Planning and Design for Future Informal Settlements ─ Shaping the Self-constructed City

"This is the first book to address future informal settlements at the global scale. It argues that to foster favourable conditions for the sustainable evolution of future informal cities, planners must consider the same issues that are paramount in formal urban developments, such as provision of: - balanced land uses - energy efficiency and mobility - water management and food sufficiency - governance and community participation - productivity and competitiveness - identity and sense of place Planning and Design for Future Informal Settlements makes a call for responsible action to address the urban challenges of the developing world, suggesting that the vitality of informality, coupled with spatial design and good management, can support the efficient use of resources in better places to live. The book analyses the strengths and weaknesses of informal urbanism and the challenges faced by the fast growing cities of the developing world. Through case studies, it demonstrates the contributions and limitations of different attempts to plan ahead for urban growth, from the creation of formal housing and urban infrastructures for self-built dwellings to the improvement of existing informal settlements. It provides a robust framework for planners and designers, policy-makers, NGOs and local governments working to improve living conditions in developing cities"--

David Gouverneur was National Director of Urban Planning for the Ministry of Urban Development of Venezuela and co-founder of the Urban Design Program and Director of the Mayor’s Institute in City Design at Universidad Metropolitana in Caracas. He has 33 years' experience of teaching Architecture, Urban Design and City Planning. His professional practice focuses on urban plans for distressed neighbourhoods, upgrading informal settlements, historic districts, new centralities and areas affected by disaster. He is currently Associate Professor in Practice of the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, teaching Landscape Urbanism Studios, Cross-disciplinary Design Studios, and Electives, with an emphasis on developing countries.