Carlos A. A. Bartesaghi Koc [email protected] [email protected] IFaculty of Built Environment. Australian Graduate School of Urbanism (AGSU) University of New South Wales. Sydney – Australia SQUATTER SETTLEMENTS AS SOCIAL CATALYSTS TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT: A POSITIVE LOOK AT THE CASE OF VILLA EL SALVADOR, LIMA-PERU RESUMEN Se ha estimado que más de 900 millones de tudio de Villa El Salvador, ubicado en Lima-Perú, acrecentamiento e integración urbana de comu- personas viven actualmente en asentamien- es analizado como evidencia de que las organi- nidades segregadas; una visión que demanda la tos marginales en países en vías de desarrollo zaciones de base y el modelo de ‘Auto-ayuda’ incorporación de los pobladores como los catali- (Montgomery 2005); fenómeno que se originó a liderados por la propia comunidad son efectivos zadores sociales necesarios para lograr un futuro partir de un acelerado proceso de urbanización para un desarrollo urbano sustentable. Este aná- más equitativo y sustentable.). desencadenado por una masiva migración urba- lisis hace hincapié en la necesidad de cambiar la na (Johansson et al. 2011). El propósito de este actitud hacia los ‘Pueblos Jóvenes’, descubrien- PALABRAS CLAVES; BARRIADAS - PUEBLOS documento es determinar e identificar aquellos do sus potencialidades para proveer vivienda JÓVENES - AUTO-RENOVACIÓN - MODELO atributos, factores, estrategias y políticas necesa- asequible y desarrollo socio-económico para los BOTTOM-UP - PLANIFICACIÓN SOCIAL - AUTO- rias para aumentar la capacidad de auto-mejora más pobres. Las conclusiones intentan lograr un VIVIENDA - DESARROLLO URBANO SUSTENTABLE, de estos asentamientos para lograr convertirlos mejor entendimiento de esta problemática desde VILLA EL SALVADOR. en lugares menos vulnerables, más resistentes y una perspectiva mucho más humana y positiva, ambientalmente más responsables. El Caso de es- con la esperanza de contribuir en el proceso de ABSTRACT It is estimated that more than 900 million of the is analysed as a supporting evidence of effective ration of dwellers as the social catalyst needed to total population of developing countries is living grass-roots management and as an exemplary achieve a more sustainable and equitable future. in squatter settlements (Montgomery 2005); phe- self-help model led by residents and community nomenon originated from the accelerated pro- organisations. This analysis emphasizes the ne- KEYWORDS: SQUATTER SETTLEMENTS - YOUNG cess of urbanisation unleashed by the massive cessity to change the attitude towards squatter TOWNS - SELF-UPGRADING - BOTTOM-UP migration of the poorer from rural to urban areas settlements, by unveiling their potential to provi- MODEL SOCIAL PLANNING - SELF-HOUSING - (Johansson et al. 2011). The purpose of this paper de affordable housing and socio-economic deve- SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT - VILLA EL is to determine and identify those attributes, fac- lopment to the poorer. Conclusions are intended SALVADOR. tors, strategies and policies necessary for boos- to gain a better understanding of this problematic ting the upgrading capacity of slums in order to from a more positive and humanitarian perspec- turn them into less vulnerable, more resilient and tive, with the hope of contributing with the accre- environmentally-oriented places. The case study tion process and urban integration of segregated of Villa El Salvador, a slum located in Lima-Peru, communities; a vision that demands the incorpo- INTRODUCTION in Venezuela (Sakay et al., Johansson et al. 2011). physical, aesthetical and environmental problems, In terms of sustainable urban development and some others recognise the possibility of regulate TWO SIDES OF THE COIN welfare of cities, these informal settlements signify them to trigger positive urban changes to tackle In 2008, for the first time in human history, urban a great challenge for urban planners, designers the lack of affordable housing and infrastructure areas were hosting more population than rural and decision makers due to their complex social in particular distressed conditions (Ward 1976, settlements, as a result of an exaggerated process implications and the important role they have Eckstein 1990, Chambers 2005). of urbanization and migration across the world. demonstrated to play in defining the economy, Consequently, the study of these settlements is of These poor migrants opted to invade peripheral spatial growth and evolution of many cities in extreme value if it is intended to plan and design and vacant land of cities, inhabiting in self-made developing countries (Pugh 2000, Neuwirth 2005). more sustainable cities in the future. Thus, the shelters, mainly made of discarded and precarious Although they