Handmade Urbanism: Mumbai - São Paulo - Istanbul - Mexico City - Cape Town From Community Initiatives to Participatory Models 9783868598872, 9783868592252

Table of contents :
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INDEX
Contents
Introduction
Introductory Interview: Returning to the Roots
Initial Thoughts: Make the Invisible Visible
Foreword: The Community
Editorial An Urban Trend: Residents Taking Ownership of their Environment
Five Cities
Introduction to Five Cities
Mumbai
São Paulo
Istanbul
Mexico City
Cape Town
Common Points
Four Interviews: Five Cities, One Gaze
The Significance of Space in Urban Society
Reporting from Local Initiatives
Cities are an Expression of Human Needs
Focus on Results: Attention to Real Needs
Project Categories, Programs and Common Clouds
Final Considerations
Credits
IMPRINT

Citation preview

HANDMADE

Handmade describes something made by hand or by a hand process, not by machine, especially with care or craftsmanship, and typically therefore of superior quality. Handmade urbanism is the way of providing urban change carried out by local residents in their own neighborhoods or communities, with their own hands and means. It starts with the residents recognizing a problem, followed by the active realization of an idea to solve that immediate issue. Community initiatives evolve from those active gestures and support the citizen’s active participation at the local scale. Their acts recognize chances in challenges, make creative use of existing resources, and forge partnerships and relationships to achieve predefined goals that address their daily needs and, eventually, ensure an improved quality of life for communities. The actions of handmade urbanism are unique, each shaped by the individuals and the field of operations that define them. They are carried out at the local scale, as products of culture and environment, and deal as much with soft infrastructure—physical and emotional wellbeing, education, etc.—as with the reshaping of the built environment. The study of handmade urbanism acknowledges that large parts of cities have been built by the residents themselves, without help from governments, planners or designers. It suggests alternative ways to approach planning other than the traditional methods currently employed. At a global level, handmade urbanism reveals overlaps in the characteristic ways of life of urban societies, clarifying common threads and differences among them. These provide us with opportunities to learn from the ways needs and problems have been addressed. The operative modes of handmade urbanism contribute to the discussion around participatory models. Its creation and appreciation is transformative to individuals and communities.

This e-book contains video links in the Five Cities section. Clicking on the video title will open a browser window where the video can be viewed (working internet connection required).

To Wolfgang Nowak, who is always a great source of inspiration.

MUMBAI

SÃO PAULO

ISTANBUL

MEXICO CITY

CAPE TOWN

Handmade Urbanism From Community Initiatives to Participatory Models

ORGANIZED / EDITED BY MARCOS L . ROSA , UTE E . WEILAND, WITH ANA ÁLVAREZ , LINDSAY BUSH, DEMET MUTMAN, PRIYA SHANKAR

JOVIS

4

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Since 2007, the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award has

This book compiles twenty-five interviews—or, five

been organized by the Alfred Herrhausen Society

for each one of the five cities—giving voice to different

as an outcome of the Urban Age conference series,

stakeholders who have played an important role in the

jointly organized with the London School of Econom-

rebuilding of these cities on a local scale. Each inter-

ics, and initiated by Wolfgang Nowak (AHS) and Ricky

viewee generously shared their knowledge—unveiling

Burdett (LSE).

subjects that are key to understanding how the projects

For five years, Ute E. Weiland has coordinated all of

are organized, the mechanisms behind them, as well as

the awards in five cities, organizing the content and

providing arguments for the importance of small-scale

compilation with the local researchers chosen to carry

developments to face important challenges posed by

out the communication, organization, and fieldwork in

each one of these cities. All of the voices intertwine

each city.

and organize layers that allow a complex understand-

Jessica Barthel and Anja Fritzsch have also made valuable contributions in the organization of the award.

ing of the projects, highlighting their potential for the city at large.

We would like to acknowledge the work of our local

This publication has also benefited from the invalu-

researchers, who have coordinated the DBUAA in each

able support of four people who had the chance to see

of the cities: Priya Shankar in Mumbai (2007), Marcos

the projects in all five cities. Ricky Burdett, Olaf Jacobs,

L. Rosa in São Paulo (2008), Demet Mutman in Istan-

Wolfgang Nowak, and Anthony Williams share their

bul (2009), Ana Alvarez in Mexico City (2010), and

point of view in interviews, helping us trace common

Lindsay Bush in Cape Town (2012). They have worked

threads among the showcased community initiatives.

on the ground, rediscovering their own cities and

Olaf Jacobs produced the documentary Zukunft der

unveiling networks of local practices that have been

Städte (The Future of Cities), which brings us stories from

built throughout a year of fieldwork. To a great extent,

the community projects presented in this book, allowing

these are the researchers that kept in contact with

the general public to experience these projects closely.

the local projects, giving continuity to the work that

Richard Sennett and his writings and lectures on

started with our compilation, through the develop-

“cooperation” and “the open city,” as well as his re-

ment of their own research and work. And they have

flections about some of the projects in São Paulo and

collaborated on this publication, a project coordinated

Istanbul, have strongly influenced the work on this

by Marcos L. Rosa, by participating in a critical review

publication from the beginning.

of the findings. In this review, we look back at the

His contribution serves as a theoretical background

developments and current status of the projects that

for considering these projects. We also highly appreci-

are showcased, conduct a comparative analysis, and

ate his generous comments and advice in the process

suggest common points among all of the five cities.

of producing this book.

Specifically, we would like to acknowledge the critical

Paulo Ayres, who visualized each of the showcased

input of Priya Shankar, who organized the first award

projects in illustrations created with Marcos L. Rosa

in Mumbai and made a valuable contribution to this

and Lindsay Bush and informed by all of the local

book, and the constant support and discussions with

researchers. Working with him has been a delightful

Lindsay Bush, who has influenced the format of this

experience. He has employed his expertise in graphic

publication, as well as the debates with Ana Alvarez

drawings that illustrate the processes, mechanisms,

who reviewed our ideas and contributed with insight-

operational modes, as well as the impact and changes

ful concepts.

in each one of them.

Tom Unverzagt, who carefully conceived the graphic design that structures all of these ideas. Inez Templeton who greatly refined the text through her review and proofreading. We graciously thank all of the photographers who contributed to our image archive, which has been growing over the years. Jochen Visscher and Philipp Sperrle have supported the idea of this publication from the beginning and have given us guidance throughout the production process. We thank them for their constant support, discussions, and critical input. Most importantly, none of this would exist without the courage and entrepreneurship of those individuals, active in their own cities, who have shown other ways to fight against shortages and urgencies of all kinds. Their pioneerism transforms challenges into opportunities making use of available resources, identifying potentials, and employing them in proactive ways that generate benefits to the built environment and, especially, to the users and residents. Finally, we are grateful for those who have provided guidance and for every partner in each city. We would also like to thank all of the institutions, organizations, and associations that took part in the initiative during these five years.

6

INDEX

8

INDEX

Introduction 10 Introductory Interview Returning to the Roots Wolfgang Nowak

12 Initial Thoughts Make the Invisible Visible Ute E. Weiland

14 Foreword The Community Richard Sennett

18 Editorial An Urban Trend: Residents Taking Ownership

59

São Paulo

Marcos L. Rosa

Initiatives 68 Union Building 72 ACAIA Institute 76 Biourban Interviews

80 Workshops as a Communication Facilitator:

Understanding Community Needs Ana Cristina Cintra Camargo

82 Preexistence in Socially Vulnerable Areas Elisabete França

of their Environment

84 Scaling Up Micro Actions

Marcos L. Rosa, Ute E. Weiland, with Ana Álvarez,

Fernando de Mello Franco

Lindsay Bush, Demet Mutman, Priya Shankar

86 How to Live Together Lisette Lagnado

Five Cities

88 The Challenge of Derelict and Residual Spaces. Is Anyone Thinking on the Local Level? Nevoral Alves Bucheroni

23 Introduction to Five Cities 25

Mumbai

Priya Shankar

Initiatives 34 Mumbai Waterfronts Center 38 Triratna Prerana Mandal 42 Urban Design Research Institute Interviews 46 Dreams, Dignity, and Changing Realities: The Story of a Community Toilet Dilip Kadam, Dayanand Jadhav, Dayanand Mohite

48 Network, Intermediate, Integrate:

93

Istanbul

Demet Mutman

Initiatives 102 Music for Peace 106 Nurtepe First Step Cooperative 110 Children of Hope—Youth House Interviews 114 Presence and Vision of a Grass Roots Initiative Yeliz Yalın Baki

116 New Planning Approaches for Building Up Cities Erhan Demirdizen

Reaching out to the Grassroots

118 Action and Participation in Planning

Seema Redkar

Özlem Ünsal

50 Elastic Urbanism:

120 Curating Artists and Cultural Practices

Sustainability and Informality in the City

Behiç Ak

Rahul Mehrotra

122 Advocating Sustainable and Participatory Models

52 Making Voices Heard: Art and Activism Shabama Azmi

54 Democratizing Public Space P. K. Das

Aslı Kıyak ˙Ingin



127

Mexico City

Common Points

Ana Álvarez

Initiatives

197 Four Interviews: Five Cities, One Gaze

136 Miravalle Community Council

198 The Significance of Space in Urban Society

140 Cultural Center Consejo Agrarista 144 Recovering Spaces for Life Interviews 148 Weaving Efforts: Working for the Common Good Francisco Javier Conde González

150 Reality Surpasses Us: We Need to Be More Flexible and Porous Felipe Leal

152 Unfolding New Professional Profiles for Bottom-up Urban Planning Arturo Mier y Terán

154 Cultural Acupuncture over the City Argel Gómez and Benjamín González

156 Braiding the Physical and the Social: A New Social Contract for the City Jose Castillo

161

Cape Town

Lindsay Bush

Initiatives 170 Mothers Unite 174 Rocklands Urban Abundance Center 178 Thrive Interviews 182 Incidental Urban Acupuncture Carol Jacobs

184 Breaking it Down to Build it Up Michael Krause

186 Reimagining the City from a Different Viewpoint Edgar Pieterse

188 Lighting the Fire within Us Malika Ndlovu

190 Going Local: The Lavender Hill Area Councilor Shaun August

Ricky Burdett

2 00 Reporting from Local Initiatives Olaf Jacobs

202 Cities are an Expression of Human Needs Wolfgang Nowak

2 04 Focus on Results: Attention to Real Needs Anthony Williams

2 06 Project Categories, Programs and Common Clouds 212 Final Considerations Marcos L. Rosa and Ute E. Weiland

221 Credits

10

INTRODUCTORY INTERVIEW

Returning to the Roots Wolfgang Nowak was the initiator of the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award

What inspired the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award?

What fascinated me, if you start in Mumbai’s Triratna Prerna Mandal, and then go to Mexico City’s

The idea for the award goes back to February 2006,

Miravalle, or even to the Sao Paulo’s Instituto Acaia, or

when we hosted an Urban Age conference in Mexico

to any other of these five cities, you can find a “center”

City. I had an opportunity to visit a slum. Despite being

with a facility, the square, an area that is somehow

a really awful crime-ridden neighborhood, its inhab-

protected, secured not by a fence, but by the common

itants had nonetheless created a marketplace and a

will that collectively does something. Today, if you

school. They had tried to improve their own situation,

travel from the center outside of the city, which does

creating a new city inside a situation of hopelessness.

not have clear borders, suddenly the city becomes just

You find the same thing in Mumbai and São Paulo,

an agglomeration of houses, there is nothing else of

people resisting their environment by building some-

what makes a city—there is nothing. And if you look

thing. This is what prompted us to create the Urban

at a famous picture of Mexico City that depicts “the

Age Award. The aim of the award is to enable people

endless city,” it looks like a horror vision of the city

to find better solutions and become active citizens. I

that started to sprawl and is not a village but an ocean

am not one of these people, like a Florence Nightingale,

of hopelessness where people live. My idea and what

who stands and gives soup to the poor. What we want

fascinated me is that inside this ocean of dwellings,

is to enable the poor no longer to accept soup queues

people started to build what could be the beginning of a

and produce their own soup.

new city. And you could see this, for instance, in India’s

We encourage citizens to take forward their

slum of Khotwadi, inside of which a community project

projects, and sometimes we even enable mayors and

started building a city. In Miravalle, another initiative

citizens to meet. We honor alliances that improve the

looks like the center of a village. We like Paris because

quality of life in cities and the prize celebrates the

if you go away from the large boulevards you will find

shared responsibility between residents, companies,

little centers, with markets, trees and restaurants, and

NGOs, universities, public bodies, etc.

these cities are cities with different centers. This is also the charm of Berlin. In that sense, the vision of

We remember that after coming back from Cape

that “endless city” is not a vision of horror. If you look

Town earlier this year your first words were

carefully, you see that people are starting to build their

“Déjà vu.” Can you tell us that story?

own cities or centers. It is different from the faceless

This is a fascinating story about Cape Town and about

cities being built by star architects and investors, with

all of the other cities. People start building their own

the skyscrapers and shopping centers. These small

“city centers” inside big “deserts” of agglomerated

centers are surrounded by people who build their

houses, they start building these oases based on the

own “city within the city,” one that is surrounded by

same pattern: it is the tree in the center and around

several others centers alike. They are the reinvention

this tree there are benches and gardens, and they plant

of cities inside of areas that we call slums, favelas,

some crops and then there is the spiritual center, which

gecekondus, barrios, townships. Indeed, their efforts

might be a library, or a school or some teaching or

make sense, because they do not destroy the existing,

health facility, and the kitchen, where one learns how

but build on it.

to prepare a good meal. They also have small places, squares, playgrounds where there is entertainment. These are safe environments where people can meet.

Why go to five cities to award best practices such as the ones we can see in this book? What can we do with what we found? I think the most urgent problem we face is our cities— it is a global problem. You cannot rethink cities without acknowledging the experience of grassroots projects that are designed by the people, not urban planners and architects. The award allows us to compare all these projects. We found that there is a variety of creative initiatives indicating the different ways in which people forge partnerships to create a better urban environment and, as a result, a better life for themselves and their communities. The Award looks for projects that bring together partners and visions in the organization of a better environment in some of the largest cities in the world.

Wolfgang Nowak is Director of the Alfred Herrhausen Society, the International Forum of Deutsche Bank. Wolfgang Nowak initiated the Urban Age program, an international investigation into the future of the

Along with that, it is intended to serve as a platform

world’s mega-cities in the twenty-first century jointly organized

that organizes a network of urban initiatives at the

with the London School of Economics. He has held various

grass roots level.

senior positions in Germany’s state and federal governments,

I think we can encourage mayors and urban planners to look around their environment to see if there is something happening. For me, it was interesting to

France’s Centre national de la recherche scientifique (French National Center for Scientific Research) in Paris, and UNESCO. After unification, he was State Secretary of Education in Saxony from 1990 to 1994. In addition, he was Director-General for

see that whenever we told mayors about these initia-

Political Analysis and Planning at the German Federal Chancel-

tives in their cities, they were surprised. They were

lery from 1999 to 2002. He lectures and publishes widely on

astonished about how many of these initiatives existed. City leaders should link these initiatives together. Such initiatives and those who manage them should be part of urban planning and not excluded. If we want to re-

academic issues and is a regular commentator for German television and newspapers. He is honorary Vice President of the British think tank Policy Network, Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institution in Washington, and Fellow at the NRW-School of Governance at the University of Duisburg-Essen.

invent cities in the twenty-first century, this means returning to the roots, linking urban planning with community initiatives in order to learn from each other. I think we can learn a lot from the grassroots level.

The Alfred Herrhausen Society Named after Alfred Herrhausen, a German banker and former chairman of Deutsche Bank who was assassinated in a roadside bomb attack in 1989, the non-profit Alfred Herrhausen Society (AHS) is a corporate social responsibility initiative of Deutsche Bank. Founded in 1992, its work focuses on new forms of governance as a response to the challenges of the 21st century. The Urban Age conference series and award program is one of three major initiatives supported by AHS. Broadly speaking, the AHS seeks traces of the future in the present, and working with partners in government, academia and business, aims to conceptualize relevant themes for analysis and debate globally.

12

INITIAL THOUGHTS

Make the Invisible Visible Ute E. Weiland has coordinated the award process in all five cities

Cities—and megacities in particular—have become way

ture, or urban planning) is assigned for the fieldwork

too complex to be governed from a centrally located

in each city. Their overall function has been to trace

city hall. Nowadays, successful urban politics are large-

projects in which people proactively improve their en-

ly based on temporary alliances, created for the solu-

vironment by forging partnerships and sharing respon-

tion of concrete challenges. With different stakeholders

sibilities. While coordinating the award, each Manager

partaking, they prevent the alienation of citizens from

has been in constant contact with those initiatives,

one another. Alienation has already seized whole living

learning about their aims and methods, visiting their

districts of this world’s megacities; suggesting they

sites, and documenting their work.

form part of the city by labeling them “city districts”

Their first task has always been to communicate the

would certainly be wrong. They are isolated from the

award to a network of different stakeholders—local au-

traditional quarters, not only geographically but also

thorities and administration, academia, journalists, art-

through sordid living conditions, high crime rates, and

ists and designers, NGOs, community associations, etc.

inadequate housing situations.

In a second step, they created a platform for networks

With the Urban Age conferences, organized jointly

of different societal parts that are active in shaping the

with the London School of Economics, Alfred Herrhaus-

urban environment. These platforms were designed to

en Society has established a network of architects, ur-

mobilize the civil society of the respective city as well

ban planners, mayors, scientists, and NGOs, in order to

as to circulate the call for initiatives.

find solutions for the cities of the twenty-first century.

The Award Managers were sent on the ground in

With the help of the Urban Age Award, this “network

order to be in direct contact with a network of local ac-

from the top” is supposed to be complemented by a

tors involved in collective practices. The whole process

“network from the bottom” to merge these to a better

of organizing the award provides an enormous poten-

overall picture of the respective urban region.

tial for field research, as it allows exploring a number

Starting in 2007, the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award distinguishes “partnerships of shared respon-

of projects in the urban local sphere. By the immediate observation of these initiatives,

sibility” between citizens, politicians, the economy,

the researcher no longer contemplates the world

and NGOs, which contribute to an improved quality of

passively; he or she rather starts to experience it

living in their cities. The award was designed to en-

actively through the contact with people active in

courage people to assume responsibility for their living

their own environment. In every city, the fieldwork

environment. It is awarded annually, usually in the city

continued with the search for local leadership im-

that hosts the Urban Age conference of that year. After

mersed in their realities, or in the scale of their own

an open application process, an independent interna-

neighborhoods.

tional jury awards the prize, which is worth 100,000 USD, to the winning project. The overall aim of the Deutsche Bank Urban Age

In São Paulo in 2008, corresponding projects were located by systemic mapping, and subsequently related to the dimensions of the city as a whole for the first

Award is to make the invisible visible, to show what

time. Furthermore, the intensive investigation of the

potential there is in the slums, townships, barrios,

local projects started to produce actual knowledge; the

gecekondus, or favelas of this world, and to constitute

amount of information gathered from there was un-

a lobby for those who have never had one.

foreseen until that moment. It opened up opportunities

For the implementation of the project, a local Award Manager (from the field of political science, architec-

to reveal practices, to pinpoint fields of opportunity for actions, and to highlight their importance to the

construction of the city, as well as to document and to

“Make visible what, without you, might perhaps never

share it. These activities received considerable media

have been seen.” (Robert Bresson, director)

coverage, which informed the civil society about the potential of those initiatives and about their impact on citizen’s lives. The mapping has taken place ever since. Even though most of the projects are modest in size, the procedure organizes a network that reveals innovative modes of spatial organization and disseminates this information to other stakeholders. On a critical note, it is important to remember that the award has been successfully communicated through public relations activities and extensive documentation; to reach and induce local authorities to get involved, however, it requires a strong network between decision-makers and active citizens, a temporal alliance to make use of the dedication that was experienced in desperate environments. In other words, it needs urban planning that is willing to benefit from the open spaces that the participating projects have created despite adverse circumstances. This was accomplished in Cape Town for the first time, where a vigorous Governor, an interested municipality, and the Cape Town Partnership were willing to interlink the 250 applying projects not only with each other, but also with the City of Cape Town and the Provincial Government. The result was an alliance that connects in a sustainable way what had not been connected before.

Ute Elisabeth Weiland has been the Deputy Director of the Alfred Herrhausen Society,

The Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award is designed

Deutsche Bank’s international forum since 2007, a member of

to initiate such developments; it can make visible that

the Executive Board of the Urban Age conference series at the

the borders between historical urban quarters and slums do not symbolize walls between citizens and

London School of Economics since 2004, and since 1 January 2010 member of the Governing Board of LSE Cities. In 1997, she co-founded the Erich Pommer Institute for Me-

slum dwellers. Active citizenship exists even where the

dia Law and Media Management at the University of Potsdam

concept itself is unknown.

and was its deputy managing director until 2003. Born in the

After five cities, five awards, and hundreds of projects documented during these years, the compiled material allows us to critically reflect on commonalities between the projects, about their exemplariness, their potential, as well as about their impact and innovation.

former German Democratic Republic, she graduated from the Academy of Music in Weimar. After unification, she became chief of staff to the Secretary of State for education in Saxony. Ute E. Weiland is a member of the German-Israeli Young Leaders Exchange of the Bertelsmann Foundation and young leader of the Atlantik Brücke.

14

FOREWORD

The Community Richard Sennett is Professor of Sociology at LSE and New York University and author of ‘The Craftsman’

Practising Commitment

children; domestic interiors stuffed with knick-knacks

I would like to visit the scene of a settlement house in

and carefully brushed furniture, again a contrast to the

Chicago where informal cooperation helped provide a

bare, scuffed interiors which before had counted for us

social anchor for poor children like myself. Coopera-

as ‘home’.

tion’s difficulties, pleasures and consequences appeared

At the settlement-house reunion, people spoke with

among the people who passed through this dilapidated,

wonder at what had happened to the neighbourhood

bustling building on the city’s Near West Side. Or so it

since we had all left. It had sunk further than any of us

seemed to me, when decades later I returned to share

could have imagined, and was now a vast archipelago

a weekend, sponsored by the settlement house, with

of abandoned houses, isolated apartment towers in

thirty or so African-American adults who had grown up

which the elevators stank of urine and shit, a place

in this small corner of the Chicago ghetto.1

where no policemen responded to telephone calls for

Memory played the same trick on my childhood

help and most adolescents carried knives or guns. The

neighbours that it does on everyone; the experience of

magic talismans of a place or a face seemed even more

years of change can be compressed in the memory of a

required to explain the luck of escape.

face or a room. The black children I grew up with had a

The administrators of the settlement house, like the

compelling reason to remember in this way. They were

elderly cop representing the Police Athletic League,

survivors. Their childhoods disorganized by poverty,

were of course happy to hear these testimonials to

doubting as adolescents that they had much of value

their saving presence, but too realistic to believe

in themselves to offer the larger world, they puzzled

entirely in their own transforming potency: many kids

later in life about why they survived while so many

who banged on instruments in the settlement house or

of their childhood mates had succumbed to addiction,

played basketball on a nearby paved court eventually

crime or lives lived on the margins. So they singled out

wound up in jail. And the past remained unfinished

a person, place or event as a transforming experience

business for the survivors; issues they faced as chil-

for themselves, as a talisman. The settlement house be-

dren they continued to face as adults. That unfinished

came a talisman, as did the strict local Catholic school

business falls under three headings.

and the sports club run by an organization called the Police Athletic League. My childhood companions were not heroic; they did

The first concerns morale, the matter of keeping one’s spirits up in difficult circumstances. So simple to state, morale was less clear to explain in practice,

not rise from rags to riches, becoming racial exem-

since my neighbours had every rational reason to suc-

plars of the American Dream. Only a few made it to

cumb to low spirits as children, and even now could

university; most steadied themselves enough to get

still wake up at night, when worried about an unpaid

through secondary school, thereafter taking jobs as

bill or a problem at work, thinking the whole edifice of

secretaries, firemen, store-keepers or functionaries in

their adult lives might suddenly collapse like a house

local government. Their gains, which might seem mod-

of cards.

est to an outsider, were to them enormous. Over the

The second issue concerns conviction. At our gath-

four days of our reunion, I went to visit some of their

ering, people declared they had survived thanks to

homes, and recognized domestic signs of the journey

strong, guiding convictions—all were devoted church-

we had all taken: tidy backyards with well-tended

goers, and all had faith in family writ large. Though

plants, unlike the broken-bottle-strewn play areas

the African-American adults had passed through, and

surrounded by chain-link fences we had known as

benefited from, the American civil rights upheavals of

the 1960s, those political gains didn’t figure so much

department, but the youngsters in the project a gen-

in their own thinking about their personal survival; if

eration later were hostile to people who offered them-

a door opens, you do not automatically walk through

selves as helping hands, as ‘role models’. As always,

it. Yet when we got down to the grit of discussing our

the message ‘If I can do it, so can you’ can be turned

own children’s adolescent angst, few people applied

around: ‘If I made good, why aren’t you succeeding?

Scripture to that perennial, particular hard case. So

What’s wrong with you?’ So the role model’s offer to

too at work; rather than moralizing, people think

give something back to the community, to reach out,

flexibly and adaptively about concrete behaviour.

was rejected by the young people in the community

On the job, for the first time, many of these young

who most needed help.

