The Spaces In-Between: Learning From Kampala's Slums

Abstract

Informal settlements, also known as slums, favelas and barrios have become ubiquitous in developing countries’ cities. These areas are usually described as places of poverty, squalor, and uncleanliness. To many, they are places that need to be xed, improved or removed from the city. The impoverished, di cult life of slum dwellers have been romanticized through media and movies such as Oscar Award Winning lm, Slumdog Millionaire (2009). Architects like Teddy Cruz and Rem Koolhaas are researching informal settlements to decipher and unravel what makes them tick. Many hope to use the knowledge discovered in slums to improve their conditions. This thesis begins with a study of the informal settlement of Katwe, located in Kampala, Uganda. Research and analysis was done to uncover and reveal the logic of how an informal settlement like Katwe functions within the larger, formal city of Kampala. The purpose of the study, without romanticizing the living conditions that many people face in slums, is to learn from them. Slums are areas of high density, extreme walkability, and are built to the human scale. Many Western, developed countries are trying to improve their cities by making them more walkable and dense. Perhaps slums like Katwe can serve as an example in creating new communities that are built for people, pedestrians and public spaces.