Spatial and process strategies toward the formalization and integration of the informal settlement, Villa 31, in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

One-third of the world's population resides in slums. Despite resistance to them, these places retain a certain practice of live and livelihood that exemplify the foundations for sustainable and vital settlement. The purpose of this thesis was to examine slum intervention precedent cases in an effort to derive a framework for upgrading Villa 31 in Buenos Aires. Spatial and process-related characteristics of each intervention were examined. Spatial refers to the physical elements of the built environment, while process refers to the planning and development process taken by actors affecting or being affected by intervention. The results revealed that physical intervention is ineffective when it does not accompany social strategies. I conclude that a solution utilizing John Abbott's recommendation for a combined approach to intervention, which involve characteristics of physical infrastructure provision, community action planning, and physical transformation through the holistic plan, would have the best results if applied in Villa 31. Recommendations are made for specific spatial and process intervention strategies that would improve conditions for its inhabitants. However, the scale of help required to carry out intervention would require governmental assistance to achieve meaningful change in this informal settlement.