African-Americans were working side by side with

All three of these issues—the fragility of morale,

whites, and they had to feel their way. Even twenty

conviction, cooperation—were familiar to me, but for

years later they had to do so, as when my child-

me as a white boy they cut a different way. My mother

hood next-door neighbour became the supervisor of

and I moved to the housing project when my father left

a group of mostly white subordinates in the motor

in my infancy and left us penniless, but we lived there

bureau of Chicago.

only about seven years; as soon as our family fortunes

And then there was the matter of cooperation.

returned, we moved out. The community posed dan-

As children, the ‘fuck you’ version of cooperation

gers for me but not mortal dangers. Perhaps thanks to

dominated our lives, since all gangs in the community

this distance, the reunion sparked in me the desire to

subscribed to it, and the gangs were powerful. In the

understand how the three pieces of unfinished busi-

immediate post-Second World War era, gangs dealt in

ness among my childhood friends might be seen in a

petty theft rather than in drugs, as they would a gener-

larger context.

ation later; small children were sent to ‘front’ shoplifting, since, if these children were caught, they could not

Vocation

be sent to jail. To avoid being sucked into gang life, kids

Self-sacrificing, long-term, wilful and so fragile: these

had to find other ways of associating with one another,

measures of commitment make it an experience

ways that flew under the radar-screen, as it were,

inseparable from the ways we understand ourselves.

of the gang’s control. This meant hanging out in bus

We might want to reframe these experiences by saying

shelters or other places than those marked out as gang

that strong commitment entails a duty to oneself.

turf, or staying late at school, or heading directly to the

And then shift again the oppressive weight of that

settlement house. A place of refuge meant somewhere

word ‘duty’ by thinking of commitment as a road map,

you could talk about parents, do homework together,

the map of what you should do with your life.

or play checkers, all intermissions from ‘fuck you’

Max Weber sought to explain this kind of sustaining

aggression. These intermissions in retrospect seemed

commitment by the single German word Beruf, which

enormously important, since the experiences planted

roughly translates into English as a ‘vocation’ or a ‘call-

the seed for the kind of behaviour, open rather than

ing’. These English words are saturated with religious

defensive, which had served people to make their way

overtones from the time of the Great Unsettling.

outside the community. Now some of those who had survived by leaving

The medieval Catholic imagined a religious vocation as the monk’s decision to withdraw from the world;

wanted to ‘give something back’, in the words of a

for others, remaining engaged in society, choice didn’t

childhood neighbour, a foreman in the city’s sanitation

enter the picture in the same way; faith was natural-

16

FOREWORD

ized behaviour, taken for granted, beelike, though pro-

cures sickness of self. But Weber focused more sharply

grammed culturally rather than genetically. Lutheran

on politicians who are genuine believers, politicians

theology changed this. Drawing on the experiences of

at the opposite pole from Machiavellian schemers,

early Christianity, particularly on St Augustine’s strug-

politicians who believe what they preach. Weber feared

gles to believe, Luther portrayed faith as an inner, ac-

committed politicians because they are likely to force

tive decision, a ‘commitment to Christ’ which has to be

others to pay obeisance to the convictions which have

renewed again and again in the course of a believer’s

saved the political believer from his or her own inner

lifetime. The Protestant trauma lies in knowing what

confusions. A concrete example of what worried Weber

you should do with yourself, in the world. Judaism,

is the declarations of solidarity displayed on the walls

Islam and Catholicism all provide life-designs external

of the musee social in the Paris Exposition. ‘Solidarity’

to the self; Protestantism of Luther’s sort provides less

was for Weber a cover for the process of purifying the

of a design and stresses more the self.

will, of reinforcing its certainties, and so warding off

A vocation can be made simple, framed just as

inner doubt. In Weber’s view the ‘ethics of conviction’

strategic personal planning; when business gurus like

must always exclude or punish difference; once admit

John Kotter give motivational pep talks, they speak of

disagreement and conviction itself will collapse.

inventing ‘life-pursuit strategies’—all the Protestant

What then of the alternative to the ethic of

pain of not knowing your purpose in life is rather

conviction? In Paris in 1900 an alternative was put

hygienically removed in that advice.2 Searching for a

on display in documents about settlement houses,

life-purpose more deeply serves us as self-criticism;

communal associations and workshops; the organiz-

a commodity-trader on Wall Street who became a

ers of these groups certainly had both convictions

schoolteacher observed to me, ‘I guess I was meant to

and commitments, but a different sense of vocation.

do something else.’ This observation might apply as

Community itself had become the vocation, a vocation

well to the upwardly mobile people in Cabrini Green;

in which cooperation became more an end in itself,

they were meant to do something else in their lives

fulfilling the selves of the people who lived or worked

than remain rooted in poverty. But do any of us have

in the community.

an inner core of self waiting to be realized through

My childhood neighbours in Cabrini Green, who had

our actions? Can convictions alone constitute that in-

an early and profound engagement with a local com-

ner self? What has kept all my childhood friends going

munity, did not develop that sense of community as

is their religious convictions, which seem to realize

an adult vocation–nor did they follow Weber’s trajec-

that inner core in themselves, even when these con-

tory of power over others to confirm the self. Nor did

victions don’t translate literally as guides for everyday

mourning the past guide then about the vocation of

behaviour.

‘giving something back’.

Weber pondered vocations which were more com-

What, then, does the vocation of community entail?

manding—commanding in the political sense. His essay

Put aside the romantic overtones of fulfilling one’s

‘Politics as a Vocation’ focuses on the ‘ethic of convic-

destiny in a vocation; the issue then becomes how one

tion’. That ‘ethic’ can solve the riddles of self pro-

might develop a sense of inner purpose by commu-

pounded by the Protestant Ethic, when command over

nal cooperation. This study ends with three versions

others becomes a personal life-purpose. In part, this

of community as a vocation made by the heirs to the

is not an original idea; both Arthur Schopenhauer and

Parisian community organizers, each compelling, each

Friedrich Nietzsche believed that the exercise of power

ambiguous and each still, now, unfinished business.

1 I’ve described at greater lengh the Cabrini Green project, its neighbourhood and meetings like this in Richard Sennett, Respect in an Age of Inequality (New York: Norton, 2003), pt. I. 2 I’m quoting from one such pep talk Kotter gave at the Harvard Business School in 2008, but this idea of planned vocation appears in almost any self-help book.

Richard Sennett is Chair of the advisory board for LSE Cities, Professor of Sociology at the LSE and University Professor of the Humanities at New York University. Sennett has served as a consultant on urban policy to the Labour party, was past President of the American Council on Work and the former Director of the New York Institute for the Humanities. His work focuses on the intersection of cities, labour, and culture. The full-lenght version of The Community can be found in his most recent book titled Together: the Rituals, Pleasures, and Politics of Cooperation (2012).

18

EDITORIAL

An Urban Trend: Residents Taking Ownership of their Environment Marcos L. Rosa, Ute E. Weiland, with Ana Álvarez, Lindsay Bush, Demet Mutman, Priya Shankar

Increasingly, people across the globe are engaging in improving the urban environments they live in. They

• benefited communities, improving quality of life and the urban environment in their neighborhoods and cities.

act in response to urgent issues and compelling needs

The 741 initiatives that applied for consideration

such as shelter, security, employment, health, and edu-

cross every sector. Projects deal with collective built

cation. Community-based initiatives indicate the ability

space, the recovery of public space, communal clean-

of citizens to present solutions to challenges posed

ing of garbage dumps, sanitation programs, slum

by everyday life, and use creativity to transform and

upgrade, and housing retrofit. A large proportion

multiply existing resources.

relates to the environment, through waste manage-

Inadvertently political by nature, these initiatives

ment programs, recycling, greening, and urban ag-

are a response to the incapability of today’s cities to

riculture practices that make available high-quality,

cope with urban challenges via traditional planning

fresh, affordable produce in disadvantaged neighbor-

culture and its instruments. They invite different ac-

hoods. Some are of an economic nature, through

tors to cooperate towards a new urban scheme driven

shared entrepreneurial activities that work to reduce

by participation and a proactive attitude. They build

unemployment.

collective space, collectively. They reveal a shared layer

Many projects activate public or collective space by

of the city that is complex, incremental and difficult to

promoting leisure activities such as sports, recre-

articulate, as it does not organize systems, but rather

ational, and cultural events—sometimes leading to

operates on a local level, fulfilling micro-agendas

the improvement of these spaces and the construc-

through direct action.

tion of new facilities. By creating local startups, services, and infrastructures, these initiatives have

Community Initiatives

a positive impact on their neighborhoods, enhanc-

This book investigates a series of grassroots initiatives

ing social cohesion. Local organization often gives

that provide social infrastructures to neighborhoods

rise to a community center, a collective kitchen, or

with shortages of all kinds. It is the product of a five-

a social enterprise—structures that work as focal

year program (2007 to 2012) that used the platform of

points within existing social networks. They offer

the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award to compile and

classes, courses, skills training, child care, and health

map out community projects in five cities in emerging

programs that address the symptoms of poor urban

countries: Mumbai, São Paulo, Istanbul, Mexico City,

environments (poverty, substance abuse, violence,

and Cape Town. In each one of the five cities, the award

and crime), and support and empower individuals to

called for existing projects that:

study, find work, and become active and enterprising

• were already implemented and functioning, and

in their daily lives.

demonstrated engagement and innovation

Not all of these categories, programs and mecha-

• shared responsibility for building collective space

nisms are necessarily obvious at first glance. For

• proved their ability to forge partnerships with dif-

example, a peaceful meeting space with a tree and

ferent stakeholders: local and cultural associations,

a bench can hide a great complexity. This simple

community leaders, residents, users, NGOs, artists,

arrangement of objects can host a number of overlap-

architects, activists, government, planning insti-

ping programs, actions that change and adapt accord-

tutes, businesses, academia, etc.

ing to local demands, populating an open framework.

This publication intends to make the mechanisms

tors involved, and the organizational steps that were

of these projects legible, to draft their complexity

taken. These drawings extract commonalities through

systematically and clarify their strategies and opera-

the reoccurrence of similar programs, organized dif-

tional modes:

ferently according to local challenges and overlapping

In response to what do projects start? Which partner-

each other in interesting schemes. The situations aris-

ships were created? What are the main challenges in

ing out of these actions are resourceful experiments in

implementing a collaborative project? Was there a desire

city-shaping that demonstrate the power of our shared

to improve the urban environment? How did these im-

“humanness” and its capacity to cut across physical,

provements take shape?

cultural, and geographical differences.

The Spirit of Entrepreneurship With these questions in mind, this publication allows

The Capacity of Negotiating and Building Alliances

one to dive into some of the projects showcased for

More than just narrating the stories of these projects,

each city. Analysis of the projects is intended to reveal

this book intends to organize a platform for discussion

the driving logics of problematic urban environments

that engages different stakeholders in conceptualizing

as they are read by their residents and users.

the impact of local initiatives at various levels:

What some may describe as naive gestures, simple

What is the importance of “bottom-up” urbanism and

measures employed to fight serious problems prove

what are its operational mechanisms at this scale? What

highly effective in using existing minimal resources

is the attitude of municipalities towards urban improve-

to catalyze social and economic gains. As Arturo Mier

ment and the redressing of inequality? Can grassroots

y Terán says, referring to Mexico City, “In the places

complement the efforts of the public sector to integrate

where these projects are being carried out, one can

the city and improve livability in all areas? Is there a

clearly see a change.” Without aiming to romanticize

move towards integrating bottom-up with top-down

the contexts where the projects take place, we under-

planning initiatives? What are the long-term prospects

stand that, as modest as some of these initiatives may

for bottom-up practices? What future scenarios might be

be, they are successfully improving residents’ lives and

envisaged?

transforming collective space in cities. This book consists of a collection of photographs, the

Having started responding to urgent needs, these community initiatives had become evident in the

documentation of these initiatives, an action protocol

nineteen-eighties and nineties and later evolved from

depicted through illustrations, and a set of interviews

independent to negotiating and demanding co-respon-

drawing out different perspectives on the subject.

sibility to institutions and the government.

The mode of enquiry was systematically repeated in each city, from Mumbai to Cape Town. It showcases fifteen projects, three from each of the

A series of interviews deepens the discussion, inviting representatives in each city to reflect on these practices and bringing different perspectives to the

five cities. This gives us a wider perspective that allows

table: grassroots projects and local leaderships, the

us to compare these cities.

government, academia and researchers, artists and

Detailed illustrations made individually for each project depict their operational modes, reveal the ac-

cultural figures, and individuals connected to the local challenges of each city.

20

EDITORIAL

Embedded Productive Capacities

Participatory Modes for Future Scenarios

“We are recognizing what an immense natural resource

The book outlines existing operations, identifies in-

is right there to help the transformation, to generate

novative tools and planning instruments, and seeks

income and shared entrepreneurship.” (Malika)

to shape grammars of action. Based on this, it aims to

Despite their geographic and temporal distinctions,

explore possible future scenarios that could emerge

all of these actions rely on a collaborative process

from these localized practices. Could they be scaled up?

that is, in each case, dominant and fundamental. They

Might they make a larger and more systemic impact?

explore the capacity for production within urban

Investigating small-scale and sometimes invisible

settlements, contesting the model of urban vs. rural, or

urban processes can reveal not only opportunities for

agricultural vs. industrial vs. service economies. These

action, but methods of operation that could be relevant

projects demonstrate how the agricultural, industrial,

to others. This approach suggests a transversal way of

and service economies that historically divide the evo-

thinking about planning, one that acknowledges the

lution of our cities, nowadays coexist in urban areas.

equal importance of all the different voices compiled

Incorporating these initiatives into mainstream

here. It drafts arguments that might lead to partici-

planning would require a drastic change in the concep-

patory models, and envisages a scenario where the

tion of city. In this new form of planning, metropolitan

knowledge and findings compiled from these real world

systems would need to not only support the service

experiences can begin to feed back into planning and

economy, but also allow for production: urban farming,

policy. It is not a finished work, but rather an open pro-

small-scale manufacturing, social enterprises, creative

cess of investigation that gives rise to further inquiry.

practices, informal economies, and so on. How can we make efficient use of what we have? How do we engineer a future based on the productive capacities of our cities? How can we build a framework accessible enough to enable and encourage people to take part? How might a developed scenario look? Are these temporary projects, and how might they develop over time? Can they impact upon the urban fabric in the future? What is their collective productive capacity to generate change?

Five Cities

22

FIVE CITIES

INTRODUCTION

City Profiles Introducing Five Cities

Photo Essay

Mumbai, São Paulo, Istanbul, Mexico City, Cape Town:

A short photo essay consisting of a set of four images,

all five cities have been colonies in the past. Their his-

introduces each of the five cities systematically. A time

tory is marked by invasions, conquests, and exploita-

line for each city depicts their urban development, al-

tion based on a rural economy, emptied out by colonial-

lowing one to visualize some of the relevant milestones

ism. In the last century, the economic matrix changed

in urban evolution, alongside the population growth.

to an industrial one as emerging economies started

The bird’s eye view, the first image, introduces the

to flourish after the First World War, and accelerated

metropolitan areas, some of the largest in the world. It

urban development of territories was characterized

shows the macro scale, depicting the image or “brand”

by the provision of infrastructure. Since the beginning

of the city. São Paulo is often referred to as an end-

of the twentieth century, many migrants and immi-

less ocean of high-rises sprawled over its topography;

grants have moved to these cities for different reasons,

Mumbai is depicted by its density, constructing an im-

mostly driven by economic opportunities or pressed by

age of planned towers and horizontal slums side by side;

changes in political scenarios. This has created a great

Mexico City finds its maximum expression in the low-

ethnic mix, a key factor in understanding their cultural

rise built blocks extending in an endless pattern to the

construct. In the second half of the century, the cities

horizon; Istanbul is characterized by the overlapping of

experienced another urban boom: deruralization led to

several historic moments, a juxtaposition of urban tis-

a massive migration to urban areas. A lack of capacity

sues; Cape Town is defined by its central Bowl, nestled

to house these migrants resulted in increased poverty,

against a mountain with sprawled townships at its back.

urban sprawl, and the rise of illegal and informally

The second image approximates the scale of people,

constructed settlements. The population spread over a

“the human eye view,” revealing a lively ground level

larger portion of the territory, occupying and devel-

where people of different ethnicities coexist. These

oping land that lacked any kind of infrastructure. In

cities have become melting pots for a mix of locals,

recent decades, the growth of these cities has slowed

immigrants and their cultures: here we see the city as a

and there are signs that city dwellers are starting to

social construct. Together, these two images depict the

fight back against the problems and poor environments

“modern city”: the planned, technical, often highly sep-

they find themselves left with.

aratist construction of a territory, overlaid with more

The cities under discussion are all part of emerging economies and contribute significantly to the GDPs in

informal, intertwined patterns of use and adaptation. Metropolitan areas concentrate wealth, but they also

their respective countries. Since the implementation of

concentrate problems, and social inequality presents

the first macro scale infrastructure in the early twenti-

itself in all of them, as illustrated by a third image. Yet

eth century, these cities have received constant but in-

these challenges present city-dwellers with unique op-

sufficient investments in infrastructure. Often carried

portunities to face their issues and solve the problems,

out without consideration for design at the local scale,

as appears to be happening increasingly in the last two

projects and developments—especially those in poorer

decades.

areas—fail to include public spaces, the spaces where everyday life takes place.

The fourth image shows a community-driven initiative in each city, one that acts locally while partnering with others who operate at the city-wide, regional, national, or global level. These initiatives draft new participative mechanisms for negotiation and governance in the city, and reveal an interest in the construction of collective space by communities.

24

FIVE CITIES

INTRODUCTION

5 x 3 Initiatives

Compilation

Three projects from each city are presented here

The last part of each city’s chapter is a photo essay

through photography, a text-based portrait, and an

that showcases some of the other initiatives compiled

illustration. We explain why these projects began and

in that city. These images illustrate a much broader

what inspired them, illustrate where they are located,

range of projects of similar nature, suggesting further

what they do (programs and activities), and what

commonalities between community initiatives in the

situations they generate, how they developed and how

five metropolitan regions.

their outcomes have impacted upon the community. These snapshots aim to make visible the mechanisms through which these projects operate: how they mobilize the community to contribute, how they create partnerships and leverage support, how they built on existing capacity to sustain themselves, and how they benefit—both directly and indirectly—the users, residents, and the urban environment itself. The illustration organizes a systematic comparison among different initiatives in different cities, making use of common elements through which civil society improves the living conditions and upgrades spaces. In the drawings, one can find these elements be rearticulated differently in every project, thus generating diverse urban situations, making use of local potential. 5 x 5 Voices | Interviews A set of interviews intends to unveil key aspects in the process of implementing the initiatives and to draft common threads among them. The interviews reveal different perspectives on the same topics for every city, not only organizing local voices around a common platform, but also prompting for similarities in the ways our cities—and citizens—are evolving to address urban challenges. The five voices are: Community: insiders, local activists and leaderships, local residents, non-governmental and non-profit organizations, cultural agents, and activators Government: governmental agencies, public offices, official secretaries, municipal representatives and their agents Academia: teachers, theorists, architects, planners, and researchers who investigate and plan cities Arts and culture: curators, artists, and cultural agents involved with local projects. Intermediaries: those operating at the middle level (between top-down and bottom-up interventions), intermediating scales and different layers of knowledge and action

Mumbai Priya Shankar

Mumbai – City Of Islands Germany 2007 27:52 min Director: Olaf Jacobs Director of photography: Thomas Lütz Editor: Christoph Sturm

26

MUMBAI

PROFILE

Population [metro/city]

20.75 12.4

million

million

Area occupied [metro/city]

1,176 438

km2

km2

Gross domestic product (GDP)

209

[$bn at PPPs]

Average density [metro/city]

17,637 20,038

Inhabitants/km2 Inhabitants/km2

Diversity

Maharashtrians, North Indians, South Indians, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Jains, Sikhs, Parsis

28

MUMBAI

PROFILE

Income inequality [A high Gini Index indicates greater income inequality.]

35

Informal settlements

10 55

% of the land [city] % of the population [metro]

Unemployment rate

14

%

Literacy rate

88.4

%

Number of projects compiled [DBUAA]

74

Number of registered Non-profit Organizations (NGOs)

2,800

Informal Economy

23.1

%

Green space per capita

1.1

m2/person

30

MUMBAI

OVERVIEW

Participatory Developments in Mumbai

Projects compiled in Mumbai demonstrate the remark-

1

able initiative, creativity, and tenacity of citizens from

Triratna Prerana Mandal is a community toilet that

different walks of life to address the challenges in their

evolved into a comprehensive community center, pro-

city. These initiatives respond to the nature of the city—

viding educational and entrepreneurial activities.

in particular, to the large degree of informality and the constraints of space due to its specific geography. The seventy-four submissions are concentrated

2

Mumbai Waterfronts Center reclaims the city’s wa-

primarily in the city of Mumbai rather than in the

terfronts by constructing promenades and improving

wider metropolitan region, although they are spread

beaches, making them usable as open, public spaces

across different parts of the city. They reflect a variety

for all.

of concerns, but the most prevalent are public space, housing, education, and sanitation. They demonstrate

3

the involvement of multiple stakeholders—from local

Urban Design Research Institute has worked to pre-

communities to the city government to private actors.

serve and improve the city’s historic downtown core as

Much of the city has grown informally; and it shows a mixed geography with rich and poor settlements existing side by side in various parts of the city. The nature of both the growth and governance of the city has made even basic public service delivery difficult in many areas. Therefore, a number of projects are concerned with cleaning, waste management, and recycling. At the same time, the geography of the city has prevented outward expansion, leading to incredible levels of density and limited open space. As a result, several initiatives are concerned with public and community spaces.

a quality urban space and cultural hub.

1 2

3

3 km

32

MUMBAI

TIME LINE AND POPULATION GROWTH

1600

1700

1800

1534

1662

18th century

1853

Late 19th Century

Portuguese trading

Charles II of England is

The city emerges as a

First railway line

Population boom and

center established: the

given Bom Bahia, as the

docking, shipping, and

opened: it connects

first informal settle-

Mumbai area, which is a

Portuguese called it.

trading center: cause-

Bombay to Thane.

ments: population of

series of fishing villages

Population: by 1675,

ways to link the islands

over seven islands, un-

the population reaches

are built.

der the Sultan of Gujarat

60,000 with inhabitants

is captured.

largely from local com-

the city expands rapidly, 1854

attracting migrants from

First cotton mill opened.

all over the country.

1845

Connecting the city to

Large-scale building

munities but also some

Land reclamation: the

its hinterland through

program including iconic

from Britain.

city’s swamps are

the railways, allows it

landmarks such as

completely filled in and

to emerge as a major

Victoria Terminus and

the seven islands are all

cotton manufacturing

public parks.

connected to form one

center.

strip of land.

20

10

2

1900

2000

1920–30s

1947–70s

1979

1990s

2000s

Indian film industry

Massive increase in

Navi Mumbai estab-

Public-private partner-

Citizen participation

established in Bombay.

slums and informal

lished: meant to be an

ships in the slum reha-

increases and there is a

City also diversified

settlements. By 1980,

alternative center, it

bilitation scheme.

growth in the number

its manufacturing

half the city’s popula-

fails to fully take off

and influence of NGOs.

into chemicals, basic

tion lives in slums.

due to lack of transport

Economic liberaliza-

links.

tion increases the role

metal, and engineering

and impact of private

products. 1979–80s

builders.

1947

Closure of the mills and

Spread of malls and

Indian Independence

decline of the textile

more high-rise residen-

and the Partition of

industry. Slum upgrad-

tial and office spaces,

India and Pakistan, after

ing program has limited

new financial and com-

which there is an influx

impact.

mercial hubs, and rede-

of refugees into Bombay,

velopment of Parel Mill

leading to growth of

lands as commercial and

Western and Northern

retail space.

suburbs.

34

MUMBAI

INITIATIVES

Mumbai Waterfronts Center

The Mumbai Waterfronts Center emerged out of the initiatives of the determined residents and citizens of Bandra—a middle-class neighborhood in the Western part of the city—to reclaim their waterfront. The Bandra Waterfront is now an open public space, accessible to all sections of the city’s society. But nearly a decade ago, it served as a garbage dump, similar to many other waterfronts in Mumbai. The reclamation of Bandra was conducted through partnerships between local residents, design professionals, government representatives, and private companies. The waterfront spaces are maintained by local residents associations. The space also serves as cultural center, hosting a large festival and housing an amphitheater. The process of revitalizing and restoring the Bandra waterfront helped spur the larger citywide waterfronts initiative. MWC believes that city’s waterfronts have not been adequately considered in the planning and development process. Its aim is to rectify what it thinks has been the abuse of the city’s waterfronts. It believes that waterfronts function as vital open spaces for Mumbai’s crowded millions. MWC has helped to improve and reclaim seven kilometers of Mumbai’s western waterfronts—including the Bandra Carter Road promenade, the Bandra Bandstand promenade, Bandra Land’s End, and Juhu Beach. It creates spaces along waterfronts for people to relax, meet, exercise, and enjoy cultural and community life. It views the participation of local residents and citizens in improving and maintaining these spaces as key to the process. It has now done extensive mapping, research, and campaigning to increase awareness and improve the city’s waterfronts and open spaces. In a city that has often underappreciated its natural environment and island geography, the initiative is a visible demonstration of the significance and value of open space for all of Mumbai’s citizens. It also illustrates how such urban projects can be initiated by ordinary residents, and the significance of community participation.

36

NAVIGATION MUMBAI

XINITIATIVES

Headline AUThOR’s Name Author’s position in the project etc.

