Housing & Informality

Navigating Heterogeneity: The Way to a Just Energy Transition in the Global South’s Housing Sector

Energy in Cities

Navigating Heterogeneity: The Way to a Just Energy Transition in the Global South’s Housing Sector

By Marie Urfels|2023-04-20T11:29:57+02:00April 20th 2023|

Achieving a just energy transition in the urban housing sectors of the Global South demands recognition and engagement with their heterogeneous energy networks and rapidly evolving spatialities. Marie Urfels explores the challenges of achieving a just energy transition in the housing sector of the Global South while emphasising the importance of embracing these complexities to create targeted, context-specific solutions.

Improving Thermal Comfort in Community Buildings in India’s Informal Settlements

Energy in Cities

Improving Thermal Comfort in Community Buildings in India’s Informal Settlements

By URBANET|2023-04-12T15:57:40+02:00April 11th 2023|

India has a long tradition of building climate-friendly houses. But in the case of informal settlements, applying this knowledge presents many difficulties. This leads to intense heat stress for residents. However, there is hope on the horizon, as we highlight an exciting initiative: utilising innovative design solutions for thermal comfort in community buildings in Chennai and Coimbatore - an Urban Living Lab approach.

The ‘Qubba Classroom’: Towards Sustainable Design Solutions in Humanitarian Settings

Cities built4climate

The ‘Qubba Classroom’: Towards Sustainable Design Solutions in Humanitarian Settings

By Andrea Maggiolo and Michael Alexander Ulfstjerne|2022-11-02T12:27:01+01:00November 1st 2022|

Difficult environmental conditions and scarce economic resources require new building solutions within the context of displacement and humanitarian aid. Andrea Maggiolo and Michael Ulfstjerne discuss chances and challenges based on the example of the ‘Qubba Classroom’ within the Za’atari Village.

Female Informal Workers in Dhaka during COVID-19: Unnoticed and Unprotected as Always

Risk and Crisis Management

Female Informal Workers in Dhaka during COVID-19: Unnoticed and Unprotected as Always

By Jahid Nur|2022-10-13T16:58:07+02:00October 13th 2022|

Informal workers contribute greatly to countries’ economic growth. Over 43 per cent of the national GDP in Bangladesh is generated by the informal sector, where women are overrepresented. In times of crisis, however, they are often left unprotected. Jahid Nur on the situation of female informal workers in Bangladesh during COVID-19.

Urban Green Space in Accra’s Informal Settlements: Slum Residents’ Perceptions

AFFORDABLE CITIES

Urban Green Space in Accra’s Informal Settlements: Slum Residents’ Perceptions

By Patrick Brandful Cobbinah and Michael Osei Asibey|2022-07-28T12:26:24+02:00July 28th 2022|

Urban Green Spaces (UGS) contribute to the functioning of a city´s urban (eco)system. With the rapid urban expansion and the emergence of new slums, Patrick Brandful Cobbinah and Michael Osei Asibey call to include the residents in protecting UGS.

Offering Affordable Housing in Egypt Through Microfinance

AFFORDABLE CITIES

Offering Affordable Housing in Egypt Through Microfinance

By Raed Fares and Safa H. Ashoub|2022-07-26T09:21:56+02:00July 26th 2022|

Access to housing finance is an enormous challenge in Egyptian cities. Raed Fares and Safa Ashoub portray the approach by Habitat for Humanity Egypt: a microfinancing programme that also offers technical assistance and ensures to include local communities.

What is the Affordable Housing Situation in Phnom Penh?

AFFORDABLE CITIES

What is the Affordable Housing Situation in Phnom Penh?

By Ronan Kemp|2022-07-21T10:05:43+02:00July 21st 2022|

The municipality of Phnom Penh does not live up to its responsibility to provide affordable housing for all, says Ronan Kemp from Sahmakum Teang Tnaut Organization - A Cambodian Urban NGO.

Affordable New Delhi: Developments, Challenges, and Opportunities

AFFORDABLE CITIES

Affordable New Delhi: Developments, Challenges, and Opportunities

By Piyush Tiwari and Jyoti Shukla|2022-07-14T09:25:29+02:00July 14th 2022|

Changing discourses have characterised New Delhi's housing policy over time. Piyush Tiwari and Jyoti Shukla outline developments and call onto the public and private housing institutions to provide equal access to decent and affordable housing.

Mathare Social Justice Centre Struggles for Clean Water and Sanitation

AFFORDABLE CITIES

Mathare Social Justice Centre Struggles for Clean Water and Sanitation

By Gacheke Gachihi|2022-07-08T10:36:34+02:00July 7th 2022|

Access to affordable and clean water cannot be taken for granted in Nairobi's neighbourhood of Mathare. Gacheke Gachihi outlines the structural changes needed to guarantee affordable water for all.

Empowerment Through Blocking-Out In Cape Town’s Informal Settlements

LIVEABLE CITIES

Empowerment Through Blocking-Out In Cape Town’s Informal Settlements

By Alfredo Brillembourg|2022-05-23T12:00:47+02:00May 5th 2022|

How can architectural solutions contribute to increase liveability in informal settlements? Alfredo Brillembourg portrays how the process of blocking-out facilitated the empowerment and upgrading in the informal settlement of Khayelitsha.

Conceptualising The Liveable African City

LIVEABLE CITES

Conceptualising The Liveable African City

By Taibat Lawanson|2022-05-03T11:28:38+02:00May 3rd 2022|

What does liveability mean from an African cities' perspective and how do we get there? Taibat Lawanson presents an unconventional and compelling take on this question.

JAGA MISSION – Transforming Lives, Leaderships, and Liveability

URBAN LABS AND INNOVATION

JAGA MISSION – Transforming Lives, Leaderships, and Liveability

By Preeti Prada Panigrahi|2022-04-21T09:17:22+02:00April 21st 2022|

The Indian state of Odisha has initiated a slum upgrading programme that acknowledges residents as city makers. Preeti Prada Panigrahi presents its advantages and successes.

Urban Labs in Latin America: Participatory and Effective Interventions

URBAN LABS AND INNOVATION

Urban Labs in Latin America: Participatory and Effective Interventions

By Simone Sandholz, Lucas de Carvalho Turmena, Jorgelina Hardoy, Florencia Almansi|2022-04-04T09:59:51+02:00April 4th 2022|

A strategy for planning that ensures to include citizens and addresses several challenges at once, urban labs can be found in many cities in Latin America. Simone Sandholz, Lucas de Carvalho Turmena, Jorgelina Hardoy, and Florencia Almansi with some examples from urban labs in Latin America.

Transforming Our Cities by Addressing Gender Deficit in Land Titles in Brazil

WOMEN IN CITIES

Transforming Our Cities by Addressing Gender Deficit in Land Titles in Brazil

By Patricia M Q Chaves|2022-04-01T10:04:29+02:00April 1st 2022|

Can we transform our cities by addressing the gender insecurity and inadequacy women face? In the northeast state of Pernambuco in Brazil, Espaço Feminista reflects on lessons learned from fighting for women’s land rights by achieving land regularisation in informal settlements.

Four Ways to Democratise Research on Urban Land Rights

Four Ways to Democratise Research on Urban Land Rights

By Rebecca Enobong Roberts|2021-12-07T09:15:35+01:00December 7th 2021|

Inclusive research design has the potential to turn “beneficiaries” into experts and agents of change. Rebecca Enobong Roberts makes a strong case for why urban land rights researchers need to proactively consult the groups they study, not just observe them.