecture, urban planning, anthropology, urban design, cultural and urban studies and sociology - focus on alternative methods of analysis in order to study the phenomenon of urban informality. This book provides a thorough review of the work that is currently being carried out by scholars, practitioners and governmental institutions, in and outside Latin America, on the question of informal cities.
Trade Review “This anthology represents a huge effort due to the diversity of realities that exist within Latin America. Cities have different dynamics according to their characteristics such as population, economic resources and territory…Therefore, the effort made by the editors to collect a group of professionals and researchers interested in Latin American cities is remarkable and mark this book as an important contribution to the knowledge of informal urban spaces in Latin American cities.” · Urban Studies Journal
“…a worthwhile and timely contribution to the field of Latin American urban studies, which will help to fill the current gap in literature on the Latin American city…this book’s major contribution is in its exploration of the social, spatial, cultural and aesthetic processes which constitute the informal city, which is (re)presented as fluid, dynamic, and most importantly, as part of the city. This aspect should ensure its interest to scholars of space and culture; as in rethinking the informal city, we are forced to re-evaluate our understandings of the city itself.” · Space and Culture
Table of Contents List of Figures
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Rahul Mehrotra
Chapter 1. Introduction: Reimagining the Informal in Latin America
Felipe Hernández and Peter Kellett
PART ONE: CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES
Chapter 2. The Form of the Informal: Investigating Brazilian Self-Built Housing Solutions
Fernando Luiz Lara
Chapter 3. Informal Practices in the Formal City: Housing, Disagreement and Recognition in Downtown São Paulo
Zeuler R. Lima and Vera M. Pallamin
Chapter 4. The Formal Architecture of Brasilia: An Analysis of the Contemporary Urban Role of its Satellite Settlements
Annalisa Spencer
Chapter 5. The Evolution of Informal Settlements in Chile: Improving Housing Condition in Cities
Paola Jirón
Chapter 6. Housing for the Poor in the City Centre: A Review of the Chilean Experience and a Challenge for Incremental Design
Margarita Greene and Eduardo Rojas
PART TWO: CRITICAL PRACTICES
Chapter 7. Rules of Engagement: Caracas and the Informal City
Alfredo Brillembourg and Hubert Klumpner
Chapter 8. Integrated Informality in the Barrios of Havana
Ronaldo Ramirez
Chapter 9. Formal–Informal Connections in the Favelas of Rio de Janeiro: The Favela-Bairro Programme
Roberto Segre
Chapter 10. Spatial Strategies and Urban Social Policy: Urbanism and Poverty Reduction in the Favelas of Rio de Janeiro
Jorge Fiori and Zeca Brandão
Chapter 11. Urban and Social Articulation: Megacities, Exclusion and Urbanity
Jorge Mario Jáuregui
Chapter 12. Public-city in Manifesto: The Formal City In-formed by Public Interest
Claudio Vekstein
Notes on Contributors
Index