Functions / program: provision of public space; building and maintaining the promenades and walkways; concerts, dance performances, and other cultural activities in the amphitheater Benefits to the community: open public space for people to walk, sit, play and enjoy fresh air and the city’s waterside; a space and impetus for cultural activities through the Bandra Festival organized in the amphitheater Positive impact on the built environment: a garbage dump has been turned into a usable public space. Phases included paving and cleaning the walkways, greening, adding street furniture and lighting. People involved: an architect, an environmental journalist, numerous local residents, local Members of Parliament, and the thousands from all over the city who now utilize the space

MUMBAI WATERFRONTS CENTER

2000 ≥ 2012

38

MUMBAI

INITIATIVES

Triratna Prerana Mandal

In the Khotwadi informal settlement in Mumbai’s Santa Cruz district, an area not far from the airport, Triratna Prerana Mandal (TPM) began as just a group of boys hanging out together and playing cricket. In 2002, it transformed into a “community-body organization,” which in Mumbai parlance means a residents’ association of slum-dwellers that partners with the local government in civic activities. Community toilets were constructed in the area as part of the Slum Sanitation Program, which was funded by the World Bank, led by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), and implemented by SPARC (a major NGO). TPM was meant to maintain the toilets constructed for the residents in its local shantytown. But TPM didn’t just maintain toilets. The group utilized the toilet premises to set up its office, from where it started a range of activities. The first floor of the toilet complex was made into a space for a computer lab, where computer classes were run and English language instruction provided. The space is also used as a kitchen where women cook for schoolchildren as part of a government-related employment program. TPM has now “adopted” a local derelict building in the area, where it has established a gym, yoga classes, dance classes, and expanded its women’s self-help and skill groups. It has installed solar panels on its community toilet building, generating its own electricity, and has also set aside space for rainwater harvesting. It is involved in a number of recycling, waste sorting, and gardening activities, improving the environment in its neighborhood. In an area that many would dismiss as a “slum,” the project demonstrates the ingenuity, capacities, and capability of the local community to improve its environment and circumstances through partnerships and alliances. It shows how even basic infrastructure and limited space (the community toilet building) can provide an impetus for much wider community activism and urban change.

40

NAVIGATION INITIATIVES MUMBAI X

Headline AUThOR’s Name Author’s position in the project etc.

Functions / program: sanitation (provision of toilets); educating children; meeting space for women (toilets, meeting room); cooking (employment program); recycling, gardening, cultural and recreational activities Benefits to the community: providing toilets in a safe space for local people to utilize; teaching children skills (English, computers); empowering women through self-employment (cooking) and women’s discussion groups; offering a platform for cultural activities; recycling and utilizing waste for compost Positive impact on the built environment: a service facility with open space in a densely built area, recycling and composting, gardening and tree planting. People involved: a group of seven key organizers from the local community; seventy-five families who use the toilets; children, women, mentors from the municipal government, architect, and contractors (in the building phase).

TRIRATNA PRERANA MANDAL

2002 ≥ 2012

42

MUMBAI

INITIATIVES

Urban Design Research Institute

The Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI) was established as a trust to enrich the understanding of the urban environment and work towards its improvement. Although it operates on a citywide basis, much of its work has focused on the historic downtown—located in the southern part of the city—which serves as the city’s commercial and business hub, through which millions of commuters pass every day. UDRI’s work has led to increased awareness about the city’s history and heritage, including the passing of landmark urban heritage preservation legislation. It has also led to the restoration of spaces and buildings— such as the Oval Maidan and Elphinstone College, among several others—in Mumbai’s historic Fort district, which houses many neo-classical and neo-gothic buildings. UDRI has cooperated with local residents, government authorities, and private companies. In the Fort area, it helped create a sense of community and pride in the city’s heritage, by working with the residents’ associations of different area neighborhoods to form the Federation of Resident Trusts (FORT). The restored spaces in the area—including the streets, parks, the steps of a library building, etc.—are utilized as spaces for the annual Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, which includes a series of free exhibitions and events, establishing the area as a premier cultural district. UDRI works closely with FORT to further improve the area, including through the restoration of Cross Maidan. UDRI believes that this can serve as model for planning and improvement in the rest of the city, and is seeking to promote citywide consultations on the government’s new plan for Mumbai. The improvement of the Fort area serves as a tangible symbol of the collective memory and history of the city. At a wider level, UDRI’s work demonstrates the significance and necessity of local knowledge, onthe-ground research, and participatory planning.

44

NAVIGATION MUMBAI

XINITIATIVES

Headline AUThOR’s Name Author’s position in the project etc.

Functions / Program: advocates for attention to the city’s historic core with many specific related and spin-off projects that involve restoring and revitalizing historic buildings and street and open spaces; Oval Maidan Project, a cricket ground (for recreation); an annual arts festival (Kalaghoda) Benefits to the community: creating usable public spaces, beautifying the cricket grounds and greening local squares, attracting tourists, giving a sense of pride in that area, and a cultural festival Positive impact on the built environment: better spaces for pedestrians; better open spaces in the form of parks, circles and gardens; restoration of public spaces; conservation of public and private buildings; and organization of cultural events People involved: several architects, several local community residents, welfare associations, users and passers-by, artists.

URBAN DESIGN RESEARCH INSTITUTE

1997 ≥ 2012

46

MUMBAI

INTERVIEW

COMMUNITY

Dreams, Dignity, and Changing Realities: The Story of a Community Toilet Dilip Kadam and Dayanand Jadhav and Dayanand Mohite are involved in Triratna Prerana Mandal, a communitybased organization

How did the project start? What motivated you

project, community support became essential because

to become engaged?

all of the maintenance would be through contributions

We started out as a cricket club. Later, we began other

from the local community. We needed to make the

activities such as cleaning the area. This slum is our

project sustainable and we needed to convince people

neighborhood. We are living in it and we found it

that it would be beneficial for them. Ten to fifteen of us

wrong to be in such a dirty environment. We real-

worked on it at the start. Everyday, after our daily jobs,

ized that illnesses and diseases spread through filth,

we would each visit five to six households to talk to

so we started to work on it ourselves. After a while,

people. We would explain the impacts of bad sanitation

it became a habit to keep things clean. We wanted to

on health and what the benefits of the project would

improve the area and take pride in it. When the slum

be. Through this outreach, we usually managed to

sanitation program started in Mumbai, people from

convince three to four families each on a regular basis.

large NGOs and the municipal corporation (BMC) came

But many were opposed to this. They had seen too

to visit us and we got involved in providing a commu-

many projects fail and were also used to getting things

nity toilet for the area because this matched well with

for free. But once the toilet was built and they saw how

our aims.

clean it was, even those who had earlier resisted began to use it and realized what a difference it made.

Which partnerships were created to strengthen your project? What needs did they fulfill and

Did the desire to improve the urban environ-

when were they formed?

ment play a role from the outset? How do you

Although we had existed as an informal group for a

assess this achievement?

while, the community toilet project started as a result

From the start, we thought about improving our living

of partnerships. The World Bank provided funding for

environment but we weren’t able to focus on it. This

the slum sanitation program and the BMC implemented

only became concrete later on. We would clean aspects

it on a citywide basis. Major NGOs such as SPARC were

of the area; we began planting some trees and plants.

involved. For us, the most significant partnerships have

We tried to remove garbage. The support of our part-

been with the local community and the BMC. They have

ners has been vital in what we’ve achieved. But there

made the project feasible. As we have progressed, we

were also frustrations along the way. For example,

have also sought out new partners for specific needs,

when we first started using the space above the toilet

such as for our computer lab or for women’s training

for other activities, this was considered illegal. The

activities.

idea came to us because we never had space for our meetings and an office atop the toilet was symbolically

Was community support important to the setup

important in demonstrating its cleanliness. We faced

and continuation of the project and how was it

difficulties with this but now the use of the top room

mobilized? What challenges did you face and

has been legalized and even been turned into a policy

how were they overcome?

for other areas. What we’ve realized is that what is

Even when we were just a cricket club, people would

more important than the person who builds the toilet

help us, and community support was significant for our

is the person who maintains the toilet. And it’s also

work in cleaning the area. When we started the toilet

important to find out what people want and respond

to their needs and demands rather than designing abstract projects. But this is only the start and we have to go ahead and do many more things. How has the project changed or grown? What are the next goals? Where do you envision the project five years from now? The award was vital in helping us achieve recognition and visibility, and in helping us reach out to other new partners and figures to support our activities. We have expanded our work a lot since then. We now have solar energy panels and a stronger rainwater harvesting system, making our project more sustainable. Our waste segregation center has expanded so that we can help with much more recycling and waste management. Partly due to the recognition from the award, the BMC agreed to let us “adopt” the neighboring park and derelict building there. We have revitalized this building and set up a gym, yoga classes, dance classes, tailoring classes, and a table tennis and sports center in the space. Our women’s self-help group has also increased its activities, which now include tailoring and grinding flour, in addition to its earlier cooking for schools project. We have a better-equipped computer

It was the space that provided us the inspiration to start

lab now and are working on setting up a library. Since

this work (the women’s self-help group). In our homes

the refurbishment, the toilets are also better. We would

in the slum, in this neighborhood, there was no space to

like to improve the park and building to become a re-

start any work. We have this space above the toilet so we

ally nice community area. Although we have done some

thought we need to utilize it. We women had so many

work on it, there’s still much to be done—both in terms

problems—going to bad toilets or having no access to toi-

of gardening and renovating the building. We would

lets. And not having any finances, always struggling. We

also like to use our experience to help create successful

thought we women could get together and do something,

community toilets in other areas, especially near the

so we founded our women’s organization. We help each

railway lands. We’ve been thinking about a biogas plant

other and have more confidence now. And dignity. People

but need to explore the technology and get support.

respect our work and they respect us. We have made our

We’ve also been thinking about collaborating more with

own society, our own community.

the local municipal school on educational activities.

Deepa Mohite is part of the Triratna Mahila Kalyan Sarva Seva Sanstha, a women’s self-help group affiliated with Triratna Prerana Mandal

48

MUMBAI

INTERVIEW

GOVERNMENT

Network, Intermediate, Integrate: Reaching out to the Grassroots Seema Redkar is officer on special duty for the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai

Can you summarize the current attitude/policy

There are several government programs that utilize

of the municipality towards urban improve-

community participation. Even in the nineteen-eight-

ment and the redressing of inequality?

ies, BMC recognized community-led initiatives under

This is extremely important. In Mumbai, there are

the slum upgradation program. The slum adoption pro-

many different government agencies involved. Besides

gram is assisted by the local community in the cleanli-

the Municipal Corporation (BMC), these include the

ness and waste management of slum areas. The slum

Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority,

sanitation programs uses the local community in the

Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority,

maintenance of community toilets. The advanced local-

etc. There are also some quangos and some agencies on

ity management (ALM) concept utilizes residents and

a public-private partnership model. There are a number

traders in more middle-class and elite neighborhoods.

of different initiatives in this regard, ranging from ma-

The Swaccha Mumbai Abhiyan (Clean Mumbai Initia-

jor infrastructure projects to small-scale employment

tive) works with local community organizations for the

initiatives for the urban poor.

cleaning of roads. Thus, there are several programs. However, these programs fall within specific depart-

Do you think grassroots can complement the

ments and are very compartmentalized with little

efforts by the public sector to integrate the city

interaction. They seem to be doing well, since the de-

and improve livability in all areas? If so, how?

mand is increasing and people are coming forward on

Yes, I think they can play an important role in integrat-

their own initiative. It does affect the planning process

ing the city and improving the quality of life. Especially

but it doesn’t really have that much impact because

in a city where so much of the city’s population lives

it’s not well documented enough. However, one good

in informal settlements, it is almost impossible for the

example is the change in policy that happened due to

public sector to reach all of these areas without involv-

the success of Triratna Prerana Mandal. The top floor

ing grassroots actors. Grassroots initiatives are already

was not meant to be used for other activities. Now the

doing a lot for the city, in programs such as the slum

policy enables this use. It is important to have more

adoption or slum sanitation, but this needs to be more

coordination, more documentation, and actual feedback

systematic. The networking of these initiatives is very

from local communities to the government. It is impor-

important and should be supported by independent

tant to involve these groups in the planning process.

experts and the public sector. Therefore, I would say that there is an inter-relationship—i.e., grassroots ini-

Do you see scope for change to current plan-

tiatives can complement and need to be complemented

ning methods based on the experience of such

by the public sector in improving urban life. It is also

projects? Do you think there is a move towards

important to keep in mind how much the informal sec-

integrating bottom-up with top-down planning

tor contributes to the city’s economy.

initiatives? Planning methods have historically been very top-down

Which governmental agencies/programs recog-

and not included much consultation with the people

nize the importance of community-led initia-

involved. We need to change this. And there is defi-

tives? How does this affect the planning pro-

nitely a move toward integrating bottom-up practices

cess in these areas? Can you give an example?

and initiatives, but more could be done. It is too slow.

It’s important not only to emphasize infrastructure but also training, capacity building, documenting, and giving feedback. Planning needs to become more decentralized and to recognize and learn from ground realities. In India, there also needs to be a shift from the emphasis on rural areas to recognizing the significance and challenges of urban areas. How do you see the development of local bottom-up initiatives in the long term? What possible development scenarios might be envisaged for the future? I think there are strong, long-term prospects for such bottom-up practices. There is going to be a change in power structures in the city—development can no longer be dominated by the elite. The trend is changing and people at the grassroots level are becoming smarter and demanding their rights. This is a positive change. Citizens’ involvement is increasing but civic sense is sometimes still lacking. It is a slow process but it is happening. However, the process of intermediation is important—spaces for grassroots actors and trained experts to interact. We need to accept the help of universities and architecture schools in this process of intermediation. In the long term, these bottom-up practices can make the greatest impact if they are well networked and better integrated. In Mumbai, at one level, there seems to be a great deal of emphasis on community participation. But, at another level, informal settlements are sometimes trampled upon and residents there are treated as though they have no rights. How do you explain this dichotomy? Land ownership in Mumbai is very complex and there are a number of different government agencies that own land. With too many authorities and agencies, it is difficult to identify clear lines of responsibility and accountability. Therefore, while at one level, there may

One should take note of the readiness of the people to

be a policy of community participation, at another

participate in matters of city management or develop-

level, this may be ignored. Other problems include

ment. Many Indian cities are blessed with numerous

corruption and lack of capacity. There are many good

community-level and non-governmental organizations,

ideas and policies but the implementation is difficult.

although there is a significant distance between them

There is a need for greater transparency and there is

and the elected representatives. Structure can indeed

also the need for the NGO sector to play a more con-

facilitate or restrict participatory processes. And that is a

structive role.

crucial issue in addressing the deficits in a democracy. KC Sivaramakrishnan is Visiting Professor at the Center for Policy Research. He was previously in the Indian Administrative Service and served as Secretary for Urban Development for the national government.

50

MUMBAI

INTERVIEW

ACADEMIA

Elastic Urbanism: Sustainability and Informality in the City Rahul Mehrotra, Chair of the Department of Urban Planning and Design, Harvard University

Are there (morphological) trends that you

related to infrastructure in local communities also

recognize in grassroots projects in Mumbai? Do

become instruments to wield communities together

you think that it is possible for grassroots ini-

socially around common concerns.

tiatives to unveil fields of opportunity for urban design? If so, which fields might these be?

Some grassroots projects directly impact the

Grassroots initiatives are a stark reminder for ur-

built environment and create new spatial quali-

ban design as a practice, about its primary agenda

ties. Would you identify these as potential plan-

of activism—of being the practice that creates the

ning tools? How do you think this could inspire

critical feedback loops between the site specificity

or feed back into architectural/urban planning

of architectural interventions and the abstraction

practice and policy?

of planning policy. Grassroots interventions neces-

Grassroots projects often demonstrate new and

sarily force that debate and I think that’s the most

hybrid possibilities. I think the innovation in Mumbai

important condition for urban design. Unfortunately,

to integrate the caretaker’s house above the public

urban design has been narrowed in its perception

toilets in slums is an example of this kind of hybrid

to big architecture and must return to its roots—to

solution. This demonstrates a new way, perhaps very

its essential agenda of a bridge practice. Having said

particular to Mumbai, of creating new relationships

that, I think the trends that become evident to me

that are not only social but also physical. The idea

are those that are concerned with infrastructure both

that the incentive to look after the toilet is rewarded

physical and social. A public toilet, refurbishing an

by accommodating the caretaker in (what you might

open space, upgrading water supply in a slum, etc.

call) a penthouse in the slum is interesting. Simi-

are all examples of critical urban design projects in

larly, the temporal transformations that occur during

the context of Mumbai.

festivals are a good example of temporary expansion of public space at the grassroots level. This is not an

Do solutions germinating in local communities

appropriation that has a permanent effect but rather

contribute to livability in some areas? If so,

a temporary adjustment for a use where there is

how? What kinds of pressing challenges do they

often community consensus. I think the first step for

tend to respond to?

urban planners and designers is to recognize these as

Most certainly they do. These projects are clearly

legitimate occurrences and solutions. Once we do that

focused on real problems that communities feel and

and can see the simultaneous validity of the exis-

want to solve. Often, these have to do with basic

tence of both a permanent and temporary landscape

needs of water and sanitation—and more generally

in our cities, I think it can have a profound impact on

public health. The community toilet project, Triratna

the way we imagine policy. Likewise, if we recognize

Prerna Mandal, is one such example where differ-

the validity of new hybrid formulations in the built

ent programmatic components fold into a sanitation

environment and of otherwise previously unimagined

project to better embed it in the community. SPARC

adjacencies in terms of land use and space occupation,

(Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centers) and

these could have a significant impact on the way we

several other NGOs in the city are in the process of

formulate building bylaws, as well as our attitude to

initiating similar projects. Solutions such as these

land use planning more generally.

What kinds of projects do you think have the po-

even more optimum the infrastructure of the city. Sim-

tential to be replicated? What kinds of features

ilarly the maidan or open spaces used for cricket during

should they exhibit in order to be replicable?

the day, which are transformed for a few hours in the

I think what is most easily replicated in projects are

evening to accommodate weddings, employing very

the lessons of governance and strategies for com-

light building materials that are dismantled overnight

munity engagement. I think the physical response is

without leaving a trace. Entire streets are transformed

representative of very particular conditions and often

as celebratory venues during festivals. These are all

can’t be replicated—but financial models and legisla-

examples of the transformative ability of the city and

tive frameworks can be often abstracted for replica-

its spaces. This is an incredible lesson for urbanism

tion. This is why I also think the discussions about

globally—one that manages resources intelligently and

best practices, if taken as a whole, are not productive

sustainably.

as they are often deterministic and limiting because replicating these in totality is often not possible and misleading. It is productive to decouple, in this case, the processes from the final product. How do you envision a scenario evolving from the impact of these types of projects in the urban fabric in the future (say, five to ten years from now)? Cities today are complex and diverse. The sweeping large gestures of urban design and modeling cities in singular images, especially in a democracy, are really not feasible. So cities are now made by smaller interventions and the urban design challenge is how we facilitate the connections between the parts. In democracies, the challenge for the design of cities will be how we create a common ground through infrastructure design while allowing diversity to flourish through the multitude of smaller more incremental and even self-help projects. This will be the real basis for public private partnerships and enterprise.

The moral of this story is: don’t demolish slums, but improve them. Give them private toilets or make the

Mumbai exhibits enormous levels of infor-

communal ones nicer. Shore up the roofs, give them clean

mality and density. While this presents many

water and reliable electricity. Most of all, give them ten-

challenges, do you think there are any unique

ure, ninety-nine-year leases on the land underneath their

opportunities or lessons that arise from this

shacks. The poor already live exactly where they want

condition and the nature of the city?

to live, and have made an architecture and an urban plan

Resulting from the density and informality is a very

that they can live with. They don’t need planners. And

particular state of urbanism—a condition where the

when they are presented with the big plans that the city

concerns are not about grand design but grand adjust-

has for them, they don’t understand them. That is because

ment. I think what we need to consider seriously in

much of the conversation around planning is deliberately

this scenario is what we can learn from the elasticity

arcane, like a Latin mass. It serves the function of setting

of Mumbai as a physical plant and urban system. How

up an exclusive class of individuals who are the interme-

we expand the margins of the city and its infrastruc-

diaries between God and man, between the politicians

ture to accommodate unimagined uses. An example of

and developers who have their visions of the city and the

this are the Dabbawallahs, who participate in an infor-

ordinary people who have to inhabit them.

mal economy or service leveraging the formal infra-

Suketu Mehta is writer and associate professor of journalism at

structure of the railways to create a highly innovative

New York University. He is author of Maximum City: Bombay

delivery system that’s efficient and expands or makes

Lost and Found.

52

MUMBAI

INTERVIEW

ARTS & CULTURE

Making Voices Heard: Art as Activism Shabana Azmi is an actress and activist

Do you think it is possible that art and culture

that transform spaces in the city, from weddings to

(artistic & cultural production), in some form,

religious festivals to art festivals to fairs and fêtes.

provide the “spark” for beginning a grassroots

There is also a long tradition of street theater in the

initiative? In which form?

city, where ordinary lanes or a small clearing under

Yes, I think that art can be a catalyst for urban action

a tree become spaces of performance. This street

and I think it can take many different forms. Art can

theater is often a form of social activism and helps

provoke, inspire, and bring people together, which are

raise awareness about critical issues and challenges.

all prerequisites for urban action. Of course, art can

In recent years, the Celebrate Bandra Festival, Juhu

take many different forms and not all art serves a larg-

Hamara Festival, and Kala Ghoda Arts Festival have

er social or political purpose. But in much of my art, I

helped revitalize and create a sense of community and

have tried to engage with wider social issues. Some-

civic pride in those neighborhoods. They bring people

times, more than art being a catalyst for urban action, I

together, creating the networks that are so important

think that art can be used for urban regeneration.

for urban life.

How does the artist/cultural activist play a role

Is there something particular about the culture

as a communicator, bridging different parts and

of Mumbai that contributes to the nature of the

intermediating negotiations that would otherwise rarely take place?

projects? The strong vitality, flexibility, diversity and passion

For me, artists have a duty to the societies that they

in Mumbai contribute to the nature of projects in

live in because art draws from and is inspired by real

this city. Mumbai is perhaps the most cosmopolitan,

life and, in turn, needs to give back to it. As an actor,

diverse, and mixed of India’s cities—with people from

empathy and imagination are extremely important to

many different professions, income groups, regions,

study and inhabit the different kinds of characters that I

religions, traditions, and often even speaking differ-

have played. This has given me the ability to empathize

ent languages, living in close proximity to each other.

with many kinds of people. Through my work, I have

There is a drive and innovativeness that shapes the

interacted with slum-dwellers, glitzy superstars, politi-

way people deal with their environment and try to

cians and parliamentarians, business leaders, and oth-

improve their circumstances. There’s a Hindi word,

ers. I think that there are lots of voices in society that

jugaad, which roughly means a makeshift, creative, im-

go unheard and lots of issues that go unseen. It is the

provised approach. People in Mumbai are the masters

responsibility of the artist to make these peripheral and

of jugaad.

subaltern voices and issues heard in the mainstream. How can the impact of grassroots projects be Many projects count on artists to identify urban challenges and present creative responses

maximized? How might artists and cultural practitioners contribute to this?

to them. What is your personal experience of

I think that artists need to be more engaged with the

how arts and culture can improve urban life?

real world around them, and in many cases, this is

Yes, I do think that cultural activity has the power to

starting to happen. Art can be a very powerful tool for

impact space—one sees that in Mumbai, where the

mobilizing people and more urban initiatives should

nature and function of space can change so dramati-

use art as a method of engagement and communica-

cally. There are so many festivals and celebrations

tion. Education and schools should lay a greater em-

phasis on art and creative activity, which are often not given enough importance. Community outreach could be conducted through arts and theater workshops. As the home of Bollywood, Mumbai is one of the biggest centers of cultural production in the world. In what ways do you think this interacts with the rest of the city, can it create opportunities for change or is it relatively isolated from wider social and urban issues? Mumbai and the film industry have an intimate connection. Bollywood is a producer of dreams, largerthan-life stories for the silver screen. These serve as potent symbols of aspiration and escape. Mumbai is often seen as the city of dreams, of stars, opportunities, and rags-to-riches stories. The film industry has played a vital role in the city’s economy but too often it has been divorced from its broader realities, although this is starting to change. It has the potential to make a more significant impact in the city as has already happened in some areas, such as during our engagement with slum-dwellers through my NGO, Nivara Hakk.

Art and culture are a very great catalyzing force in a city—they bring people together. The variety and number of people that we see at the Kala Ghoda arts festival is amazing. It is our mandate to keep the festival free because it brings together people from different communities, different classes who might not otherwise share their leisure and recreational activities. The crowds it draws are incredible—building on Mumbai’s strong history of festivals—but the environment remains friendly. And it radically transforms the urban space: turning ordinary streets, steps, parking lots, and walkways to the forefront of cultural activity and showing how versatile the space we take for granted can be. Shirin Bharucha is Managing Trustee of the Urban Design Research Institute and Honorary Secretary of the Kala Ghoda Association.

54

MUMBAI

INTERVIEW

MEDIATION

Democratizing Public Space P.K. Das is an architect and Chair of the Mumbai Waterfronts Center

What function do you think public and open

What happened in Bandra has been described

space serves in a city such as Mumbai? Why is

as an alliance between elected officials, private

it important?

companies, design professionals, and local com-

The dignity of life is reflected in the quality of public

munities. Do you think this kind of alliance can

open space that a city provides and vice versa—the na-

be adopted in other urban fields and in other

ture of public open spaces in a city reflects the quality

cities, or is it particularly suited to Mumbai

and dignity of life in the city. Quality of life and quality

and issues of public space?

of space are deeply intertwined. However, we gener-

It is pertinent to every city and for city-building and

ally see that cities are often perceived to be grounds

city-governance, it is an important idea. Cities are a

for maximizing construction potential. When we talk

collective endeavor and we must understand this. The

about cities—we are generally talking about how to

Bandra promenades were not simply an architectural

build more. This “build more” syndrome is worrisome.

project, but part of a much larger citizens’ struggle and

In Mumbai, it has adversely affected the quality of life

movement. The idea is not about exclusion but about

in the city, contributing to its anarchy. This is increas-

inclusion—inclusion at every level including slum com-

ingly happening across many cities in India. I think it’s

munities and working-class people. Every stakeholder

important to look at cities another way, to utilize and

must collaborate with each other. It is this method of

expand public open spaces as a foundation or basis for

organization and partnerships involving different kinds

city planning. Spaces that we share, where people and

of actors that can serve as a model form of urban ac-

communities can interact with each other in order to

tion across different issue areas and in different cities.

enrich their lives, are essentially the core of the city.

