Latin America Urban Growth and Self-organised urban settlements Since the Industrial Revolution, rural to urban migration and population growth, mainly in Europe, has become a challenging scenario for urban organisation having grown in that period 57%. However, the largest migration to urban areas in Latin America occurred from the fifties at the 20th C. In 1950, 40 percent of the region's population was urban, but by 1990 it was up to 70 percent. Nowadays 50% of the world population is living in urban centres and it is estimated that by 2050 that percentage will reach 75% [UN 2012] increasing cities density. Urban centres were not prepared for the sudden high housing demand consequently, the self-organised urban settlements we see today have their origins in that historical scenario. In Latin America and the Caribbean region [LAC], 23.5 %—or 113 million people—were living in slums in 2012. Based on the rate of slum growth, the United Nations estimates that over 160 million households in the LAC region will be living in slums in 2020. [UN-Habitat, 2012b]. Furthermore, it is estimated that by 2050, 90% of the population will be in towns and cities, increasing housing demand to the highest level ever seen. 1.1
Fig. 02 OjedadelRio, P. 2017 'Urban Social Dancing & Happiness' [photograph] Valparaíso´s own private collection. Spontaneous Social gathering in an open space in Valparaiso. The dancing Group 'Swim Valpo' and a music band meet at that point to appeal Social interaction. Location: Lautaro Rosas Street in ´Cerro Alegre´ - Valparaíso.
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1.2
Self-Organisation as a community answer
Shortage of formal housing offer for lower income groups has forced them to occupy vacant plots of land to self-build a temporary housing solution progressively enlarged and improved over time. Although there is a considerable diversity in terms of population density between these types of settlements in the region, most share key characteristics. First, the urbanization process has been the result of a high degree of social organization without the intervention
Introduction
of external regulations and stakeholders. The second aspect to highlight is that the land occupation and the self-build sheltering occur simultaneously. Third, most of them are located on the city outskirts [Klaufus 2017], being considerably more complex when geographical conditions such as steep hills add an extra challenge to the planning and provision of housing . 1.3
Breaking Point in the Densification Process
Despite the absence of support from professionals and authorities, informal settlements are an example of how communities’ self-organisation has been an intuitive path to answer fundamental demands such as the one of housing. However, at certain point of settlements growth management of open space requires external involvement and investment, that could be understood as an opportunity to explore solutions resulting from the interchange between communities' practical knowledge of their urban logic and professional and technical aspects from formal organisations. As J. Minnery has pointed out, pivotal to improving the social, economic and environmental needs of those living in informal settlements are the policies and strategies of city governments. [Minnery et. al, 2013]. Particularly from a collaborative philosophy that approaches the urban environments improvement from the recognition of cultural values tangibly manifested in their urban organisation.