differ on their attributes related purpose of this paper is to determine and identify materials (Johansson et al. 2011). to location, size, construction materials, land those attributes, factors, strategies and policies This phenomenon, that have reshaped urban tenure and spatial morphology, they coincide in necessary for boosting the upgrading capacity of territories, created new urban models, and the factors that triggered their inception such slums and to turn them into less vulnerable, more encompassed both positive and negative as migration, informality, lack of affordable resilient and more environmentally-oriented places. consequences, is globally called as the Squatter housing, exacerbated urbanization process and The case study of Villa El Salvador, a slum located Settlement or Slum; however, it has received an unattended response from governments and in the left southern corner of Lima-Peru, is analysed multiple names depending on their location such authorities (Ulack 1978, Johansson et al. 2011). as a supporting evidence of effective grass-roots as pueblo joven or barriada in Peru, favela in Whereas, many coincide that these slums are management and as an exemplary model of Brazil, shanty town in South Africa and Chabola serious threatens comprising sanitation, legal, self-help led by residents through community organisations. Accordingly, the conclusions of this analysis will be elaborated from the review of this case and other literature, and also from personal experiences, and learning gathered in previous visits to this ‘young town’. Finally, this document emphasizes the necessity to change the attitude towards squatter settlements, by unveiling their potential to provide affordable access to housing and socio-economic development. Conclusions are intended to gain a Figure 1. -Schematic representation of the urbanisation steps of better understanding of the problem of squatter the ascendant or informal planning model applied for squatters settlements in Lima-Peru. Source: Sakay et al.1999: Fig.2. settlements in many developing countries, those that should be addressed from a more positive the accelerated process of urbanisation unleashed conditions, lack of sanitation and infrastructure, and humanitarian perspective. This will definitely by the massive migration of the poorer. Nowadays, economic uncertainty, and weak institutional contribute with its accretion process and urban urban planning has to rethink the urban boundaries governance should be priority topics in governments’ integration under a holistic or systemic approach, and characteristics of cities by considering the agendas (UNEP 2002, Du Plessis 2007). instead of perpetuating a segregating attitude. proliferation of informal settlements, those that From the urban planning perspective, the This situation demands from us to put additional usually locate in peripheral areas and occupy private ‘Ascendant’ and the ‘Descendant’ models have pressure on professionals and governments in and public vacant land. These have become into new been established for a better understanding order to start thinking not only out of the box, but urban models where newcomer migrants can satisfy of this problematic by contrasting informal perhaps thinking in a new box to cope with this their unattended necessities of shelter, employment, and formal planning approaches (Sakay et al. phenomenon. This means, we need to implement security, health, education and sanitation. (Ulack 2011). Whereas the formal urban planning or new collaborative planning methodologies and 1978, McElroy 2000, Chambers 2005, Johansson et al. ‘Descendent model’ follows a pattern of Planning strategies to shift the decision-making process by 2011). - Parcelling (provision of services) - Building and using settlers as the social catalyst needed to a For a better understanding of the potential Settlement; the informal planning, contrarily more equitable and sustainable future. capacity of slums for shaping a sustainable future; proposes a reversed ‘Ascendant pattern’ starting firstly, it is necessary to point out that sustainable from Settlement (Squatting), continuing with THE SQUATTER SETTLEMENTS development criteria largely differ between Parcelling - Building, and ending up with the developed and developing countries. These Formal Urbanization (Figure 1) (Ibid.). AND THEIR ROLE IN SHAPING THE differences stem from the fact that in distressed From this approach, authors such as Turner SUSTAINABLE CITY IN DEVELOPING conditions, socio-economic development is a (1976), Mangin (1967), Sakay (et al. 2011) and COUNTRIES more urgent issue to resolve in comparison to Johansson (et al. 2011) coincide in indicating that Over the last decade the world entered to the Urban environmental aspects (Gibberd 2005).