Projects such as the Bandra Waterfronts development

We need to turn our attention away from a mere mar-

are effective means for the achievement of our demo-

ket-led construction syndrome that emphasizes quick

cratic objectives.

turnover and profit, to a more comprehensive planning of cities in which public spaces and participation form

From your experience, who decides the rules of

the basis of our ideas and ideology for cities.

how these open and public spaces are governed in those sorts of alliances? How does negotia-

What do you think is the role of community

tion and decision-making take place?

participation and citizens’ support in public

Different stakeholders assert their views and it is not a

space projects?

simple, straightforward, or a linear process. Residents’

It is fundamental. One of the key objectives in this pro-

associations play an important role. Decision-making

cess of building cities is to democratize our cities and

and negotiation can often be long, complex, and even

public spaces, in particular. One way to do this is to

painstaking. Meetings, discussions, and the invest-

engage people at every level and actively engage them

ment of time and face-to-face contact are important.

in decisions that affect development—not just exclusive

Yet, even though these processes can seem slow, they

groups, not just elites, business groups, architects,

are incredibly important because they are inherently

and planners but everyone in the city. It is through

democratic. It is important for design, architecture,

the democratization of public spaces that we enable

planning, and space to be democratic and examine the

community networks to flourish, community life to be

role that it has in strengthening and deepening democ-

enriched, and the democratic life of communities to be

racy. There are significant links between these seem-

reinforced through public participation.

ingly different fields that need to be kept in mind.

In a city such as Mumbai, vacant land is sometimes occupied by informal settlements. Do you think there can be a conflict between a more middle-class desire for public space and poorer person’s desire for housing? And, if so, how do these kinds of conflicts play out? First of all, informal settlements in Mumbai occupy only a very small percentage of the city’s land. So much of the neglect and abuse of public space is due to other factors, either the attempt to maximize profit and revenue through emphasizing building and private property, or the lack of awareness and consciousness about the maintenance of public spaces. But, yes, most public space initiatives in Mumbai have been driven by middle-class activists and associations. At the same time, these spaces are used by all sections of society. These are the spaces that provide room for interaction, and for leisure and relaxation in a stressful city life, thus helping create a more inclusive, cohesive, and democratic city.

Until the floods in 2005, all of us in Mumbai were insensitive and ignorant about environmental concerns. The floods brought these issues home to us with a vengeance. There are four rivers in the city but they’re not in our consciousness, most people are not aware of them. These are the arteries of the city. And abuse of the environment can lead to devastating consequences. In Mumbai, the mangroves, sponges, and salt pans serve a critical function in the city. We need to value these resources. Darryl D’Monte is Chairperson of the Forum of Environmental Journalists of India and is a trustee of the Mumbai Waterfronts Center.

56

MUMBAI

COMPILATION

58

MUMBAI

BIOGRAPHIES

P. K. Das

Dilip Kadam is President of Triratna Prerna Mandal (TPM), Dayanand Jadhav is Executive President of TPM, and

is an architect and activist. He has aimed to establish connec-

Dayanand Mohite is Secretary of TPM. Dilip Kadam studied

tions between architecture and people by involving them in a

until the tenth grade and does occasional work in the certifi-

participatory planning process. His work includes organizing

cate office of Mumbai University. Dayanand Jadhav also studied

slum dwellers for better living and evolving affordable hous-

until the tenth grade and now works as an electrical contractor.

ing models, engaging in policy framework for mass housing,

Dayanand Mohite graduated from high school and works with

reclaiming public space in Mumbai by developing the wa-

Jet Airways at the Mumbai airport. They all grew up and live

terfronts, urban planning, architectural and interior design

in the Khotwadi informal settlement in Mumbai and together,

projects. He is Chairperson of the Mumbai Waterfronts Center

along with other members of the local community, founded

and founder of P.K. Das & Associates architectural practice. He

Triratna Prerna Mandal.

has written and lectured widely and recently curated the Open Mumbai exhibition.

Seema Redkar is an Officer on Special Duty, Municipal Corporation of Greater

Chapter author and interviewer Priya Shankar

Mumbai (MCGM.) She is working with the Solid Waste Management department, in charge of a program called Advance

is a sociopolitical researcher, writer, and commentator. She

Locality Management (ALM), which focuses on good gover-

is currently Senior Researcher and Project Developer at the

nance and increased citizen participation. She has worked with

Alfred Herrhausen Society. She helped conceptualize, frame,

the slum upgradation program and slum sanitation program,

and initiate the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award as well as the

funded by the World Bank for MCGM. She has been involved in

Foresight project on the rise of the BRICS. Her research inter-

community development work with a focus on education and

ests are centered on issues of governance, globalization, and

urban poverty alleviation and is also committed to voluntary

development. She has edited a series of Foresight readers and

work, mentoring several local community organizations.

contributed to other publications. Her writings have appeared in New Statesman, Global Policy, Internationale Politik, Estadao

Rahul Mehrotra

São Paulo, Times of India, India Today and others. She worked at

is a practicing architect and his firm, RMA Architects, which

the think tank, Policy Network and with the Urban Age project

was founded in 1990 in Mumbai, has executed many archi-

at the London School of Economics. She previously worked

tectural projects in India. He has also written extensively on

with educational projects in informal settlements and youth

issues to do with architecture, conservation, and urbanism in

NGOs in Delhi. She holds an undergraduate degree from Delhi

India. His latest book is Architecture in India Since 1990 (2011).

University and a postgraduate degree from Oxford University,

He has taught at the University of Michigan and at the School

both in history.

of Architecture and Urban Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Currently, Rahul Mehrotra is Professor

Members of the Jury for the Award in Mumbai

and Chair of the Department of Urban Planning and Design at



the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. He was a member of the jury for the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award in 2007. Shabana Azmi

Richard Burdett

Director, Urban Age & Centennial Professor in Architecture and Urbanism, London School of Economics

Shabana Azmi

Actor and social activist

is a renowned actress and social activist committed to



women’s rights, housing rights, and inter-religious dialogue.

Architect and Professor of Urban Planning and Design, Harvard

Nivarra Hakk in Mumbai and the Mijwan Welfare Society in

University

rural Northern India are two major social initiatives that she



has been involved in. She was a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament and has also been a Goodwill Ambassador for UNFPA. Her latest films are Kalvpriksh, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, and Midnight’s Children. She was on the jury for the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award in 2007.

Rahul Mehrotra

Suketu Mehta

Author and Associate Professor, New York University

Enrique Norten

Founder, TEN Arquitectos, New York and Mexico City & Miler Chair of Architecture, University of Pennsylvania

Anthony Williams

Former Mayor of Washington, DC and is the Executive Director of the Global Government

São Paulo Marcos L. Rosa

São Paulo – City in Pieces Germany 2008 27:54 min Director: Olaf Jacobs Director of photography: Thomas Lütz Editor: Christoph Sturm

60

SÃO PAULO

PROFILE

Population [metro/city]

19.9 10.8

million million

Area occupied [metro/city]

8,000 1,500

km2 km2

Gross domestic product (GDP)

388

[$bn at PPPs]

Average density [metro/city]

2,420 7,139

Inhabitants/km2 Inhabitants/km2

Diversity

Indigenous, Portuguese, Spanish, Italians, Japanese, African,Lebanese, Syria, Korean, South Americans, Brazilian

62

SÃO PAULO

PROFILE

Income inequality [A high Gini Index indicates greater income inequality.]

55

Informal settlements

7.8 11

% of the land [city]

% of the population [metro]

Unemployment rate

12.9

%

Literacy rate/population with a high school education

95.4 44.6

% %

Number of projects compiled [DBUAA]

133

Number of registered Non-profit Organizations

18,000

[city]

Informal Economy

39.8

%

Green space per capita

2.6

m2/person

64

SÃO PAULO

OVERVIEW

Urban Creative Practices in São Paulo

Projects compiled in São Paulo show how self-organization responds to urgent needs, generating quality col-

1

lective spaces that encourage community participation.

Edificio União (Union Building) is a formerly occu-

We found 133 initiatives concentrated primarily in

pied high-rise in the center of the city, which has been

the central area, but spread over the whole metropoli-

successfully converted into residences for forty-two

tan area. They test the collective use of space through

families, including a communal space.

cultural, arts, and education production, as well as the creation of recreational opportunities, recycling alternatives, social housing, etc. The rapid urbanization process, experienced the late twentieth century, faced major problems related to the

2

Instituto Acaia is a cultural facility, with a nursery and a workshop, which has carved a common space within the dense slum tissue.

lack of infrastructure—from electricity and water to education and culture. This is still an ongoing process,

3

which has fragmented the city, producing urban waste-

Biourban transformed the pathways of the Mauro

lands and residual spaces of different natures; it has

slum, stimulating inhabitants to activate unused spaces

also polarized wealth. This urbanization process has

and upgrade them.

created both a verifiable lack of quality spaces for human coexistence, and unused space with the potential to host urban creative practices. In São Paulo, these are drivers to a restructuring of the urban environment committed to the level of the user.

1 2

3

5 km

66

SÃO PAULO

TIME LINE AND POPULATION GROWTH

1600

1700

1800

1554

1850

1867

1889

1929

City foundation: Vila de

The coffee economy

Railroad Santos-Jundiaí

Brazilian Independence.

Plano de Avenidas:

São Paulo.

causes an economic,

opened.

political, and urban

city expansion through 1900

radio-concentric boulevards.

from 1600

transformation in São

1879–90

Industrialization in the

Entradas and Bandeiras:

Paulo.

New districts for the

city: textiles and food. 1949

elites: Campos Elíseos

expeditions from São

1920

Expressways: US-

Compact city: dense

American Robert Mosés

1890s

city center redesigned.

redesigns the Plano de

Abolition (1888): change

New urban infrastruc-

Expansion through new

Avenidas.

until the 19th century

of workforce generated

tures: projects for

districts inspired by

Population: mainly Por-

mass European immi-

avenues and bridges

the British garden city

1960–70s

tuguese and Tupi-Garani

gration (3.1 million from

inspired by French

movement.

Urban sprawl: rural mi-

Indians.

1887–1939).

Boulevards: Paulista

gration from the Brazil’s

Avenue and Tee Viaduct.

northeast leads to fast

New train station: Luz

growth. The number

Station. Tramlines con-

of favelas grows in the

structed.

periphery. Informal

Paulo looked for gold,

1850

indigenous slaves, and

Importation of slaves

conquest of land.

prohibited followed by

and Higienópolis.

commerce proliferates.

20

10

2

1900

2000

1971

1990s

1990s

2000s

2000s

First Integrated urban

Favela boom. Today, 1.5

Violence rises and gated

Strategic interventions.

Large-scale infrastruc-

plan aims to control

million people live in the

communities spread.

Educational centers

ture planned for an

growth.

city’s favelas.

Local associations and

(CEU), Cultural Centers

urban retrofit in existing

De-industrialization.

organizations actively

(SESC), and other

areas.

1973

Organization of macro-

respond to urgent local

initiatives generate local

Public space recovery

Metropolitan area is de-

infrastructures and en-

issues.

change in poor neigh-

through the city and

fined as a conglomerate

clave services (shopping

Urban growth lower.

borhoods (public and

NGOs. Alternative

of 37 cities (today 39).

malls, supermarkets,

privately organized).

mobility is discussed as

etc.).

Favela upgrade: reur-

traffic jams worsen.

1974

banization and social

First subway line.

housing plans.

68

SÃO PAULO

INITIATIVES

Union Building

The construction of the concrete-frame, multistory structure began in the nineteen-seventies but was never completed. Squatters moved into the building in the nineteen-eighties. The high-rise shell structure, occupied by squatters, was successfully converted into a residential building for forty-two families: new kitchens and bathrooms were fitted in the residential units; a precarious system of plumbing and electricity, with exposed wires, an unreliable water supply, as well as rudimentary sewage and waste disposal were installed. In the center of São Paulo, in area of the city best provided with infrastructure, the project allows its residents to remain near jobs, schools, and social amenities. A project with students from São Paulo’s Faculty of Architecture (FAU-USP) was the first step in improving the site. Three results became immediately visible: together with students, the residents cleaned the site, a collective power grid was installed, and the building’s façade was improved. Security gates were mounted and the name of the building, Edifício União (Union Building), was attached in letters to the façade to give the residents a sense of ownership and pride in where they live. The project serves as an outstanding example of what community empowerment can do for people who want to live closer to their workplaces in the city center. The project is a successful alternative to social housing practice models in São Paulo, and it also differs from the other gated communities. It blurs the traditional boundaries between private and public through its setback from the plot’s edges, creating a semi-private “street” where everyday activities unfold from the residential units.

70

NAVIGATION SÃO PAULO

INITIATIVES X

Headline AUThOR’s Name Author’s position in the project etc.

Functions / program: housing, home gardening, recreational activities (playing space, reading space, arts and crafts workshop on the weekends), and a community center Benefits to the community: the retrofit of the abandoned structure allows residents to remain living in the central area of the city, close to their work. The collective use of common space creates a multipurpose space used for several activities in the building’s setback. Positive impact on the built environment: the collectivity creates a sense of community, creating a safe and taken care environment. People involved: residents and their families, a professor, and a group of students.

UNION BUILDING

2002 ≥ 2012

72

SÃO PAULO

INITIATIVES

ACAIA Institute

Founded in 2001, the ACAIA Institute formalized educational activities that shared a carpentry workshop organized by Elisa Bracher since 1997. It began creating workshops that responded to the everyday needs of children—cooking, sewing, playing. ACAIA offers extensive training facilities open to deprived children from surrounding favelas (slums)—from arts and crafts workshops, to cooking classes, environmental education, music, and recreational activities. Parallel to these activities, the institute organized the basis for the construction of a better urban environment, fostering partnerships with architects and the city and creating an equipped public space. The project began with the establishment of a spacious arts and crafts workshop in the district of Vila Leopoldina, and extended its activities to spaces inside the nearby slums, housing over 960 families next to the city’s wholesale food market. Working closely with residents’ associations, which they helped form, ACAIA partnered with municipal organizations and architects and initiated in 2006 strategic development plans that made spatial improvements in these slums: in addition to the construction of a new sewage system and paved streets, the initiative created a new public space with recreational equipment, a nursery, and a workshop. Additionally, a house has been purchased to host a laundry on the ground floor and a nursery for children on the upper floor, with daily care activities for the community children. The project offers young people opportunities through a cultural and educational program that investigates their daily experiences. It serves as an icon in the fight to place low-income populations in the city’s central areas, democratizing the benefits of its urban qualities, accessibility to job opportunities, education, health, culture, and leisure.

74

NAVIGATION SÃO PAULO

INITIATIVES X

Headline AUThOR’s Name Author’s position in the project etc.

Functions / program: meals, care, counseling, educational and recreational activities (playground, library, arts and crafts workshop), skills training workshops, public space Benefits to the community: keeping kids off the streets with extracurricular activities such as arts and crafts, kids go back and educate the parents and there is a ripple effect. The ACAIA Institute offers adequate space for all the activities. Positive impact on the built environment: creates a safe space for children (within the classes and workshops); makes good use of former wasteland creating a plaza with playground and a workshop attached; community garbage collection is organized by the community; basic infrastructure is being provided together with official institutions (water, sewage, electricity). People involved: organizers from Acaia Institute, kids from the community, parents.

ACAIA INSTITUTE

1997 ≥ 2012

76

SÃO PAULO

INITIATIVES

Biourban

Pioneered by the young sociology student Jeff Anderson, the initiative intended to improve life in slums, through social action and do-it-yourself measures, in which he and members of the community were involved. The project engaged in a series of aesthetic measures that have transformed the spatial quality of the neighborhood within a short period of time. They include the cleaning up of small spaces and areas in front of peoples’ homes, creating flower beds in place of concrete curbs, using color and recycled materials to humanize the façades of buildings and exposed infrastructures, creating public artworks, and the staging of collective activities such as painting sessions. All materials used in the project come from waste and garbage found in the neighborhood. The project spread throughout the entire Mauro favela—a compact and dense slum in an inner-city area of São Paulo—with mixed use and typologies, suffering from socioenvironmental degradation and violence. Hailing from a nearby neighborhood, Jeff Anderson moved to a small house in the slum to carry out a residency research project. The collective activity began with the installation of a library open to the residents, and followed with the organization of workshops that transformed waste into objects that supported daily activities and beautified the paths and alleys. The activities have led to a stronger sense of community and to an intense use of the open space (street and alleys), which gave rise to new situations created by the articulation of the created objects and daily activities. The use of open space and the collective contacts has had a positive impact on the built environment and its safety.

78

NAVIGATION SÃO PAULO

INITIATIVES X

Headline AUThOR’s Name Author’s position in the project etc.

Functions / program: cleaning, gardening, educational and recreational activities (playground, library, arts and crafts workshop), improvising urban furniture, organizing garbage collection, outdoors activities (washing, talking, meeting, sitting, etc.), upgrading of housing façades, beautification of alleys Benefits to the community: keeping kids off the streets, teaching gardening to residents, housing improvements, collective workshop for urban furniture, ripple effect. Positive impact on the built environment: transforms the outside into a usable space through enhancements made; greens the area, improves façades and urban furniture, and leads to a busier environment where residents feel safer People involved: one initiator, school teachers, local residents.

BIOURBAN

2007 ≥ 2012

80

SÃO PAULO

INTERVIEW

COMMUNITY

Workshops as a Communication Facilitator: Understanding Community Needs Ana Cristina Cintra Camargo, Director of the ACAIA Institute

How did the project start? What motivated you

and a demand that does not come from us, but from the

to become engaged?

process. That’s what we learned and continue learning

The project began with the sculptor Elisa Bracher, who

here. Their support is crucial, since the work only exists

had her workshop in Vila Leopoldina, which was on the

if it is aligned with community interests, with their

way of children who lived in wooden shacks near the

desire, and that makes sense.

CEAGESP. The project began in response to the great sociocultural and economic discrepancy that exists in

Your project creates a small plaza in the middle

São Paulo. In 1997, Elisa opened the gates of her studio,

of a dense slum in São Paulo, offering diverse

offering a carpentry workshop for these children.

activities, such as playground, tree shadow, benches, etc. Did the desire to improve the

Which partnerships were created to strengthen your project? What needs did these partner-

urban environment play a role from the outset? How do you assess this achievement?

ships fulfill and how/when were they formed?

The work was born here at the Institute, with the chil-

You can only propose a project to a municipal secretary

dren coming to the atelier, where we received them. In

or to a major funder after you’ve struggled about four

2004, a boy arrived with a message from the commu-

to five years for the work to gain consistency, and get

nity saying that from that moment on we could enter

the numbers to present the project. In our case, the

the favela (slum). In 2005, the work began weekly in a

first five years were financed by Elisa’s family, which

small area in the favela. We spread a cloth on the floor

gave us ample freedom to work. And then came the

and took a basket with graphic material.

partnership with the Secretary of Participation and

This happened where the atelier shack is located

Partnership and later with the Secretary of Education,

today. That was the only space where the narrow alleys

for example. Another important thing is that the pro-

widened, allowing the activity to take place without

jects themselves define what to do, and are not created

disturbing their routine. In the first contact, some chil-

to fit the interests of a sponsor. We are not flexible in

dren and mothers joined and eventually those meetings

that, since it could jeopardize the work.

started to take place three times a week. Back then, that space was not built, but was full of garbage. We

Was community support important to the setup

started cleaning it very slowly, until one day we organ-

and continuation of the project, and how was

ized the population in a collective effort, which filled

this mobilized? Which challenges did you face

two garbage containers. Twice a week we also offered

and how were they overcome?

nursing, a different approach to the atelier, because

In the early years, we had little support from the

there are many people who do not have access or who

community and many years later, having lunch with a

are not authorized to the use of the public health sys-

community agent, she explained something important

tem. The improvements followed with the purchase

to me: it is believed that when people go to the com-

and renovation of the shack—expanding with permis-

munities, they think they know what the community

sion from whoever owned the plaza. The playground

needs. I think we have a very respectful relationship

came when they wanted a space for children, and dis-

with the community. We do not know, and we are al-

appeared when it no longer made sense. Today, there

ways learning. Action is always caused by observation

is a big bench where they sit. The laundry appeared

in a similar manner: there was a demand, particularly for drying clothes, since there is a shortage of space to do this. How has the project changed or grown? What are the next goals? Where do you envision the project five years from now? Realizing the unpreparedness of older youth—aged fourteen and older—to face the world, we decided to increase the educational classes after the workshops. We also increased the cultural repertoire on Fridays, offering pocket cinema and concerts open to the community, in an effort to get people to mix. In addition, the Santa Cruz School (a private school) developed a partnership, in which the ethics and citizenship class happens here; however, they do not come to offer something for students, but come learn by working side by side with students—one loses the fear of the other. Is there a dialogue with other stakeholders (municipality, for instance)? What impact does this dialogue have on the project? The Secretary of Social Housing maintains the policy of removing these slums. We are aware of how this happens. In the case of the slum “da Linha,” there were improvements, but the city intends to remove them, not to urbanize the existing settlement. The architect responsible visited to understand what works, to get acquainted with the laundries, the local atelier, so that work remains if the slum is removed or redeveloped in a new settlement.

The idea of the laundry was very good. It generates movement, people are closer to each other … you know, for me it makes my body shake, I like to work and I am busy then. I do the laundry, run the daily errands at home and come back to dry them. It helped to organize my life. Soraia Alves de Oliveira, 33, lives at Favela da Linha and runs the new laundry, which is part of the initiative.

82

SÃO PAULO

INTERVIEW

GOVERNMENT

Preexistence in Socially Vulnerable Areas Elisabete França, Secretary of Housing of the Municipality of São Paulo

Can you summarize the current attitude/policy

parks and public spaces. These partnerships are a first

of the municipality of São Paulo towards urban

step towards encouraging the use and maintenance of

improvement and the redressing of inequality?

public spaces by the community.

We face inequalities through the housing program. We defined an attitude, the lines that one would adopt,

Do you see scope for change to current plan-

namely to improve poor areas no matter where they

ning methods based on the experiences of such

are—be it in the best neighborhoods or not. We seek

projects? Do you think that there is a move in

to integrate people of different classes and income.

government towards integrating bottom-up

We do this through good architectural design that

with top-down planning initiatives?

includes references to create the neighborhood and cre-

There is a consensus about that need. But it is difficult

ate a sense of belonging. We aim to reduce differences

to implement. In the “Cantinho do Céu” community,

through urban improvements.

we worked with social networks and the NGO “Gol de Letra” to create sports activities. There are many social

Do you think grassroots can complement the

facilities, and they are chosen in conjunction with the

efforts of the public sector to integrate the city

population. We took advantage of what could have been

and improve livability in all areas? If so, how?

done there. We realized that it could be turned into a

Yes, this is very important. One thing we have tried

leisure area. In other already organized communities,

is to intensify the participation of local groups to do

we often work with a model, and the locals use “flags”

post-occupation activities. We work with local NGOs

to show what and where they want equipment. The

to approach the local culture, which happens paral-

demand is especially big for schools, hospitals, and

lel to the development of the projects. We have a

telecenters, and this is included in local development

methodology we call “social networking.” When we

plans and forwarded to other departments.

intervene in an area, we make a diagnosis of NGOs and entities that exist at the site, a project done in

How do you see the development of local

consultation with the expert Maria do Carmo Pranch-

bottom-up initiatives in the long term? What

es Carvalho. This work attempts to diagnose the social

possible development scenarios might be envis-

vulnerabilities and call NGOs and local groups to work

aged for the future?

on these issues.

If we continue the work in this line with the integration of social networks, we will have more and

Which governmental agencies/programs recog-

more space to work with local communities. But this

nize the importance of community-led initia-

requires an enormous effort. A crucial task is the

tives? How does this affect the planning pro-

maintenance of the spaces. Otherwise, the city cannot

cess in these areas? Can you give an example?

cope. The use and appropriation of spaces for collec-

The city works with the prospect of seeking local part-

tive purposes is often accepted, allowing users and

ners. A local team, which we call “social,” performs

inhabitants to take ownership of space. There is the

work on-site along with a managing council. Partner-

danger of associations privatizing spaces—this risk is

ships are sought with local associations, NGOs and

always there—but the more NGOs working, the better.

departments—for example, the Secretary of Education. Activities include school tutoring, encouraging the organization of sports activities, and maintenance of

Through your Secretary, you have been developing projects of urban upgrade, which involve more than the housing unit. In this process, is there a sensibility to initiatives and self-made spaces? How is that manifested in design? Does one remove or maintain the existing settlements? What are the criteria? We only resettle risky areas or spaces needed for road and sewage—about 20% of the space. The rest we maintain, and the inhabitants carry out improvements to their homes themselves, and so on. We design the collective and public spaces.

Social movements only fulfill their social and political purpose if they themselves are the protagonists of modifying actions. That is, instead of the social movement only demanding and claiming, the social movement becomes the protagonist of the transformative action. That’s the multirão (cooperative building). The multirão is the way in which social movements are transformed directly into protagonists of social action, economic action, political action. It is therefore the most perfect idea of democratic participation. You participate in power because you participate in the transformative action…. It transforms even the structure of Brazilian society and the way of doing politics. Marilena Chauí, Philosopher and historian of Brazilian philosophy.

84

SÃO PAULO

INTERVIEW

ACADEMIA

Scaling Up Micro Actions Fernando de Mello Franco is an architect and founding partner at MMBB Architects in São Paulo

What trends did you recognize in the grassroots

productive activities aimed at generating income and for

projects in São Paulo? Do you think they unveil

complementary activities of condominium management,

fields of opportunity for urban design?

collective organization, and training of the residents.

I think that most of these initiatives are more strategies,

The proposal is that the residents use the spaces of the

action programs, or political articulations, rather than

condominium as platforms for their social and economic

projects. I would say that while in 2008 you identified

development. The management of these spaces by the

one, two, or three initiatives, today they have multi-

social organizations has a higher chance of success.

plied; all of these thematic boxes already existed, but are now gaining visibility. This is true for a variety of rea-

Some of the projects we are referring to di-

sons: for instance the stock market began to emphasize

rectly impact the built environment and create

ecologically correct, or social impact investments. We

new spatial qualities. Would you identify these

have a series of physical, financial, and administrative

as potential planning tools? How do you think

structures that support that kind of entrepreneurship.

they could inspire or feedback into architectural/urban planning practice? And policy?

And what about the fields?

I think it’s hard to say statistically, but I’d say that

I would say that São Paulo has opportunities for each

from projects here in São Paulo, less than 1% has any

square centimeter: on the macro scale, with large, ob-

strategic or tactical vision.

solete industrial structures; or on the micro scale, with opportunities such as Garrido Boxing—a sports and

But they end up generating an impact?

social facility under a viaduct. The infrastructures are

I think that in São Paulo, we have at the moment three

made in such a way, that their implementation creates

blocks of experiments: the first are those manifesta-

huge amounts of spoiled areas, and these voids repre-

tions that you mapped. They are spontaneous; they

sent a vast opportunity for reprogramming them.

have a tactical character indeed, so that none of them is expecting the government to solve any problems.

Do solutions germinating in the communities

And I still think this is fundamental because juridical

contribute to livability in some areas? To which

and institutional ties are so great that it makes sense

pressing issues do they respond? If so, how?

to do it another way. From the point of view of formal

Good examples in social housing are the so-called

actions, we have the experiences of the Urban Opera-

condominiums that are managed by social associations,

tions, on the one hand, the results of which cannot yet

which are infinitely better than those without their

be well measured, and what can be measured seems

management.

fragile. Third, the projects from SEHAB for social

The condominium project is not necessarily walled

habitation have been an important laboratory in recent

and fenced. It presupposes that each resident owns a

years. This experience is creating a useful toolbox. But

share of the whole plot. Without having the financial

design here is thought, as it could only be, through a

ability to outsource this management, the movements

formal, official bias, since it is directly related to the

are somehow contributing to the formation of people for

public realm. It still could work with more strategic

the management of this process, and the results are sig-

and tactical projects. Still, there are more criteria and

nificant. And we are working with the hypothesis that

improvement than ever, a great evolution to the mod-

the residential typologies should offer spaces for individ-

ern matrix, which continues to be used by architects

ual and collective facilities also for the development of

even if it does not respond to the contemporary issues.

Which projects would you say have good potential for replicability? What features should they exhibit in order to be replicable? Almost every one of them has the ability to replicate. The big question that the project Cities Without Hunger (urban agriculture) poses, for instance, is not the challenge of doing urban agriculture. This has already been proved as feasible. What is harder is to scale up, to multiply it in a city like São Paulo. And when we talk about scale, perhaps the issue is about the return to the macro scale. I think that all experiences shown in this book are laboratories, pilot projects. I think the next step is to scale them up. That’s the challenge. São Paulo metropolitan scale brings metropolitan issues and, in its specific case, we do not have any instances of metropolitan governance. Today, social movements are active on many fronts, and they alter this equation; but in the other hand, we cannot discard the “macro” from any hypothesis. How do you see these projects impacting on the urban fabric in the next five to ten years? Do they have the capacity to make a difference? I think there will be a few that will vanish: some will be captured by market forces, and others will restruc-

I think that we learn better with a practical model than

ture themselves. I think the knowledge of designing

with the theoretical. This practice is the materialization of

strategies remains open, but our educational process

knowledge. It is fundamental. It might be used as a model

will bring them to the debate. This process will show

that everyone can replicate.

how valid these initiatives were and are being. I have

Jeff Anderson is the sociologist who conceptualized the Biourban

the impression that in the future, a very significant

project. He currently expanded his activities and has initiated the

amount will be perceived as a valuable action and not

project Creative Ocupation, at Cambuci, in São Paulo.

as an idealistic, utopian, and retrograde one. Some are temporary. And other questions will arise and lead to other actions of experimentation, other pilot projects.

86

SÃO PAULO

INTERVIEW

ARTS & CULTURE

“How to Live Together” Lisette Lagnado is an independent curator, professor at Santa Marcelina Faculty

Do you think it is possible that art and culture

Many projects count on artists to identify ur-

(artistic & cultural production), in some form,

ban challenges and present creative responses

provide the “spark” for beginning a grassroots

to them. What is your personal experience of

initiative? In which form?

how arts and culture can improve urban life?

Yes, but only as a “kickoff,” because once it config-

“How to Live Together,” title of the 27th São Paulo Art

ures a daily and repetitive practice, we are leaving

Biennale, involved artists dealing with urban problems

the sphere of the investigative art and entering the

and challenges.

field of the crystallization of forms, a phenomena that

The work of Renata Lucas (Matemática Rápida),

has other names such as tradition, folklore, etc. What

though almost imperceptible because it mimicked

I understand as culture is an amalgam of different

existing elements of the urban situation, was the one

practices.

closest to urban intervention. She shed light on local problems (the uneven pavement, poor lighting, lack

How does the artist/cultural activist play a role

of green), and managed simultaneously with much

as a communicator, bridging different parts and

simplicity to also bring a solution, albeit on a mi-

intermediating conversations and negotiations

croscale. In the case of artists in residence, I think the

that would otherwise rarely take place?

gain was of another kind: artists like Marjetica Potrc

It is desirable that the artist does not let himself be

(Acre), Francesco Iodice and Shimabuku (in São Paulo)

“domesticated” by the institutional rules. Grassroots,

produced works inspired so strongly in the context,

for me, makes more sense when I think of musical

that when exposed abroad contribute to the dissemina-

manifestations (such as samba and rap), than the artist

tion of symbolic content. They operate outside of their

who express himself through images. This is the differ-

places of origin. This is also part of an economy that

ence between the street graffiti, which effectively has

reverberates about reality.

political and social connotations, and does not allow itself to become institutionalized, and the other graf-

Do you think there is something particular

fiti, which today has became a product as any other, to

about the culture of São Paulo that contributes

serve the frivolous and aestheticizing embellishment. My generation did not use the word “negotiation,”

to the nature of the projects? Only later, I was in contact with practices outside São

but an institutional critique that marked my formation

Paulo, where it seems that the formalist Greenbergian

was done in the dead of night because they were times

tradition have dominated the scene for too long. In

of military regime. The group 3Nós3 covered public

cities such as Vienna, Berlin, and New York, I learned

monuments without negotiating anything with those in

about artistic practices aimed at local communities.

power! Other artists that influenced me when I started

Characteristically, São Paulo is overly market-oriented.

working were Julio Plaza and José Resende, whose ideo-

That’s changing, although it is still a city that has the

logical statement has always been anti-communicative.

most powerful galleries, which nowadays excessively

To show, to point out, and to comment are ways to intervene. One must understand that there is artwork of more direct intervention—such as Jamac on the outskirts of São Paulo, presented at the 27th Biennial of São Paulo in 2006)—but also films and cartoons play a role in addressing urban problems.

participate in art fairs, formatting the “back to the object,” for the collector.

How can the impact of grassroots projects be maximized? How might artists and cultural practitioners contribute to this? For me, the best “cooperation” should take place in the educational field. I’ll explain: the artist can teach workshops, give lectures, present their work, and expose themselves as subject and participative citizen. He must know his place at the wheel. I imagine their ideas fertilizing projects like the CEU (Unified Educational Centers), with creative workshops linked to the municipal education program, making regular visits to museums.

We urgently need to learn how to work with conflict and to keep these tensions in the public space, to learn how to make them agencies, update them and incorporate them into theories, urban practices; and critical art—the sensitive experience as micro-resistance on or in public space—might indeed be a big help. Perhaps artists, who already work critically with these “hotspots,” can effectively help us to invent … to arrive at a more incorporated, dissenting and vivacious urbanism. Paola Berenstein Jacques, architect and urbanist, is a professor at the Architecture Faculty of the UFBA, coordinator of the Urban Laboratory (http://www.laboratoriourbano.ufba.br) and coorganizer of the platform Corpocidade (http://www.corpocidade. dan.ufba.br).

88

SÃO PAULO

INTERVIEW

MEDIATION

The Challenge of Derelict and Residual Spaces. Is Anyone Thinking on the Local Level? Nevoral Alves Bucheroni is Deputy Mayor (Subprefeito) of the Sé district is responsible for carrying out local projects, responding to residents’ demands on the district level

In São Paulo, several local initiatives and as-

(zeladoria). In this case, he provides the facility with

sociations occupy spaces attached to urban

donated sports equipment, etc.

infrastructures. It is the case of the areas under

In that direction, we are currently offering a project

bridges and elevated streets, as well as traf-

called Library for All. In some squares, we install

fic islands and derelict squares. What is the

library-like spaces so that people can access books and

attitude of the City of São Paulo, through the

read. Along with that, there is the work of cleaning

Subprefeitura da Sé, in regard to the occupation

and maintenance. Another project we have been doing

and use of those spaces? As a rule, does the city

is a project called Florir (blossom). There are squares

opt for removing or encouraging such initia-

that were formerly used by families, and they have

tives? Which factors determine the permanence

since become derelict spaces. This renovation project

or removal of projects of this nature?

installs gym equipment and playgrounds. This attracts

We have thirty-one boroughs, or subprefeituras, in São

families with their kids, as well as the elderly, revital-

Paulo, subordinated to the Secretary of Coordination of

izing the entire square. The spaces are redesigned,

Subprefeituras. They coordinate the groups we work

receiving new plants and equipment. In some areas,

with in all areas: communication, construction, etc.

the population adopts the project. There is someone

And there is a commission that deals with the use and

who is responsible for maintenance of the square,

occupation of areas under viaducts. They analyze each

trained by the Green and Environment Secretary. What

case whenever someone is interested in occupying a

does he do? He takes care of the square, replants, or-

space. Otherwise, everything left empty might be oc-

ders new plants, makes necessary repairs, etc. But in

cupied by the homeless or drug addicted.

the central area of the city, we are having difficulties with that project due to drug addicts who live on the

In the case of permanence, how is the partner-

streets. In this case, because the guarda civil (police)

ship with the city organized? Which are the

is unable to guarantee safety in these areas, we have

concessions and benefits for both parts? For in-

been asking for unions to hire private security. We

stance, the built environment, pavement, basic

help renovate the squares, but it is maintained by

infrastructure with light, water, use, mainte-

private security. These partnerships are very impor-

nance, safety?

tant. Spaces that we revitalize and allow someone

Usually, through these partnerships the population is

to maintain have been successful. So, we have this

allowed to revitalize areas. The city offers the space,

commission for the areas under bridges and elevated

and eventually even some assistance.

streets to coordinate this cession of spaces and these

Garrido, who runs a famous community-organized

other programs for the squares.

boxing and sports project under a few viaducts was here last week. He intends to change the location of

There are cases in which the official planning of

his project to the Café Viaduct. So he came to us to ask

spaces has searched for inspiration and taken

for a partnership. He does one part and we do another

initiatives such as Garrido Boxing, a boxing and

one. Usually, we take on the construction work, as well

sports school under the Café viaduct, among

as the maintenance work, through a janitorial program

others, as a reference for the use and design of

similar areas? Which elements have served as reference? Why? The area under the Av. Alcantara Machado was abandoned. Garrido set up his boxing and sports facility there, which has been great for us. It is full of people practicing sports. If he moves out, I have the idea of giving that space to the Police to park their vehicles. This way, there would be a police presence all the time. On the side of the Garrido project, we have made a sports facility with courts, but it is a bit abandoned. I am speaking to the Sports Secretary so that he can activate the space and start some program there, some project. Once the space is taken, it usually happens in cooperation with the community—through meetings and discussions with the leaders of the district—to find out what they want. Otherwise, one ends up spending money for a useless purpose. On the Avanhandava Street, there is a daily vegetable market installed under the viaduct. But on the other side of the street it was empty. The area was occupied by homeless people, and we have now organized a bid for flowers stalls, with parking spaces, which we are offering as public space. It will be privately administered by those who win the bid. It works like this: the person comes to us and says: look, I have a program to offer and would like to occupy a space. We verify whether the initiative it is valid or not. What worked and what did not work in this

São Paulo is a metropolis with diverse problems. The

transfer of knowledge? What does one learn

Planning Secretary is unable to engage with minor (mean-

from this experience?

ing small-scale rather than insignificant) actions, so they

What the city looks for is the partnership with the com-

end up being linked mainly to the activities of the bor-

munity, and the other way around, in both directions.

oughs themselves. In our office, we try to work with large

Each day we see more participation from the commu-

network or structural infrastructures, such as the public

nity taking place in every plan we make. Those people

transportation system.

live there and know better what is best for the area.

Luiz Oliveira Ramos, architect of the Secretary of Urban Develop-

They know better where to put the gym equipment, etc.

ment of the Municipality of São Paulo.

90

SÃO PAULO

COMPILATION

92

SÃO PAULO

BIOGRAPHIES

Ana Cristina Cintra Camargo

Chapter author and interviewer Marcos L. Rosa

is currently one of the directors of the Ateliê ACAIA. She has been in the atelier since the beginning of its activities in 1997,

received his diploma in architecture and urban planning from

when the artist Elisa Bracher decided to open her workshop

the University of São Paulo. He received a scholarship from

space to some children from surrounding poor communities.

the European Union for his PhD thesis at the TU Munich. He

Initially working as a psychologist, she engaged in thinking

has been a guest lecturer and researcher at the Swiss Federal

forms of therapeutic work out of the traditional settings, and in

Institute of Technology in Zurich, Department of Architecture

the organization of the physical and psychical space of ACAIA,

and Urban Planning. Marcos organized the DBUA Award in São

aiming to listen to and train the group of educators from the

Paulo, in 2008, when he set up a research platform based on

beginning

the 133 compiled projects. He is the author of a publication of that research entitled Microplanning, Urban Creative Practices

Elisabete França

(São Paulo, 2011). He exhibited worldwide, among which, in the

is an architect and urbanist, and has twenty-five years of expe-

Rotterdam International Architecture Biennale 2010 and in the

rience in urban planning, social housing, slum upgrading, and

International Biennale in São Paulo 2011. He wrote and contrib-

management of participatory projects. Her PhD thesis is on the

uted to several international publications. He was awarded the

slums of São Paulo (1980–2008). She was the Social Housing

Young Architects Award from the Brazilian Architects Institute

Superintendent and Deputy Secretary of the Municipality of

for Microplanning. He works as an independent designer and

São Paulo until 2012, where she coordinated the activities of

won the first prize for “Collective Retrofit” at the 2009 Alcoa

the Slum Upgrading programs, Water Source Program, Cortiço

Design Prize and the Prestes Maia Award for “Urban Paran-

(Slum Tenement) Requalification Program, Social Renting,

golé,” among others. Both his practical work and research

among others, assisting more than 160, 000 families. França is

studies stand for an interdisciplinary and integrative approach

author and editor of several publications on architecture and

in the fields of architecture, urban design, and urban planning.

urbanism.

His current research focuses on the operational mechanisms embedded in these projects and their scaling potential within

Fernando de Mello Franco

existing and proposed urban infrastructural networks.

is an architect and PhD at Facudade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo da Universidade de São Paulo. He was professor at USP São

Members of the Jury for the Award in São Paulo:

Carlos, USJT, Mackenzie, and Harvard. He is founding partner



at MMBB Architects in São Paulo. Currently, he is Curator at URBEM—Instituto de Estudos e Urbanismo para a Metrópole, based in São Paulo. Lisette Lagnado

Richard Burdett

Director, Urban Age & Centennial Professor in Architecture and Urbanism, London School of Economics

Tata Amaral

Brazilian filmmaker

has her PhD in philosophy from the University of São Paulo.



She was the general curator of the 27a São Paulo Biennale

Art critic and professor at Faculdade Santa Marcelina

(2006) and of “Drifts and Derivations” at the Museo Nacional



Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madri (2010). She coordinated the Leonilson Project (1993–96) and the Hélio Oiticica Project (1999–2002), initiatives that systematize the artists’ archives. She has written several articles and essays. In 2013, she will present the curatory of the 33a edition at the Panorama of the Museum of Modern Art of São Paulo.

is the Deputy mayor (Subprefeito) of the Sé district, one of São Paulo’s thirty-one administrative districts, subordinate to the Secretary of coordination of Subprefeituras. He worked on the Coordination of Urban Safety City Hall (Coordenadoria de Segurança Urbana da Prefeitura, 2005–08). He is colonel in the Reserve Military Police and formerly served in diverse units of the Military Police. He graduated with a degree in electric engineering and business administration, with extra training in the Police Academy, with extensions in technical, operational, and community police.

Fernando de Mello Franco

Founder MMBB Architects

Raí Souza Vieira de Oliveira

Former soccer player, co-founder and director of the “Foundation Gol de Letra”, a UNESCO model for supporting at-risk children worldwide

Nevoral Alves Bucheroni

Lisette Lagnado

Anthony Williams

Former Mayor of Washington, DC and is the Executive Director of the Global Government

Istanbul Demet Mutman

Istanbul – City Between The Continents Germany 2009 27:54 min Director: Olaf Jacobs Director of photography: Thomas Lütz Editor: Christoph Sturm

94

ISTANBUL

PROFILE

Population [city]

12.5

million

Area occupied [city]

5,343

km2

Gross domestic product (GDP)

182

[$bn at PPPs]

Average density [metro/city]

2,622

Inhabitants/km2

Diversity

Romans, Greeks, Armenians, Jews, Arabs, Gypsies, Caucasian, Balkans, Turks

96

ISTANBUL

PROFILE

Income inequality [A high Gini Index indicates greater income inequality.]

43

Informal settlements

50 60

% of the land % of the population

Unemployment rate

11.2

%

Literacy rate/population with a high school education

92.3 19.2

% %

Number of projects compiled [DBUAA]

87

Number of registered Non-profit Organizations

18,660 Informal Economy

30

%

Green space per capita

6.05

m2/person

98

ISTANBUL

OVERVIEW

Social Cohesion in Istanbul

Many of the projects addressed critical problems faced

1

by Istanbul’s most fragile communities—new immi-

Music for Peace is impressive in its simplicity. It

grants, isolated women, disadvantaged children, the

offers music training as a catalyst in a depressed inner-

disabled, and homeless young men.

city neighborhood, where extra-curricular opportuni-

Eighty-seven initiatives combined the spirit of social

ties are not ordinarily available. The project was first

entrepreneurship and collective action that character-

located at two primary schools of the neighborhood,

izes many of the grassroots initiatives developed in

but was later able to move into a structure exclusively

Istanbul. Istanbul’s spatial inequity is a result of a rapidly

built for its use. By focusing on the children in the neighborhood, Barıs¸ ˙Için Müzik aims to connect people

growing process, which has intensified problems over

and empower residents, while raising the quality of the

time: traffic congestion, lack of open space, the infor-

neighborhood.

mal and self-made city, as well as the restoration of the city’s heritage and derelict areas. Many of the initia-

2

tives found respond directly to some of these issues,

Nurtepe First Step Cooperative—under the um-

impacting the urban environment while focusing on

brella of Kadın Emeg˘ini Deg˘erlendirme Vakfı—creates a

social aspects.

neighborhood center where women are able to access cooperative childcare, which allows them to find parttime employment. The women’s center focuses on the value of women’s labor, its cooperative dimension, and its contribution to the emancipation of newly urbanized households. 3

Children of Hope—Youth House offers a modestscale shelter and limited employment training for young men who have been forced to live on the streets. It makes a humble but important contribution towards the recognition of a significant problem.

2 1

3

20 km

100

ISTANBUL

TIME LINE AND POPULATION GROWTH

1600

1700

1800

1453

1875

1923

1940

Constantinople is declared

The third metro worldwide is

With the foundation of the

Urban boom and the start of

as the capital of the Ottoman

inaugurated.

Turkish Republic, the capital

in-migration.

is moved to Ankara.

Empire.

1945–1960

1877 1455

First Ottoman Parliament.

Construction of the Grand Bazaar begins.

1928

New urban developments and

Istanbul becomes the official

industrialization.

1885

name of the city, which is the

The Orient Express pulls into

largest in the republic.

1950 First Gecekondu: rapid devel-

Istanbul. 1937

opment of horizontal illegal

Henri Prost develops a master

settlements.

plan for the city.

20

10

2

1900

2000

1970

1985

2000s

2006

Increase in horizontal and ver-

The historical peninsula of

Effects of global economy

An invited architectural

tical illegal settlements. Rapid

Istanbul is declared Unesco

on spatial development and

competition is organized by

unplanned urbanization.

World Heritage Sites.

increased urban renewal

the Metropolitan Municipality

implementations, increase

for urban transformation of

1973

1988

in building heights, societal

the city’s two sides with star

First suspension bridge over

Second bridge over the Bos-

fragmentation, and social

architects like Zaha Hadid.

the Bosphorus is built.

phorus is inaugurated. The

exclusion. 2007

Büyükdere Levent axis starts 1975

to develop as a major urban

2004

Metrobus, which began as an

Permission for horizontal

development area.

City renewal project starts:

18.3-kilometer rapid trans-

initiated by TOKI and the city

portation system between

1990

government, it demolished

Topkapi and Sirkeci, is now 52

1980

Kemer Country: first gated

over nine thousand illegal

kilometers.

Neoliberal impacts on the city

community is built in Gök-

buildings and Gecekondus.

and sharp urban transforma-

türk.

illegal growth

2012

tions. City center gains popu-

2003–2009

Urban regeneration through

larity, new settlements are

TOKI coordinates the building

infrastructure: Asian side’s

developed in the periphery.

of 340,000 social housing units.

first subway is inaugurated.

102

ISTANBUL

INITIATIVES

Music for Peace

The initiative aims to provide children from lowincome groups with access to music by clearing the boundaries to music education. In order to do this, the project has organized music classes, practice rooms, and tutors since 2005. Within a deprived, inner-city neighborhood in Istanbul, the music school is important not only because it offers a cultural facility for children, but because it also brings self-confidence and social empowerment to the neighborhood where it is located. In the process of organizing a music school, the project upgraded several areas in surrounding schools to create a proper spatial environment for music classes and practice spaces, as well as for small-scale presentations. It later transformed a primary schools’ abandoned storage facility into a music school. The next step was the creation of new spaces for music in two other local schools. In 2009, construction began on a new neighborhood music center, which opened the following year. Today, nearly 700 students are learning and practicing together at the Music for Peace center and its schools. The training offered has expanded from accordion to piano, violin, cello, and drums. The center, located at the heart of a deprived neighborhood, impacted the perception of residents of their neighborhood, empowering youth and their families. The project invests in human and social capital, making use of arts and culture to promote self-confidence, integration, and alternative use and intensification of the use of public space. It defines an alternative support for urban regeneration.

104

NAVIGATION INITIATIVES ISTANBUL X

Functions / program: music school for chil-

Headline

dren five to sixteen years old in open, formerly unused spaces; music classes at local schools Benefits to the community: keeping kids off AUThOR’s Name the streets and cultivating them through Author’s position in the project etc.music.

Among the social and psychological advantages, it improves the quality of life for children and their families. The multiparticipatory environment of the workshops also supports a community-based organization. It generates work as a local micro economy. Positive impact on the built environment: it offers a new facility for learning music that connects with public space, making temporary use of it for rehearsal and presentations. It activates space via a music school and is socially inclusive. People involved: an architect (initiator), three full- and ten part-time instructors, nine student assistants, and six staff; local staff personnel.

MUSIC FOR PEACE

2005 ≥ 2012

106

ISTANBUL

INITIATIVES

Nurtepe First Step Cooperative

Women immigrants moving to the city experience a difficult transition. They lose the support of traditional networks, and are often unable to find employment in an urban economy. Located in Nurtepe, a mixed and socially fragmented area with a high proportion of deprived immigrant families, the Women and Children’s Center provides child care, skills training, and education facilities designed to empower local women. The foundation aims to support women’s leadership in improving their lives and communities, through the provision of space at the Women and Children’s Centers (WCC). Run on a volunteer basis by First Step Women’s Environment, Culture and Enterprise Cooperative, the center holds classes on leadership, entrepreneurship, and domestic violence, thereby creating networking and capacity-building for women from all backgrounds to overcome marginalization and social exclusion. Kadın Emeg˘ini Deg˘erlendirme Vakfı/Foundation for Support of Women’s Work (FSWW) supported the creation of a neighborhood center where women are able to access cooperative childcare allowing them to find part-time employment. The affordable parent-run and child-centered early childhood education is the core of the empowerment process. Nurtepe WCC is an example of this model. FSWW’s training and organizing support helped a group of community women analyze and prioritize their needs, negotiate with local officials and businesses for space and resource allocation, establish their own center, and realize formal organization. Through the courses and programming, the center gives them the tools to face social challenges, fostering their integration in the city through participation in economic networks. Unlike the top-down social welfare and charity model, it’s a site of cultural production—an enterprise run as a cooperative, by the families themselves.

108

NAVIGATION INITIATIVES ISTANBUL X

Headline AUThOR’s Name Author’s position in the project etc.

Functions / program: women’s capacity building and community center, skills training, income generation, workshop activities, child care, recreational activities, and leisure. Benefits to the Community: offers a cultural facility with workshops, child care space, a small backyard, garden, and mural; fosters interaction in a learning environment and increases solidarity Positive impact on the built environment: visibility of the community and attachment to the neighborhood via the physical presence of the center; users feel safer in their neighborhood. People involved: cooperative is run by a group of community women and the neighborhood’s families.

NURTEPE FIRST STEP COOPERATIVE

2004 ≥ 2012

110

ISTANBUL

INITIATIVES

Children of Hope—Youth House

After the age of eighteen, young men and women are no longer supported by the state. As a result, some become marginalized and homeless. Disadvantaged young men are an increasingly vulnerable group in Istanbul. Economic changes have caused unemployment figures in this group to rise. Because of their vulnerability, they are targeted by several services offered by public and non-governmental programs, which also address the problems of disadvantaged women and children. The mission of the association is to save these young men from the negative effects of marginalization and to return them to mainstream society. Since 1992, the Hope for Children Association has managed a wide range of projects to provide better living conditions for children and young people living on the streets. Under the umbrella of the association, Bakirkoy Youth House aims to develop a temporary shelter for homeless youth as the initial phase of an empowerment process. This citywide initiative provides a safe environment for mainly young men who have been involved in family violence, crime, and drug abuse. The Youth House provides clean and safe accommodations for the abandoned community, where the temporary residents receive health and social advice, as well as limited training in skills to help them reengage with society.

112

NAVIGATION INITIATIVES ISTANBUL X Functions / program: shelter (temporary housing for homeless youth), skills training, empowerment

Headline

center, and psychological support Physical structure: a temporary shelter and center for the homeless youth of the city, dormi-

AUThOR’s Name

tory, spaces for leisure activity, collective kitchen,

Author’s position in the project etc.

meeting rooms, and workshops Benefits to the community: it aims to make a positive impact on homeless youth by empowering them through education, skills training, psychological support, shelter, assistance with job searches, and a sense of belonging Positive impact on the built environment: the project is a closed facility, but takes youth from the streets to rehabilitate them from addiction and protect them from crime. It creates a safe environment for a young generation and offers cooking sports, job and life skills training, psychological support, and self-esteem building People involved: a former homeless man (coordinator), other youth from the program, and volunteers.

CHILDREN OF HOPE-YOUTH HOUSE

1992 ≥ 2012

114

ISTANBUL

INTERVIEW

COMMUNITY

Presence and Vision of a Grass Roots Initiative Yeliz Yalın Baki is Co-founder of Barıs¸ ˙Için Müzik Vakfı / Music for Peace

How did the project start? What motivated you

we encounter problems such as serious institutional-

to become engaged?

ism, a systematical administration schema, and self-

Our faith in the absolute necessity and inevitability

promotion. Our most essential strength is the support

of peace, as well as the changing power of music is

of our participants and of their families. When parents

the source of this initiative. Music has a transform-

who send their children to us see them on the “stage”

ing, affecting, and unifying universal power. Music

performing, they perceive immediately that this is a

is and will remain our sole unifying tool to engender

serious cause. The parents, then, try to assist their

non-violence: between people, within the family, in

children as well.

the neighborhood and the school, between men and women; namely, any form of discriminating factors

Besides its sociocultural impact, Barıs¸ ˙ Için

that cause discrimination itself.

Müzik created a proposal for the physical and economical upgrading of an environment, using

Which partnerships were created to strengthen

culture as a tool. Did the desire to improve the

your project? What needs did these partner-

urban environment play a role from the outset?

ships fulfill and when were they formed?

How do you assess this achievement?

Actually, we created a few partnerships: One of them is

Naturally, the figure of Mr. Baki, who is an architect,

an academic partnership, which has similar initiatives.

would create the biggest impact here. Since the first day,

The other one is an interactive, academic partnership

we have always aimed to transform what we do into an

with “El Sistema-Venezuela,” and in that context, we

urban model. We worked on a “reality,” with the aim to

share education models, forge teacher exchanges, and so

harmonize it with the social and urban texture. According

forth. We are also part of an international databank and

to our point of view, a proper architectural approach does

network, which shares knowledge and experience. And

not always necessarily mean constructing a new building.

in the meantime, we are also trying to develop a project

Thus, we always proposed that it is essential to get “in-

in collaboration with the Municipality of Fatih, which is

side” the urban area and do something “local” there.

entitled: “An orchestra for each and every school.” We are also working to strengthen and improve our own initiative, by working on other ventures to self-finance our project. One of these is especially

How has the project changed or grown? What are the next goals? Where do you envision the project five years from now?

significant: we are working to establish our own “Luther

What we essentially did, was to construct the school,

workshop” and transform it into a vocational high school.

as a test model, in a small area. Our initiative complet-

Essentially, we make all of these efforts in order to

ed its process in terms of creating the model, adapting

firmly establish our “model” and spread this infrastruc-

to existing forms of “life,” and eventually belong-

ture to other initiatives.

ing somewhere. Now, we intend to spread this “role model” even further around.

Was community support important to the setup

Receiving the award motivated us to believe in our-

and continuation of the project, and how was

selves; it energized and strengthened us. This “approval”

this mobilized? What challenges did you face

legitimized us in the eyes of others—the neighborhood,

and how were they overcome?

the local government, and various institutions. From

We are working hard in order to overcome all the

now on, our mission is to establish the distribution of

obstacles to the existence of Music for Peace. However,

such a model, both in local and foreign platforms.

Since there is a dialogue with other stakeholders (municipality, for instance), what impact does this dialogue have on the project? In your opinion, can similar approaches create an alternative solution against rapid urban transformation in urban upgrading processes of a living environment? We have to see things from an integral point of view; the existence of such initiatives cannot be evaluated independently or separated from the city, architecture, community, culture, infrastructure, health, or peace. We try to have exactly this point of view, and try to direct the local governance to this particular perspective. When approaching the problem, we see and evaluate things in a multidimensional and integral way. This allows it to influence the education model in a positive way while also trying to create a state of awareness. For seven years, we have been trying to set our model firmly in every sense, holding up with our own means and facilities, to make sure that the children living here have access to music. On the side of civil society, we commit to improving the existing conditions. As more achievements are revealed, both the visibility of the initiative and the communication with the decision-making mechanisms increase. This is extremely important, as we can only count on the support of local governments for this kind of initiatives by convincing them. It is possible to convince the municipality today, and maybe the government tomorrow; however, in order to do that, there has to be a visible accomplishment, as well as a factual output and visible results. In my opinion, music was only for the rich, and what did the B.I.M. is breaking chains … we start finding “ourselves” in here, we have hopes, our children have hopes. Serap Gökdeniz, kitchen employee for the foundation and a parent of a child from Barıs¸ ˙Için Müzik, private interview by D. Mutman, August, 2012

116

ISTANBUL

INTERVIEW

GOVERNMENT

New Planning Approaches for Building Up Cities Erhan Demirdizen is an urban planner. His works focuses on urban policy planning and local governments

Can you summarize the current attitude/policy

Which (if any) governmental agencies/pro-

of the municipality of Istanbul towards urban

grams recognize the impact of community-led

improvement and the redressing of inequality?

initiatives? How does this recognition affect

A mix of very high and very low standards characterizes Istanbul’s urban areas. From the district munici-

the planning process in these areas? Can you give an example?

pality and metropolitan municipality’s points of view,

It is pretty obvious that the local authorities do not see

I cannot say that there is a positive discriminatory

the attendance of the local community in the plan-

investment policy on the disadvantaged areas. Today,

ning processes as a natural part of the whole process.

only limited tools allow interventions aiming at an

In our society, local government is a structure where

urban reform. In my opinion, urban renewal instru-

the mayor decides alone. On the other hand, I have to

ments might take an important role, but only if the

point out that some formal developments in the past

local authorities can turn these applications into a local

years seem to open up to new participatory methods.

development program. Yet, in the last ten years, we

City councils are at the top of this list. Yet, mostly,

cannot see much linking urban transformation plans

local participation processes do not work and remain

and local development. Turkey’s unique construc-

in theory only. The mayors are the determiners. While

tion methods turn the urban renewal projects into

local governments live on a statist tradition, where the

land improvements. The projects and implementation

public services are divided between the corporations,

processes digress from the need to face urban poverty.

no other conditions are seen rather than a determin-

Therefore, the map of regional inequalities in the city

istic approach and political protectionist relationships.

changes, yet the problem stays the same.

In that scenario, local approaches cannot directly take part in the decisions.

Do you think grassroots can complement the efforts of the public sector to integrate the city

Do you see scope for change in current plan-

and improve livability in all areas? If so, how?

ning methods based on the experiences of such

And if not, why?

projects? Do you think that there is a move in

By adding public authority to this, theoretically the col-

government towards integrating bottom-up

laboration of local initiatives and the private sector can

with top-down planning initiatives?

be positive. However, due to the private sector getting

Our present planning methods rely on the urbanization

used to earning short-term gains from the investments

dynamics of the past forty to fifty years. Not only our

on urban land, it can be hard for this model to be real-

laws, but also our planning tradition is this way. How-

ized in Istanbul. A first idea could be to realize these

ever, cities now need a new planning approach that

projects with wide-ranging public financing. If that’s

focuses on the built-up central areas of the city, instead

not possible, a second solution could be to increase the

of the empty areas around the cities. This requires a

economic values of these projects. A third one could

planning that focuses on the design of the process,

encourage such initiatives through the exemption of

rather than a planning that works on a physical envi-

the private sector’s taxes, provided that they would be

ronment. At this point, I cannot see a sign that shows

invested into projects that increase livability. This proj-

the local authority’s desire to break the routine as the

ects’ financing method could foster some small-scale

process design and management requires.

transformation.

How do you see the development of local bottom-up initiatives in the long term? What possible development scenarios might be envisaged for the future? In the long term, local initiatives naturally face different demands. This makes them gain dynamism in the short term, but increases their vulnerability in the long term. I think that local approaches that hold local actors within themselves and that focus on a clearly defined subject—like conserving a historical building or a green area—are more likely to be successful. Experiences where universities are willing to support these types of approaches, have also gained some success. What do we need to do in order to create a mutual movement of the civil initiatives and the local authorities for upgrading the urban quality? Of course, it is important for local initiatives and local authorities to come together for the aims of increasing urban quality. But the problem in Turkey is that the gains after these kinds of first attempts cannot turn into a sustainable urban practice. An institutional and effective public scrutiny is crucial in order to make all

I believe that this representation of Istanbul (Turkey) as

kinds of urban reforms—which have partly started with

a ‘democratic model’ in the Middle East and the North

the help of local initiatives—permanent. In this context,

Africa seems to be problematic if not an illusion, when

city councils stand out as an institutional instrument.

we look at the politics from an urban dimension. The

However, because the city councils work under the

neo-liberal urban transformation process and its current

control of local authorities, they might become dys-

governance, with its clear interest on urban land and one-

functional in providing an effective public control.

size-fits-all de-spatialized policies, makes ‘political’ democracy (electing representatives, following rule of law, implementing good governance principles, etc.) insufficient to bring about improved and just living conditions for urban inhabitants—many of whom are experiencing forced evictions, gentrification, lack of participation, etc. Marketing Istanbul through mega projects is representation of and playground for a certain ideology. Yas¸ar Adanali is a PhD candidate at the University of Stuttgart, a lecturer, a researcher, and an urban blogger.

118

ISTANBUL

INTERVIEW

ACADEMIA

Action and Participation in Planning Özlem Ünsal works closely with Istanbul-based civil initiatives and neighborhood organizations

What trends dis you recognize in the grassroots

The urban community, the governmental mechanisms,

projects in Istanbul? Do you think they unveil

and the cities of today are trying to catch up with

fields of opportunity for urban design?

new strategies. Interventionist decisions are being

Grassroots initiatives tend to differ as resistance and

made, new tools and units are brought to life, and the

local (working with women and children) organiza-

power difference among the actors during this process

tions, and their impact differs depending on their

increases rapidly. The increasing pressure creates even

objectives. Their biggest problems are raising funds

more fragments, which in turn breaks down the “resis-

and having their statements heard by the ruling

tance,” inevitably diminishing the collective movement.

mechanisms. Despite that, various civil organizations focus and embrace the city’s current needs. I believe

Do solutions germinating in the communities

that this approach has potential, however, the criti-

contribute to livability in some areas? To which

cal missing ingredient is the reliable legal base, which

pressing issues do they respond? If so, how?

would enable the realization of such formations. The

It is important to emphasize that their action responds

needs and requirements of a participatory community,

to the lack of participation in planning. If these kinds

which is formed by diverse crowds and actors, have to

of initiatives start to become a compulsory element

be brought to life through an implementable project.

of the urban planning process, and if such a transfor-

“Negotiation” in fact, embodies all these concepts.

mation indeed happens, then, the “citizen” not only embraces a key element to improve his/her life quality,

Some of the projects are directly having an

but also takes on responsibility to achieve quality of

impact on the built environment and create

life. When the fulfilling of “citizen” demands is guar-

new spatial qualities. Would you identify these

anteed, the form of his/her existence in the city will

as potential planning tools? How do you think

inevitably improve as well.

they could inspire or give feedback into architectural/ urban planning practices? And policy? Of course it is possible to enable the local initiatives’ impact on the built environment; however, rather

Which projects would you say have good potential for replicability? What features should they exhibit in order to be replicable?

than seeing them as a “tool,” local initiatives should

In order for the local projects to be replicable, their

become a “subject” and “actor,” within a well-defined

success has to be proven. This does not only rely

system. Mixing these actors in the planning process

on civil initiative. The goals have to be realized. An

and making their needs a part of the urban planning

initiative can feed on another initiative’s experience—

might guarantee and improve the quality of life and the

successful or not—and reshape itself. This, in turn, can

environment in the city.

create some sort of database. This kind of experience

Small-scale interventions indeed have potential,

transfer is actually a type of mobility, a state of experi-

however, in order to achieve sustainable interventions,

ence transforming itself for repetition; something that

we need two things: a revolution in the governmental

should be able to make the governmental mechanisms

system, and a civil community that is determined and

content. This kind of exchange requires the existence

persistent regarding its demands. Even though its tools

of a platform where different actors can put forward

might not necessarily be equally strong as the govern-

their diverse experiences on diverse grounds. For that

mental mechanisms, urban community has to develop

to happen, the problems in the system’s methodology

pressure mechanisms, which are as strong as possible.

must be fixed in the context of “governmental culture.”

How do you see these projects impacting on the urban fabric in the next five to ten years? Do they have the capacity to make a difference? I am drawn to pessimism based on a dark scenario, where the city is shaped by the persistent, oppressive methods that eventually destroy all civil initiatives. On the other hand, I would base my optimistic prediction on non-government initiatives, which are realized through encouraging local projects, learning from various accomplishments, and strengthened by international connections. Small initiatives, which act for their own rights, can do more consciously regarding their communal needs, eventually leading the way to healthier cities. Ten years ahead, I would wish to see that these small initiatives, which are born today, are still alive, with their motivational resources strengthened, their strategies sharpened, and having secured a firm and well-defined place inside the governmental frame. In Turkey, a mayor’s use of authority is not always transparent. Meanwhile, the demands on behalf of civic groups for increased municipal authority in the name of national decentralization and participatory democracy have at times exacerbated this misuse of discretionary powers. This is because Turkey’s city administrations have not been completely democratized yet, and strong municipal authority has created, in most cases, local fiefdoms rather than widespread civic engagement. Ilhan Tekeli, city and regional planner at the Middle East Technical University and member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences

120

ISTANBUL

INTERVIEW

ARTS & CULTURE

Curating Artists and Cultural Practices Behiç Ak is a cartoon artist, playwright, children’s book author, director, and an architect

Do you think it is possible that art and culture

ety initiative gives an important message by saving its

(artistic & cultural production), in some form,

own independence and focusing on the democratiza-

provide the “spark” for beginning a grassroots

tion of art education. To transform this example into a

initiative? In which form?

culturalist approach can bring death to the model, and

The relationship between art and the city is good on

the initiative can lose its own publicity. At this point,

one hand, and bad on the other. Although it actu-

the aim and method of using art becomes crucial.

ally gained legitimacy after the DBUA Award, there are still culturalist approaches. New types of cultural

Many projects count on artists to identify ur-

strategies that create value and profit are promoted,

ban challenges and present creative responses

instead of works from civil society that support the

to them. What is your personal experience of

improvement of life quality and that would add value

how arts and culture can improve urban life?

to the sustainability of space. Actually, art is personal

Participation has gained a very ideological meaning.

and it does not have to serve a city or an objective.

Today it’s quite different from the nineteen-seventies.

In this context, the relationship between art and the

Participation at that time was used as a means of de-

city does not need to be positive. However, now it is

mocratization—intended both for the right and the left.

thought that art does need to serve the city, and local

There was no rigid organization. However, now, partici-

governments are working to increase the value of the

pation is planned before and the outcomes are formerly

city through artistic organizations. Therefore, art loses

known. A hollow concept with well-defined boundaries

its independence and becomes a tool. In the context

… In the nineteen-seventies, the concept of participa-

of new cultural strategies, the use of art brings out a

tion used to include hope and was transformative in

global industry of culture.

real terms, whereas today, it is too controlled and does not extend beyond being a tool. Today’s stakeholders

How does the artist/cultural activist play a role

in participatory practices are restricted to operating

as a communicator, bridging different parts and

within predefined control mechanisms. Moreover,

intermediating conversations and negotiations

urban intervention creates meaningless spaces and it

that would otherwise rarely take place?

becomes difficult for one to become an individual who

As everything has turned into a type of communication,

can develop his own discourse in the city made up of

the artist has become a communicator, which actually

these meaningless spaces.

contradicts the meaning of art. Art communicates, but without aiming to communicate. Art is not design. The

Is there something particular about the culture

act of communicating with the mass and formation is

of Istanbul that contributes to the nature of the

closer to the meaning of design. In this context, as the

projects?

artist/cultural activist becomes a communicator, art

We should mention the “public” when talking about ur-

starts to be limited to the design activity. It turns into a

ban culture. This public is a scenario that has not been

cultural design. Therefore, it becomes an urban strategy

planned before; it is the result of an accumulation of

positioned inside the culture industry.

cultural and social texture over time. Now, a non-urban

On the other hand, what I have seen in the example

culture is trying to be built into the city, which brings

of Music for Peace is the culturalist model it brings

out a pseudo-public situation. In areas that are present-

out, especially with the people in the area with whom

ed as public, the “public” begins to vanish and private

it establishes a relationship. In this context, a civil soci-

areas appear instead. Because we are a society that

cannot fully define the concept of “public,” we cannot realize the dispossessed public culture. In this context, art and culture also belong to the public and are under its guard. A society with an incomplete urban culture today—with the art designed as a tool of the culture industry—accepts the new, pseudo-urban areas within the new public spaces without noticing. How can the impact of grassroots projects be maximized? How might artists and cultural practitioners contribute to this? Actually, urban culture can be effective on the aim of a social and environmental transformation. And this partnership can only be achieved through the formation of new mechanisms that increase the life quality of the local citizens and increase the use value of the city, both by the society and the local authorities. Otherwise, extreme raises and decreases in values will obliterate the space. Change gets ahead of usage and the space disappears. To approach a city that has been saved from these sudden changes, public areas should be increased. How can the impact of grassroots projects be

Urban transformations turned out to be demolitions,

maximized? How might artists and cultural

and our intention is deliberately pushing for an alterna-

practitioners contribute to this?

tive. Public art, is not even at the horizon of artists lately

Today large-scaled organizations like the Biennale

but our aim is urban upgrading by using art for public.

impose a “design-art” under the name of art. Because

Through our attempts, the idea of attachment increases

the effect of these types of structured environments on

among the society. It is very important to show a political

the real culture of the city is too small, it causes large-

stand through art. Art is for the public and struggles for

scale activities to lose their effects. Therefore, I think

the social equality within the public realm.

that small activities regarding culture that belong to

Kübra S¸irinyurt, artist and volunteer for a public art initiative KSANTI˙ST, private interview by D. Mutman, May, 2010.

the city and contain authenticity are more special. Today, NGOs in Turkey, which have incorporated and become more governmental, should provide horizontal relationships and therefore increase participation and also present the needed change with the initiative of the urban community.

122

ISTANBUL

INTERVIEW

MEDIATION

Advocating Sustainable and Participatory Models Aslı Kıyak ˙Ingin is architect, designer, and activist

What is the role of culture, art, economy, politics, politicians, stakeholders, and citizens for rebuilding a city?

How do you think civil initiatives could feed back into the planning process? Civil initiatives and the meetings/workshops we take

Politicians must transform this debate into a broad

part in as individual participants progress too slowly.

participatory public platform. An open system would

The community still does not perceive its own value;

enable culture and arts to provide an integrationist

and the people are not aware that they have the power

impact, shaped by both the environment and the com-

to make a statement. Thus, at this point, it is still not

munity. The community, on the other hand, must come

easy for “urban awareness” to take shape. While the

out of its passive position to generate its own state-

top-down systems progress rapidly with the impact

ment and put forward its own vision on the reconstruc-

of the decisions that are being taken, the impact of

tion of their city. Rather than the generic solutions

bottom-up systems is unfortunately not as efficient.

imposed and executed by the authorities, original and

Even though micro-scale approaches are more imple-

local approaches developed by civil initiatives must be

mentable and sustainable, a participatory planning is

supported.

still not possible regardless of many strategies that

The existence of a sustainable economy must be

have been tried to clear the way for such an action. In

composed of a system that has close relationships with

order for the participatory action to have an impact on

the local dynamics inside the city and supports the

urban and strategic planning, administrative traditions

existence of smaller production units. There is also the

have to change and the administrative mechanisms

need for an economic vision, which takes into consid-

have to be redesigned for enabling it.

eration the micro-dynamics and relates and supports them with the macro-dynamics.

In that sense, are there any policies being developed to merge top-down and bottom-up

You are one of the main actors causing an

practices to any extent?

impact on the built environment, what is your

Unfortunately, there is no such merging or reconcil-

role?

ing political moves at the moment. However, at the

Basically, my duty is to actively stand against the

Sulukule Platform, we worked very hard to create such

ongoing transformation in the city and try to show

reconciliation during the Sulukule demolition pro-

the decision-maker mechanisms alternative solutions.

cess. We did our best to ensure the solution would be

In other words, I try to make the “invisible,” “vis-

achieved through the participation of the residents, but

ible,” or to reveal that the cities own dynamics can

unfortunately, it did not happen.

suggest alternatives to the current transformation.

There is a very powerful vertical relationship be-

From an architect’s perspective, I try to expose the

tween the higher authorities and the local authority

architectural identity and the economic, social, and

during the process, where the decisions are executed

physical life forms that exist during the urbanization

from the top down. While the local authority is ex-

process. I also concentrate on how existing macro and

pected to represent a diverse and multifaceted com-

micro settlements can be supported by those existing

munity, it inevitably becomes a mere reflection of the

dynamics.

ruling party. The ruling party, in turn, cannot incorporate and mix the dynamism coming from the commu-

nity to its system. Yet, it is highly critical for the “local statement” and micro-visions to increase, unite, and transform into a powerful and single voice. What is your role in combining the missing links of top to down or bottom up? How do you proceed? There are many missing links. Primarily, there is a communication gap and unawareness between the institutions. At this point, our mission is to closely monitor the processes in order to inform the institutions. More importantly, I spend time with the community, in order to better understand the spatial, social, and economic infrastructures, and to cooperate with them in order to achieve participatory resolution to the existing problems. My intention is to make the “existing” visible; to conduct participatory meetings; to cultivate new visions through these meetings; to support and even improve the participation of diverse social fragments; and to reach to a larger audience through these newly cultivated visions. How would you define a good planning model for the city of Istanbul? What is the difference from today’s practice? When considering urban practices, it is not only the plans that come to mind, but also field management, heritage zoning plans, hierarchy, and inter-institutional relationships. These, in turn, transform into a more intricate and sophisticated system. Most of the time, the community cannot understand nor perceive the patterns in-between these non-transparent and sophis-

How do we gain participation? We do try to get attention

ticated relationships; thus, decisions are made under

through press releases and Hasanpasa Gaswork festivals.

ambiguity. The mechanisms have to be simplified and

Through these small-scale interventions, the initiation

made transparent so that the local communities can

would possibly develop however there are absolute facts

understand these patterns, decisions, and their impli-

that are cutting the sustainability of the process. If there

cations. At this very point, my role is, in fact to expose

is a political issue, such as strategic planning included

these gaps and disconnections. New steps should be

among the process, then an obstacle appears on the road.

taken in light of the feedback and lessons learned from

We aim to work with the politicians, however, we are

existing actions. In other words, the subject, objective

seen as competitors for a plot of the city.

and method of a project should be created and under-

Nesrin Uçar, volunteer for the Revitalization of Hasanpasa Gas-

lined through participative action.

works Neighborhood Initiative, private interview by D. Mutman, April, 2010.

124

ISTANBUL

COMPILATION

126

ISTANBUL

BIOGRAPHIES

Yeliz Yalın Baki

Chapter author and interviewer

is co-founder of Barıs¸ ˙Için Müzik (Music for Peace), which is

Demet Mutman

a privately financed social project of Mehmet Selim Baki. As

is an architect who focuses on cities, urban development strat-

a devoted volunteer and an academician, she supported the

egies, and possibilities of alternative spatial transformations

initiative from 2004 to 2011. In 2012, the initiative became the Barıs¸ ˙Için Müzik Foundation, and she has been its manager

by using short-term activities. She has a PhD from Istanbul

since then.

of urban transformation by examining short-term activities

Technical University, where she researched alternative models and designs as spatial catalysts. In 2009, she was responsible

Erhan Demirdizen is an urban planner and lecturer, with a Masters degree in

for the management of the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award Istanbul. She is part of the Archis Interventions Divided Cities

urban policy planning and local governments. He has worked at

Network, which concentrates on the politics of space within

several sections of the Ministry of Public Works and Settle-

divided regions that do not necessarily have visible borderlines.

ment, as well as at several local authorities. Besides being a

Mutman currently works at T.C. Maltepe University Faculty of

board member of the Chamber of Urban Planners in Ankara,

Architecture in Istanbul and focuses on architectural and urban

he was respectively a member, general secretary and head of the Chamber of Urban Planners, ˙Istanbul branch. He was also a

design, alternative readings of the city, and public spaces.

member of a publishing board for several urban, planning and

Members of the Jury for the Award in Istanbul:

city related journals.



Özlem Ünsal is a PhD candidate at City University of London, Department of Sociology. Among her main research interests are neoliberal urban policies, grassroots resistance movements, and rights to the city. Her thesis focuses on neighborhood movements,

Richard Burdett

Director, Urban Age & Centennial Professor in Architecture and Urbanism, London School of Economics

Arzuhan Dog˘an Yalçindag˘

Chair, Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD)

originating from the inner-city poverty and conservation zones



of Istanbul. As part of her doctoral research, she works closely

Professor of Sociology, Bosphorus University

with the volunteers for Istanbul-based civil initiatives and



neighborhood organizations, critical of current urban change. Behiç Ak is a cartoon artist, playwright, children’s book author, director, and architect. His children’s books and cartoons have been

Çag˘lar Keyder Behiç Ak

Cartoonist, author, architect

Enrique Norten

Founder, TEN Arquitectos, New York and Mexico City & Miler Chair of Architecture, University of Pennsylvania

published in Turkey, Germany, Japan, Korea, and China, and



featured in several exhibitions worldwide. His documentary

Former Mayor of Washington, DC and is the Executive Director

film, The History of Banning in Turkish Cinema—The Black Cur-

of the Global Government

tain, won the best documentary film award in Ankara in 1994.



He also received an honorary award in 2012 for “Contribution

Architect, Mimarlar Design, & Visiting Professor, Harvard

to Architecture,” from the Chamber of Architects for his car-

Graduate School of Design

toons, writings, plays, and his position on environmental and architectural issues. Aslı Kıyak ˙ Ingin architect, designer, and activist. She works in various fields— such as design, architecture, city, production and art—with a focus on social, cultural, and economic aspects. She is also active in the city where urban regeneration or gentrification developments take place, by advocating sustainable and participatory models for the alternative visions. She is the president of the NGO, Human Settlement Association; and also developed the concept of the Made in S¸is¸hane project and initiative, as well as participatory and sustainable practices in order to stop the demolishment of Sulukule.

Anthony Williams

Han Tümertekin

Mexico City Ana Álvarez

Mexico City – City without Limits Germany 2010 27:53 min Director: Olaf Jacobs Director of photography: Michael Senft Editor: Christoph Sturm

128

MEXICO CITY

PROFILE

Population [metro/city]

20.4 11.2

million million

Area occupied [metro/city]

7,854 1,495

km2 km2

Gross domestic product (GDP)

390

[$bn at PPPs]

Average density [metro/city]

9,300 5,937

Inhabitants/km2 Inhabitants/km2

Diversity

Indigenous, Spanish, British, Irish, Italian,German, French, Dutch, Syria, Lebanon, Chinese, Korean, South and Central American, Mexican

130

MEXICO CITY

PROFILE

Income inequality [A high Gini Index indicates greater income inequality.]

50

Informal settlements

2 20

% of the land [federal district] % of the population [metro]

Unemployment rate

6.1

%

Literacy rate/population with a high school education

87 25.2 %

%

Number of projects compiled [DBUAA]

193

Number of registered Non-profit Organizations

1,492

(Federal District)

Informal Economy

30.1

%

Green space per capita

8.4

m2/person

132

MEXICO CITY

OVERVIEW

Local Developments in Mexico City

Projects compiled in Mexico City show the extent

1

to which citizen initiatives—in strong alliance with

Miravalle Community Council reactivates public

universities, local authorities, and other organiza-

space within the city’s border through a comprehen-

tions—can promote community life and substantially

sive project that includes culture, education, health,

improve the urban environment and living conditions

employment, and recycling programs.

in megacities. The 193 initiatives from different social and geo-

2

graphical backgrounds—with half of the projects located

Culture Centre Consejo Agrarista, founded by former

within the Federal District and the other half distribut-

gang members, offers art lessons and high quality

ed through out the greater metropolitan area—cover a

sports facilities as an alternative to violence.

diverse range of urban interventions linked with education, health, culture, employment, environment, public space, social integration, and local economies. Mexico City faces big social, economic, environmen-

3

Recovering Spaces for Life recovers public spaces and runs cultural and educational programs, drug and

tal, and management challenges. It is a city that has

violence prevention, and productive programs in an

dramatically expanded through informality and has

informal settlement located over a ravine.

faced natural disasters as well as an economic crisis, which brought about a remarkable increase in violence and the subsequent abandonment of public space. But despite all of these difficulties, the city also records an improvement in quality life at the local level, largely due to citizens who build the city with their own hands and shape the future through the search for the common good.

3

1

2

7,5 km

134

MEXICO CITY

TIME LINE AND POPULATION GROWTH

1600

1700

1800

1325

1521–1810

1521

1910–1930

1930–1960

Foundation of Mexico-

Capital of New Spain:

First Spanish City Plan.

Mexican Revolution pro-

Economic growth:

Tenochtitlan, on an

Spanish conquest of

duces significant migra-

Industrialization. Art

islet in the middle of

America’s Venice. Indig-

1810–1875

tion from countryside.

landmarks in public

lake Texcoco. Aztecs

enous, Spanish, and Af-

Mexican Independence:

Population doubles from

infrastructure. Urban

dominate the region,

rican slaves mix. By the

Mexico City is decreed

1900 to 1920.

sprawl beyond city

composed by different

end of the 19th century,

as seat of the new na-

ethnic groups. 300,000

indigenous represent

tion’s powers.

inhabitants just before

only one-quarter of the

the Spanish arrived.

city’s population.

limits: European war 1928

refugees, mainly Span-

City governance changes

ish, and rural migration.

1876–1910

from municipality to

Urban infrastructure:

direct rule by the presi-

1953

French-style broad

dent. Beginning then

First construction law.

boulevards and parks.

and for almost 70 years,

Prohibition of land

Tram and bus lines. City

city dwellers do not

subdivision in Federal

greening.

elect the mayor.

District results in expansion into the State of Mexico.

20

10

2

1900

2000

1960s

1970s

1980s

1997

2000s

Infrastructure boom:

Boom of informal settle-

Economic crisis and de-

First elected mayor:

Public Space improve-

Consolidation as modern

ments: 40% of the built

industrialization.

First participatory

ment programs.

city. Rural migration

area. Latin American

programs of urban im-

Recovery of the Historic

continues.

coup d’état refugees

1985

provement.

Center. Legal broadening

from Argentina, Chile,

Civil society organiza-

1968

Uruguay, Brazil, and

tion begins as a re-

2000s

First subway line. Olym-

Guatemala.

sponse to the disastrous

Metropolitan coordina-

2010

earthquake.

tion. First suburban rail

Charter for the right to

pic games.

of civil rights.

Student massacre sets

1978

The inner city is

service. Global business

the city fostered by civil

off a long process of

Urban reorganization:

abandoned and enters a

center. Car-oriented

organizations and signed

democratization for the

new high-speed routes

20-year period of decay.

large investment.

by the city government.

city and the country.

cut urban fabric.

Later, greener mobility 1990s

policies are implement-

Informal commerce

ed: Bus Rapid System,

proliferates, violence

Bike Share System, and

rises and gated commu-

bike lanes.

nities spread during the economic crisis. Environmental crisis: highest levels of air pollution ever.

136

MEXICO CITY

INITIATIVES

Miravalle Community Council

Within the boundaries of Mexico City and on top of a hill with a view of the metropolitan urban landscape, Miravalle stands as relatively new neighborhood in the Iztapalapa borough. Built on former agricultural lands in the late nineteen-eighties, however, due to the lack of urban infrastructure, this space became partially abandoned and faced increasing insecurity in the neighborhood. Since 2006, different local organizations have gathered in a community council that holds a monthly meeting to improve the neighborhood. They are especially concerned about the lack of safe recreational and cultural spaces for children and young people, but also interested in creating a sustainable project that benefits the community in other aspects. The Miravalle Community Council has transformed the abandoned public space into an open area with a wide variety of facilities and programs: a library, a digital center (to overcome the technological gap), a classroom for different workshops, a low-budget lunchroom that offers balanced meals for 300 people, a health center, a subsidized milk store, two open forums for cultural and recreational activities; and a nearby complementary area within a natural reservation, where they produce part of the food they offer at the lunchroom and where a recycling center processes two tons of the residents’ plastic waste and employs thirty young people from the community. Miravalle Community Council has created a network of cooperation—between local stakeholders, specialists from academia and civil organizations—to foster a process of local transformation that aims to become a model of sociocultural reactivation for other urban marginalized communities.

138

NAVIGATION MEXICO CITY

XINITIATIVES

Headline AUThOR’s Name Author’s position in the project etc.

Functions / program: recycling, rainwater collection, farming, employment, and meals; cultural, recreational and educational activities (music and arts, school support, access to new technologies); and health programs. Benefits to the community: a wide recycling program, connected to farming (environmental education, skills training and job creation); daily low-cost and nutritional meals, public library, digital center; jobs associated with its programs (teachers, carpenters, plumbers, cooks, construction workers); community pride and care for public space, a sense of identity and belonging; safety. Positive impact on the built environment: an abandoned field that was used as a garbage dump and as a place where young people used drugs has been transformed into a safe, clean, and good quality open public space offering a wide variety of educational, recreational, health, and job options for inhabitants, reinforcing community life. The comprehensive sustainable programs help to keep green protected areas from the growth of the city while giving community benefits such as less garbage on the streets. People involved: teachers (local elementary school), mothers and young people, local NGOs, academic groups from universities, and cultural institutions.

MIRAVALLE COMMUNITY COUNCIL

2006 ≥ 2012

140

MEXICO CITY

INITIATIVES

Cultural Center Consejo Agrarista

Made up primarily of marginalized young people, gangs started to appear in Mexico City in the late nineteen-seventies. With territory-based identities, the different groups were mostly linked with criminal activities and street fights. During the nineteen-eighties, gangs proliferated in the city and by 1990, there were approximately 1,500 gangs with an average of thirty members each. The Agrarista neighborhood, located in the eastern borough of Iztapalapa, was one of the areas known for its gang conflicts. Aiming to fight the impact of violence—measured in terms of the lives lost, fear in the community, and closed businesses—thirty local gangs agreed on a truce in 1990 and decided to create a new space for young people, offering artistic education and recreation. Their first step was taking over a partially abandoned land in a relatively central area of the neighborhood. After clearing the land, which was also used as a waste dump, they had to resist pressure from real estate and local authorities to quit. They built a precarious classroom where they gave graffiti lessons and an improvised a soccer field. In 1996, they organized the first graffiti contest, which is now an annual event attracting 5,000 youngsters. They also set up basic services, such as installing lighting, and they planted some trees. This has changed their image among community members, who stopped looking at them as a threat and began to get involved in the project. In 2006, with the support of local architects who were also former gang members, and the support of government programs, they built high-quality sports and artistic facilities, giving a new life to this former “no-go” area. This project vindicates gangs as a legitimate means for young, collective organization in a city where approximately one-quarter of the population is between fifteen and twenty-nine years old.

142

NAVIGATION MEXICO CITY

XINITIATIVES

Headline AUThOR’s Name Author’s position in the project etc.

Functions / program: art and graffiti workshops for children and youngsters, cultural events (concerts, graffiti contest and exhibitions, break dancing and skating shows); sports and drug prevention programs, public space, recreational areas. Benefits to the community: it has become a point of reference for graffiti performers. It creates a place where everyone feels safe. It uses art and culture to recover the social fabric and improve the urban conditions. Positive impact on the built environment: transforms an abandoned field into a cultural and sports center for children, young and families, contributing to the recovery of the entire neighborhood. People involved: former gang members from around thirty different local gangs who came to an agreement to create this place. After ten years of being rejected by the community, they started to work together with the other neighbors.

CULTURAL CENTER CONSEJO AGRARISTA

1990 ≥ 2012

144

MEXICO CITY

INITIATIVES

Recovering Spaces for Life

Santa Fe is a neighborhood on the west side of Mexico City characterized by extreme socioeconomic contrasts: one can find an “edge city” with office towers that embody Mexico’s participation in the global economy and shanty towns over ravines existing side by side. In 2005, Iberoamericana University—a private institution located in Santa Fe—created the Coordination of Social Responsibility to build a bridge of cooperation between the different university departments and the marginalized areas of the surroundings. Among other initiatives, they fostered the project Recovering Spaces for Life, which focuses on the recovery of public spaces in the neighboring ravines, through different activities that create a sense of belonging in dwellers and promotes the leadership of community members. Under the guidance of the university, different local groups worked together to recover the riverbank, which was previously used as a sewer. They fixed the façades of houses along one kilometer of the river and built a green pedestrian corridor that goes from the riverbank to a formerly abandoned alley uphill, now accessible to disabled people and featuring a playground. They also built a greenhouse for growing tomatoes in what used to be a garbage dump, and transformed a residual space in a corner street with stairs into an open cultural forum. They also run programs for psychosocial risks prevention, technological literacy, job training; and they created a network that allows the people from those marginalized neighborhoods to find jobs at the business area of Santa Fe. Recovering Spaces for Life shows how in highly segregated societies, such as Mexico City, bridges among apparently untouchable sectors can be built and used to transform reality.

146

NAVIGATION MEXICO CITY

XINITIATIVES

Headline AUThOR’s Name Author’s position in the project etc.

Functions / programs: housing (professional advice in self construction); recovery and creation of public space (riverbank recovery); cultural, and educational activities for children and young people (including access to new technologies and drug and crime prevention programs); health programs (obesity prevention and attention to disabled people); productive programs (tomato harvest, cloth production), job opportunities network, ecology. Benefits to the community: advice on self-built housing. New public open areas where children play, people meet and which are also accessible to disabled people. Weekend artistic workshops for children, summer courses on the streets keeping children away from drugs and crime, access to technology. People are back on the streets without fear. Collective productive activities such as greenhouse tomato production and a women’s clothing cooperative. Contact with job opportunities in the nearby financial district of Santa Fe. Positive impact on the built environment: residents feel safer on streets and open public space. There is access to the riverbank, now a walking green corridor, whose recovery included the renovation of one-kilometer-long façades and the addition of 500 plants. The river is now seen as public space and not as sewage system; safe, open public space, to which disabled people also have access. Transformation of a garbage dump into a green house. There has been a ripple effect. People involved: Social Responsibility Coordination of Iberoamericana University (teachers and students) from several departments (architecture, medicine, engineering, etc). Community organizations with different profiles and objectives (mothers with disabled children, women’s cloth cooperative, neighbors engaged with public area recovery, religious missionaries, art and education groups).

RECOVERING SPACES FOR LIFE

2006 ≥ 2012

148

MEXICO CITY

INTERVIEW

COMMUNITY

Weaving Efforts, Working for the Common Good Francisco Javier Conde González, Doctor in education, is professor at Miravalles School, and member of MiravalleCommunity Council

How did the project start? What motivated you

lar position, because we have identified political and

to become engaged?

religious elements that can divide us.

These areas of the city had an uneven urbanization full of problems connected with land speculation, corrup-

Was community support important to the setup

tion by the authorities, and absolute absence of urban

and continuation of the project and how was it

planning. There was such pressure on public space that

mobilized?

many neighborhoods were unable to reserve the mini-

I would say it has been fundamental. It has also been

mum spaces to provide public services. They lost land

irregular, because it depends on the issues that each

for schools, hospitals, and recreational areas. Miravalle

family faces. People’s engagement is very intense when

was one of the few that fought for preserving small

it comes to heartfelt needs that directly hit them, but

public spaces. There was a very strong defense of these

much less so when they don’t see them as urgent. That

areas by the residents; there were even moments of

is where the work of educators comes in, by helping

violence, and neighbors who went to jail for defending

them feel they are also essential.

these spaces. It was a very difficult process of defense and appropriation of public space. On the other hand, we have compelling needs in the community on many

What challenges did you face and how were they overcome?

issues, such as health, food, work, and culture. Being

An important obstacle has to do with leadership: many

a marginal community, there is a whole agenda to

of the activities have been sustained by the will of

develop on these issues, and all of the people who now

people, who are doing a very important job, but we

form the community council were already performing

need a generational renewal, otherwise the projects

very valuable work, but with limited impact, so we

will last only another ten years. We are thus engaging

decided that if we join efforts we would have a higher

young people in the coordination of projects. And that

and more efficient impact.

is somewhat difficult because young people are at a stage in which there are many interests in their lives,

Which partnerships were created to strengthen

and thus they are not very constant. Nevertheless, we

your project? What needs did they fulfill and

have to engage them, or this will not have a future.

when were they formed? Locally, educators who see their work beyond class-

Did the desire to improve the urban environ-

room; mothers who are interested in promoting health,

ment play a role from the outset? How do you

nutrition, and culture; and residents who are interested

assess this achievement?

in ecology. Externally, universities, embassies, NGOs,

We have always believed that the physical shows how

civil society collectives, and the Federal District Human

social relations are structured. Public space is where

Rights Commission. There are also alliances of a politi-

everyone intervenes, so if there is no intervention it

cal nature, because there are local actors who belong

means there is no capacity to build collectively. The

to political parties and with whom, when we agree on

change of spaces from being insecure, polluted, dirty,

common welfare projects, we work together bridging

and degraded to spaces for encounter, coexistence,

our differences. However, the community council has

and for an aesthetic experience of living in a pleasant,

defended its non-political party commitment and secu-

harmonious, and beautiful place, certainly transforms

perception and daily life. And I think that since 2000, the level of street violence has decreased. These issues that used to be very hard here, of having gang fights every weekend and someone being killed have significantly decreased. How has the project changed or grown? What are the next goals? Where do you envision the project five years from now? I think the award raised a very strong sense of responsibility, because we were suddenly in the spotlight and what we do will be for us, but also for others; because if this programs works, maybe other institutions will decide to support similar programs. I think the next goals are to consolidate what we have and so that all of the programs receive wider participation from the community; because even if some programs have begun to enter the consolidation phase most are still at an early stage. So in five years, we could expect to have

The fact that Miravalle Community Council has worked

consolidation in all programs and wider participation.

for over two decades is outstanding, because most

Once that is achieved, we will probably see that there

grassroots initiatives have very specific goals that once

are still many needs and new programs will emerge.

achieved, the organization dissolves. It is also outstanding that they frame their struggle not based on a patronizing or altruistic perspective—which is where most of the nongovernment organizations place themselves—but rather within rights enforcement, involving authorities in the fulfillment of those rights. This is a way to influence public policies at the local level. I also think that in five years, the project will have an impact far more widespread throughout the area and not just in the immediate community, because of the different agents involved and the kind of approach they have. For instance, these policies of providing employment for community members can foster a change from being a dormitory zone, to an area with its own range of services. And that can also attract young teenagers from other areas to receive quality services. Ricardo Sauri is Secretary for the Promotion of Human Rights and Incidence in Public Policy in the Federal District

150

MEXICO CITY

INTERVIEW

GOVERNMENT

Reality Surpasses Us: We Need to Be more Flexible and Porous Felipe Leal is Head of the Department of Housing and Urban Development

Can you summarize the current attitude/policy

Which governmental agencies/programs recog-

of the municipality towards urban improve-

nize the importance of community-led initia-

ment and the redressing of inequality?

tives?

Stop the city expansion over conservation land and

At the borough level it varies a lot, for it depends to a

give all the normative elements to make it grow in-

great extent on the sensibility of the authorities. But at

ward. We are working for a compact, vertical, shared,

the city’s central government level, there are several

inclusive, and extroverted city, improving the existing

entities: the Social Development Department, which

infrastructure and offering social housing in the central

supports initiatives from vulnerable groups; the Insti-

city to take people out of risk zones and give them

tute of Housing serves many such initiatives, because

property certainty. We are also broadening the concept

there is a lot of housing in risk zones; and finally us,

of the public realm, looking at it in a more holistic way,

the Department of Housing and Urban Development,

with high-quality infrastructure as a priority.

which in many cases has to legalize or relocate informal settlements.

Do you think grassroots can complement the efforts of the public sector to integrate the city

How does this recognition affect the planning

and improve livability in all areas? If so, how?

process in these areas? Can you give an ex-

I think we should overcome the extremely formal

ample?

vision about public policies connected with urban plan-

Citizens proposed to us a very interesting legal status

ning. Almost all cities have their urban development

of “family condominium.” In Mexico City, the condo-

departments and programs, but in most cases, they

minium generally consists of a building divided into

are a set of charters and norms consolidated within

clearly defined spaces with several owners. However,

the institutional policies and the limits of government

it is common to have a property for a family of fifteen

action. That is not bad, but we shouldn’t miss the other

members with three or four couples and where each

perspective that comes from a more refined observer,

uses a room or set of rooms. Land use would say it

which is the specific citizen. The problem with those

is single-family property, but it is not, because it is

general programs is that they standardize the physical

a subdivided family. So now family condominium is

and social conditions of cities, when it is really not like

recognized as a subdivided property and this helps in

that, not even in developed cities. And those who live

services and credits for house improvements.

in physical or social marginalization are in many cases the ones who find new non-formal or non-traditional

Do you see scope for change to current plan-

ways of organizing space.

ning methods based on the experiences of such

In Mexico City we have incorporated roundtables or committees that serve local proposals from all kinds of organizations. It all has to be based on dialogue, on

projects? Do you think that there is a move in government towards integrating bottom-up with top-down planning initiatives?

understanding the other side, on acknowledging that

Most of the urban planning is still based on the nine-

there is a degree of specificity that doesn’t allow us to

teen-eighties urban zoning, without an understanding

do things mechanically.

of social problems. But it is not enough to draw things on a map, because reality always surpasses us and we

need to have flexible tools to adapt. I am quite selfcritical about most of the borough and partial programs because they become so rigid that they tend to complicate rather than rationalize the problems, often pushing people towards informality. I think we need to become more porous in those programs to allow grassroots initiatives to find their place in official planning. On the other hand, the authority has missed the opportunity to communicate its vision for urban development. And for better or worse, it is the authority that has the panoramic vision and technical knowledge. Local projects can greatly enrich urban development with their timely and deeper sight, but they might not have the complete overview. How do you see the development of local bottom-up initiatives in the long term? What possible development scenarios might be envisaged for the future? All of these initiatives—Miravalle, Codeco—suggest that Mexico City is like an hydraulic system with many rusty closed valves, which only need to be oiled and

Public infrastructure is gaining a new role in how we

opened for an amazing flow to come. We have to use

design and envision the future of our city. I think that his-

the local culture and look at the everyday city—the

torically, Mexico City has been a place of neighborhoods

little square, the garden, the remaining corner, the bas-

and we should move back to that. For instance, something

ketball court—to dignify them and create activities.

we have lost and should try to recover, are the markets.

I think we need to work on that scale.

We have 325 public markets built during the nineteen-sixties and nineteen-seventies, which were created for many reasons; of course economic and supply reasons, but also to build community. These are big opportunities: 325 markets organized all around the territory. These spaces have an amazing potential to be transformed into real public spaces, they can be more permeable, grow, have parallel services. That is the kind of infrastructure that brings communities together, because those are places where many things happen. Laura Janka is an Advisor for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

152

MEXICO CITY

INTERVIEW

ACADEMIA

Unfolding New Professional Profiles for Bottom-up Urban Planning Arturo Mier y Terán is an architect and urban planner, professor at the School of Architecture, National Autonomous University of Mexico, and principal of technology and habitat in Large Cities, HABITEC

What trends did you recognize in the grassroots

Some of the projects we are referring to bring

projects in Mexico City? Do you think they un-

new spatial qualities to the built environment.

veil fields of opportunity for urban design?

Would you identify these as potential planning

In general, professionals see all that has to do with

tools? How do you think they could inspire or

marginal neighborhoods as a minor work. Even at the

feedback into architectural/urban planning

National Autonomous University of Mexico, when we

practice? And policy?

promoted the Housing Improvement Program, many

I think we need to review how we conceive urban

groups felt that was not architecture. There were even

development and planning. In Mexico, we have a

some who dare to say that any space under four square

tradition of normative planning, carried out by profes-

meters was not architecture. I believe that there is a

sionals who study abroad and with the latest method-

very large field of work but neither the professionals

ologies, but normative planning does not scale down

nor the universities have developed those fields. And

the neighborhood. We need to turn more to strategic

there is a social need that has to be fulfilled as the

urban planning, but above all we need to have a more

Community Program for Neighborhood Improvement

bottom-up planning. The community programs we have

has shown.

been working on show that highly focused and timely planning in very well-defined areas, with full partici-

Do solutions germinating in the communities

pation of people, is important. These experiences are

contribute to livability in some areas? To which

also creating new professional profiles, new tools, and

pressing issues do they respond? If so, how?

case studies that need to be documented and ana-

Sure, a central issue is livability, understood as the

lyzed. We have already been working on a syllabus for

improvement of conditions in a given urban space.

universities based on these experiences. We need to

Most of the projects carried out through Community

unfold new fields of work for professionals and not be

Program for Neighborhood Improvement have to do

restrained by what the job market offers now. Neigh-

with public spaces and buildings for public services.

borhood improvement and self-built construction are

We were surprised to see there were many requests for

fields where architects are not involved; most of the

community centers. And I think it has to do with the

city is built without architects. So there are certainly

fact that they become an extension of houses that have

opportunities to intervene, what we need is to create

very precarious conditions, with very limited space,

schemas for professional participation and train people

and shared by several families, because nowadays 80%

for that.

of land property is shared by several families, so community or cultural centers open a space for different

Which projects would you say have good poten-

ages and activities. For instance, in a neighborhood

tial for replicability? What features should they

with 120 miniscule self-built houses in batches of six

exhibit in order to be replicable?

by ten, with no space for young people and children,

One should take into account that each project is a

we worked on a community center that completed the

different story, but the projects that have a long-term

livability functions of the zone and is now a space that

perspective and can progressively move forward are

offers a lot of services that otherwise would not exist.

the most successful. Another important thing is that

they manage to continue despite any changes in the people participating; that there is a certain dynamic in the community that allows transfer of the responsibilities. The most important is to build a democratic culture, because if we are able to make more democratic relations, the particular projects will be more efficient, more useful, and more responsive. How do you see these projects impacting on the urban fabric in the next five to ten years? Do they have the capacity to make a difference? Five to ten years isn’t enough. I would think twenty to twenty-five years from now. In the places where these projects are being carried out, one can clearly see a change, but to have the city transformed is a different thing. I believe though, that after these experiences, we are able to set the goals to see the city transformed. We know what it takes to transform a single neighborhood and if we have 1,300 neighborhoods, we can

Grassroots initiatives rather than a planning tool as such,

determine what kind of investment is needed to im-

are a way of building a strong and resilient planning

prove all the neighborhoods that are under-urbanized.

process. By involving the inhabitants in the process, the

We estimate it would require approximately 100,000

strategies are better interwoven within the community,

USD every year, for at least four or five years, in each

making them more resistant to changes of government or

neighborhood. So we can tell the government: to finish

other outside actors. We believe that architectural/urban

the city requires that amount and that many years of

practice should learn from these participatory processes,

continuous investment, which I estimate in total is no

always involving multidisciplinary teams and including all

less than twenty years.

relevant stakeholders. We also believe that the grassroots projects on the peripheries of Mexico City should aim for decreasing dependency on the city center by empowering the community. A self-sustainable community can only be achieved by creating local job opportunities for their inhabitants. If several of these projects are spread and replicate, a system of local initiatives could be created along greater strategic master plans, generating a larger impact within the urban fabric. Urban Laboratories Ecatepec. Urban Asymmetries, a DSD TU Delft studio.

154

MEXICO CITY

INTERVIEW

ARTS & CULTURE

Cultural Acupuncture over the City Argel Gómez and Benjamín González, visual artist and cultural manager, are coordinators and principals of Central del Pueblo Cultural Center, co-founders of Faro de Oriente Cultural Center

Do you think it is possible that art and culture

to translate and give shape to collective imagination,

(artistic & cultural production), in some form,

everything else flows.

provide the “spark” for beginning a grassroots

AG: I feel that as far as we have non-inclusive cities,

initiative? In which form?

we need people who can open doors and fight exclu-

AG: Nowadays, everyone uses the word “multidisci-

sion. And artists are very particular people, because

plinary” because we ought to think about what needs

they use other languages—but very effective ones—to

to be done in cities from different perspectives. And

convey the expectations, desires, dreams, and demands

artists, creative people in general, help to give new

of many people; they work as catalysts and often as

symbolic meaning to things; they are the ones who

spokespersons for several problems and demands; and

help to uncover new symbols that give identity to a

they end up being very important because in doing so,

community or to a project. In that sense, they are

they erode the city systems of exclusion and denial of

fundamental—even for projects that have no direct con-

diversity.

nection with art, for instance, projects about mobility, because they also need new symbols and identities.

Many projects count on artists to identify ur-

Artists are also essential to intervene in spaces in new

ban challenges and present creative responses

ways and build other kind of links with communities.

to them. What is your personal experience of

One needs a degree of madness and the ability to put

how arts and culture can improve urban life?

oneself in another position, and from there try new

BG: I like to think about the concept of urban cultural

things. Generally, artists are not so afraid of that and

acupuncture: no matter how small a collective is, it can

are constantly experimenting.

always have an initiative that in the long or medium

BG: Certainly artists have the ability to break inertia

term becomes a powerful intervention, if like acupunc-

and propose new paradigms. But I also believe that as

ture, it touches a fundamental issue.

much as communities can use artists to communicate

AG: Cities have increasingly become spaces for

their interests, to have their audacity and the power of

intervention—changeable, modifiable. And the vision of

aesthetics, artists can also get a lot of feedback from

artistic collectives over the city has matured. There is

people in the communities, because they have many

flexibility in many groups, who say “we are doing good

things to say and a lot of experience to share. So when

things and giving it a use for a while, but another need

those two aspects are mixed, then you have a bomb.

or other collectives may come.” So they don’t need their proposals to stay in place and this attitude helps a

How does the artist play a role as a communica-

lot because it gives vitality and dynamism to cities.

tor, bridging different elements and intermediating negotiations that would otherwise rarely

Is there something particular about the culture

take place?

of Mexico City that contributes to the nature of

BG: They play many roles in the process of creating

the projects?

new spaces. What I think, though, is that artists have

AG: Mexico City is very interesting because it has a

an important leading role because they are seen as

strong mixture of the Spanish colonial city and the

creative people and already have a special aura. And

modern city, plus the indigenous tradition through

that leading role can be as mediators or moral authori-

handcraft production. So many projects have these

ties, but above all as translators. If an artist is able

mixed roots. We also have cultural influences from the

immigrants coming from different areas of the country who do not isolate themselves but mix and permeate the city. There is also a large number of young people defining new identities and subcultures in street life, and they permeate projects, as for example, at El Faro de Oriente. How do you think this impact can be maximized? Which could be the next steps for art and cultural practices to cooperate with city governments to help improve/revitalize communities? BG: To recognize that cities are also cultural projects and any particular initiative is also a cultural project, regardless of the subject, because in all of them we are talking about a change in people’s conception and behavior. AG: Society—and in particular, artists and cultural promoters—need to trust the government more, and for that we need more transparent mechanisms of financial support and long-term public policies that give more certainty to the citizen projects with which the government establishes cooperation.

Art interventions in public space give voice to untold narratives of the urban. They allow (re)thinking the city by handling it in the here and now. Yet, not all art provokes such reflection. Using art for urban renewal does not guarantee success. An installation might change the physical condition of a site and a performance might alter its function, but art’s potential is not activated until it sets site and use in motion. Art impacts space socially, by inviting us to play with space’s inherent possibilities of becoming; it has the creative potential to “turn things around,” to look at life and the city from unexpected angles. It traces what might be missing and anticipates what could come next. Christian von Wissel, Citámbulos Urban Research Collective

156

MEXICO CITY

INTERVIEW

MEDIATION

Braiding the Physical and the Social: A New Social Contract for the City Jose Castillo is an architect, principal of Arquitectura 911SC, and visiting professor at Harvard Graduate School of Design

Did the set of grassroots projects compiled by

To what extent do these grassroots initiatives

the award open another perspective over the

have a role in creating new citizenship besides

city?

having physical impact?

I think that the range, scope, and geography of the pro-

I think that as much as space produces new kind of

posals showed the multiplicities of the city: multiple

citizenship, new citizens produce a different kind of

geographies, topics, and groups—both highly organized

space, and it is not a causality. It is not a chicken or

and sometimes less organized—but above all multiple

egg dilemma, it is truly a correlation between how

stakeholders involved in the definition and production

new, informed citizens can create new and better

of what an urban project means. In a way, the award

forms of city. And in that regard, those kind of new

showed how many Mexico Cities there are and this

spaces of the city—let us think of a community kitchen,

diversity talks about a vitality that was not present

of a PET recycling facilities, of a plaza that is now

twenty or thirty years ago.

used for dancing lessons—those forms of occupation empower citizens in different ways: from nutrition and

What was the most remarkable thing about the

fitness to social and leisure activities, from economic

award process?

retribution to learning. And I like this relationship in

When one goes below the radar, one finds and discov-

which it is not the physical that precedes the social, but

ers that there are many narratives already taking place

is actually more of a braid. In braiding the two is that a

in the city, some of them supported by social programs

new kind of citizenship is being created.

of the local governments and in some cases by the federal government, but also other narratives taking place

Mexico City has a strong tradition of bottom-up

by NGOs that we do not necessarily associate with the

initiatives, partly because it is pretty much a

visible urban actions. I find this incredibly refreshing in

self-made city, but also because after the 1985

the context of Mexico. It is fundamental to assume that

earthquake civil society became very active.

the production of politics, the production of citizen-

What was new about the projects compiled in

ship, the production of the polis, of the discussion of

2010?

conflicts and resolutions in the city can involve many

I would say there is a new social contract when it

diverse agents, and not only traditional ones. The other

comes to urban projects and this social contract

remarkable thing is that all these projects have strong

involves different forms of resistance but also differ-

physical components—a school over here, a set of steps

ent forms of engagement. If I have to say, the big shift

going down to a ravine, a shed that it is used to cover

from the nineteen-sixties, seventies, and eighties to

a plaza and next to a communal kitchen—that produce

the transformation of the city today has to do with

social relationships. And I don’t mean to minimize

when the stakeholders have determined it is important

other forms of social transformation, but to go back to

to resist, and when it is important to engage. I think

some of the arguments of the Urban Age project: space

it was quite emblematic that the final projects were

matters and sometimes it matters more than we give

not projects created in absolute autonomy. They were

credit for.

projects that shift from autonomy to engagement. They showed different levels of maturity, but the oldest projects have a learning curve, which includes not only

a broadening of the stakeholders, but also a broadening of topics—understanding that urbanity and the experience of the city happen in many arenas. When one looks at these successful grassroots initiatives it is inevitable to think about replicating them. How should replicability be understood? I believe that replicability can mean many things. It can mean the enthusiasm for social engagement and the possibility of transformation. It is also about finding the way in which the scale of different programs gets played out physically. And it is not a matter of just identifying a successful formula—think of el Faro de Oriente—and sort of using it as a cookie-cutter but about actually finding the specific contingencies of groups, site, geographies, and problems and redefining what an urban action and urban intervention means today. The other issue of replicability has to do with the rapport of different stakeholders. I would say the form social projects take in the next few years will have to do with ingenuity in finding new social relationships.

Many of these projects are in the fringes of the marginalized areas of the city—in suburbs with severe access restrictions. So if they were able to develop themselves separately from the center, I think their potential is very large; they have a great power. And the problems throughout the city are similar, so solutions can also be similar, however they must be created within communities; they cannot come or be imposed from the outside. Expansion cannot come from the top, because horizontal structures are what make these projects deeply rooted in communities. In fact, the most consolidated projects, the ones that have been able to expand beyond basic needs and open the social tissue to incorporate other actors, are the projects with long trajectories, but also with horizontal and open structures. Betsabe Romero is a visual artist and jury member Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award—Mexico City 2012

158

MEXICO CITY

COMPILATION

160

MEXICO CITY

BIOGRAPHIES

Francisco Javier Conde González

in Mexico City and visiting professor at Harvard University’s

Doctorate in Education from the National Autonomous Universi-

Graduate School of Design. Since 2005, Castillo has been cura-

ty of Mexico. Conde has been working for the Miravalles Marist

tor of various international exhibitions. He is a member of the

School for thirteen years and has promoted educational environ-

Advisory board of SCIFI at SCI-Arc and of the advisory board of

ment programs and social development in the area. Founding

Urban Age.

member of Miravalle Community Council, created in 2007. Chapter Author and Interviewer: Ana Álvarez

Felipe Leal Degree in Architecture from the National Autonomous Univer-

Researcher, editor, curator, and manager of interdisciplinary

sity of Mexico (UNAM). Head of the Department of Housing

projects, focusing on the urban and cultural contemporary

and Urban Development in Mexico City. First Public Space

life of Mexico City. She graduated with a degree in Mathemat-

Authority in the Federal District. Honorary member of the Na-

ics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, but

tional Academy of Architecture. Coordinator of Special Projects

since 2003 has been engaged in exploring, portraying, and

at UNAM, an area that fostered the inclusion of the Central

narrating her hometown. Founding member of Citámbulos,

University Campus in UNESCO’s World Heritage List and that

an interdisciplinary collective of urban researchers formed by

created a new transport system within the university campus.

Fionn Petch, Valentina Rojas Loa, Christian von Wissel. With a

Principal of the School of Architecture at the National Autono-

special focus on daily life and street-level urban phenomena,

mous University of Mexico from 1997–2005. Broadcaster of the

the collective first published Citamblers: the Incidence of the

radio program “Architecture in Space and Time.”

Remarkable, Guide to the Marvels of Mexico City and has since then produced several national and international publications,

Arturo Mier y Terán

exhibitions, workshops, dérives, urban interventions, reaching

Degree in Architecture from the National Autonomous Univer-

a wide variety of audiences and spaces—including the National

sity of Mexico (UNAM) with a Masters in Urban Design and

Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, the German Center of

Regional Planning from the University of Edinburgh, and PhD

Architecture in Berlin, and the Swiss Museum of Architecture

candidate in urban planning at UNAM. Researcher, professor,

in Basel. She also worked as coordinator and curatorial advi-

and lecturer at different national and international universities. Since 1990, Director of Technology and Habitat in Large Cities, HABITEC. He is currently a technical advisor on various projects of the Federal District Government Housing Improvement Program and Community Program for Neighborhood Improvement.

sor in Mexico City for the international exhibition Our Cities, Ourselves, which was sponsored by the Institute of Transportation and Development Policy. She was the coordinator of the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award in Mexico City. Members of the Jury for the Award in Mexico City:

Argel Gómez Visual artist, graphic designer, and cultural promoter. Current coordinator of Central del Pueblo, a new cultural space in downtown Mexico City. He managed the arts and handcrafts workshops at Faro de Oriente, a cultural center in Mexico City, which has become a referent for cultural public policies. At the Faro, Gómez edited six books about cultural policies and teaching experiences in the art field. He studied a postgraduate curse of cultural policies given by Organization of Ibero-American States.

Vanessa Bauche

Actress and social activist

Richard Burdett

Director, Urban Age & Centennial Professor in Architecture and Urbanism, London School of Economics

Jose Castillo

Architect, co-founder of arquitectura 911sc, professor at School of Architecture, Universidad Iberoamericana

Denise Dresser

Writer, political anaylist and academic, professor of political Benjamín González

science at Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México

Cultural manager. Cofounder and former principal of Faro



de Oriente Cultural Center. Former director of Culture at the

Founder, TEN Arquitectos, New York and Mexico City & Miler

Greater Metropolitan Municipality of Ecatepec and current

Chair of Architecture, University of Pennsylvania

principal of Central del Pueblo Cultural Center. Jose Castillo Degree in Architecture from the Universidad Iberoamericana and Doctorate in Design from Harvard University. With Saidee



Enrique Norten

Betsabeé Romero

Visual artist

Anthony Williams

Former Mayor of Washington, DC and is the Executive Director

Springall, he is the principal of Arquitectura 911sc, a practice

of the Global Government

based in Mexico City. His writings have been published exten-



sively in international journals and publications. He is a profes-

Architect, Mimarlar Design, & Visiting Professor, Harvard

sor at the Universidad Iberoamericana’s School of Architecture

Graduate School of Design

Han Tümertekin

Cape Town Lindsay Bush

Capetown – City between the Oceans Germany 2012 28:22 min Director: Olaf Jacobs Director of photography: Thomas Lütz Editor: Christoph Sturm

162

CAPE TOWN

PROFILE

Population [city]

3.74

million

Area occupied [city]

2,454

km2

Gross domestic product (GDP)

103

[$bn at PPPs]

Average density [metro/city]

1,425

Inhabitants/km2

Diversity

Khoisan, Dutch, English, French, Madagascar, Mauritius, Ceylon, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Germans, Portuguese, Italians, Chinese, Xhosa, Zulu, Other Africans, South Africans

164

CAPE TOWN

PROFILE

Income inequality [A high Gini Index indicates greater income inequality.]

67

Informal settlements

13.6

% of the population

Unemployment rate

21.7

%

Literacy rate/population with a high school education

97.3 38 %

%

Number of projects compiled [DBUAA]

254

Number of registered Non-profit Organizations

4,296 Informal Economy

10.63

%

Green space per capita

160

m2/person

166

CAPE TOWN

OVERVIEW

Soft Infrastructure in Cape Town

Projects compiled in Cape Town address the inequality

1

rife in the post-Apartheid landscape of the city, and

Mothers Unite operates from a self-built container

evidence a strong common desire for positive change.

village in a marginalized community, providing 120 kids

A record 254 initiatives are spread evenly across the townships of the Cape Flats, with a high concentration

with meals and a safe, stimulating place to learn and play.

of NGOs based in and around the City Bowl. Projects focus mainly on soft infrastructure in response to ur-

2

gent needs—feeding, child care and education, violence

Rocklands Urban Abundance Center pioneers

prevention, promotion of youth and the arts, skills

environmental education and urban farming in a self-

training, job creation—and tend to engage tentatively

made permaculture oasis on the grounds of a township

with the built environment, with the exception of a

primary school.

high number of urban agriculture projects. The extreme geography of Cape Town has allowed

3

the city—separated, disconnected, and volatile—to con-

Thrive is a multifaceted organization engaging in inno-

tinue growing rapidly within its old Apartheid pattern.

vative recycling initiatives, operating from a renovated

Vast tracts of vacant, littered land, dead-end neighbor-

city waste facility on the border between an informal

hoods surrounded by concrete walls, and floodplains

settlement and an affluent suburb.

blanketed with precarious shacks lie in stark contrast to the cliff-top mansions of the Atlantic seaboard; while the central city becomes safer, more accessible, and more functional by the day. The projects show that steps are indeed being taken towards addressing the stark contrasts between these alternate realities.

3 2 1

10 km

168

CAPE TOWN

TIME LINE AND POPULATION GROWTH

1600

1700

1800

1652

1814

1870s–80s

1924

1948

Jan van Riebeeck estab-

Capital of the British

Trade to the port is

Growth of planned

Urban planning aims

lishes a way-station for

Cape Colony. Urban

increased by Highveld

townships on the Cape

for complete “separate

ships. Town laid out on

growth continues hap-

gold rush.

Flats: slums Act allows

development”: National

a Dutch grid pattern and

hazardly at the hands of

Segregation begins,

for forced removals in

Party elected on a plat-

farmlands established.

developers.

as native Africans are

the inner city.

form of Apartheid, leading to the Group

moved to Ndabeni. 1930s-40s

1688

1836

French Huguenots ar-

The Great Trek: 10,000

1910

Foreshore reclamation

rive.

Dutch families leave the

Legislative capital of the

begins, linking harbor to

1950s

Colony to travel north.

Union of South Africa is

the central city.

Slum clearance acceler-

1660–1806

Cape Town.

40,000 slaves are

1865–1905

imported from West

Immigration: working-

1910–1941

Africa, Madagascar,

class immigrants arrive

Suburban development

India, Ceylon, Malaya,

from all over Europe to

along racial lines is

and Indonesia to work

settle in the city.

influenced by the British

on farms.

German farmers de-

garden city movement,

velop Philippi for market

and the oversized, zoned

gardening.

planning of Modernism.

Areas Act.

ates, forcing thousands into hostels and tented “emergency camps.”

20

10

2

1900

2000

1960s

1970s–80s

1990

1994

2000s

Large industrial areas

Steady growth of Cape

Abolishment of the last

First democratic elec-

Central City Improve-

grow up on the outskirts

Flats townships and

of the Apartheid laws by

tion in South Africa sees

ment District (CCID)

of the city. Railway lines

informal settlements,

President F.W. De Klerk.

Nelson Mandela elected

established with a focus

and roads are used to

most notably Khayelit-

president.

on safety and urban

strategically separate

sha and Mitchell’s

1990s

maintenance.

areas.

Plain. Violent clashes

Urban sprawl: end of

Integrated Development

and forced removals

influx control leads to

Plan (IDP), a 5-year gov-

continue.

rural migration and

ernment plan, lays solid

rapid growth of under-

framework for urban improvement.

1965 District Six declared a whites-only region

1988

serviced, overcrowded

and 60,000 forcibly

Touristic development

Cape Flats settlements.

removed, many to Lav-

of the V&A Waterfront.

Informal economy and

2010–11

ender Hill and surround-

It becomes the country’s

violence levels boom

Soccer World Cup builds

ings.

most popular tourist

due to unemployment

on infrastructure and

destination with 1.5 mil-

and inequality.

public space improve-

lion visitors monthly.

Gated communities for

ments underway in

the rich spring up in

the city. World Design

response to widespread

Capital 2014 bid won by

lawlessness.

Cape Town.

170

CAPE TOWN

INITIATIVES

Mothers Unite

Born in a mother’s home in 2007, Mothers Unite provides an alternative for children aged three to fifteen: a safe haven from the gangs, drugs, and violence characterizing street and home environments in the Lavender Hill area. A core volunteer staff of six mothers from the neighborhood provides 120 kids with educational programs and healthy meals, three afternoons a week. Programs include storytelling, literacy, computers, and art therapy. Operating on the grounds of the municipal Seawinds Multipurpose Hall, they have built an “infrastructure village” from donated shipping containers, arranged around the perimeter to create an oasis-like space. Facilities include a number of activity rooms, a library, kitchen, office, sheltered area, playground, and vegetable gardens. Mothers Unite have partnered with a range of organizations: securing donations-in-kind from international aid agencies, corporations, and the Church; working with other NGOs to train gardeners and plant trees, and with universities to start training in emergency first aid response. Their newest additions are a wendy house training and yoga center, and a retrofitted container with toilets. In an area suffering from high levels of unemployment, poverty, and domestic violence, the project’s success lies in the way it addresses the family unit. Through providing a safe place for children to play, explore, and develop, the mothers reach out to families to encourage a commitment to community development, and children have shown great improvements in both social interaction and school performance.

172

NAVIGATION CAPE TOWN

INITIATIVES X

Headline AUThOR’s Name Author’s position in the project etc.

Functions / program: meals, care, gardening, educational (literacy, numeracy) and recreational activities (supervised play, yoga, games, sports), arts and crafts (dancing, singing, painting, sewing), emergency first aid response training, counseling, recycling Benefits to the community: keeping kids off the streets and away from violence, drugs, and gangs; addressing hunger; impacting social and academic performance; kids learn gardening and teach their parents who start home gardens; strengthens families and brings community together Positive impact on the built environment: creates a safe space for children to grow, explore, and learn; makes good use of former wasteland; leads to gardens and new trees in the community People involved: one mother (initiator) with two volunteer helpers and twenty kids (grows to seven mothers and 120 kids in 2012); immediate families who contribute food and money; community helpers to build and plant; international volunteers; trainers and helpers from universities and other NGOs; Ward Councilor allows use of land

MOTHERS UNITE

2007 ≥ 2012

174

CAPE TOWN

INITIATIVES

Rocklands Urban Abundance Center

SEED is a small environmental education organization, which developed a decade ago in response to the harsh Cape Flats school environment. Located on the grounds of the Rocklands Primary School in Mitchell’s Plain, their headquarters—the Rocklands Urban Abundance Center—has evolved from the express needs of the direct community and is a practical demonstration of post-carbon living, earthsensitive building, and resilient and replicable urban agricultural models. As the original permaculture gardens grew more abundant, the community became involved with gardening and the creation of cooperatives for sustainable livelihoods. Today, the site is a green oasis consisting of a lush indigenous windbreak, two outdoor classrooms, a teaching garden, a gourmet mushroom farm, and an off-grid eco-house built from old car tires. The center houses a genetic base of productive plants that flourish locally, as well as a meeting place for community conversation and cohesion. It is growing as a base for international-standard sustainability education for teachers, unemployed youth, international researchers, and local residents. Nine community members are currently employed on site, and over one hundred more have benefitted from increased opportunity through various training programs. Home vegetable gardens in the area are supported through subsidized seedling and manure sales, and initiatives such as the Rocklands Community Market and community tree-planting days help to build neighborhood pride. This hub for environmental learning and community enterprise is fast becoming a model for effective, integrated solutions to some of the city’s most pressing problems.

176

NAVIGATION CAPE TOWN

INITIATIVES X

Headline AUThOR’s Name Author’s position in the project etc.

Benefits to the community: improved education for kids; improved environmental awareness, e.g., gardening, recycling; kids go back and educate the parents, creating a ripple effect; after-hours recreational use keeps kids off the streets and drugs and out of gangs; community cohesion through participation in events, e.g., market and arbor days; skills training and income-generating activities (mushroom farm, eco-friendly construction) are supported; provides a link with outsiders (permaculture trainees and volunteers) and gives visibility to the community; supports the organization of cooperatives, creating jobs through a replicable agriculture model. Positive impact on the built environment: creates a garden oasis in an otherwise dry, harsh environment; brings back nature (birdsong is instantly noticeable) and provides visual respite; makes good use of former wasteland and leads to gardens and new trees in the community; provides a publicly visible testing ground for new construction methods People involved: SEED employees (seven on-site); active school principal (currently living in the homestead model); eco-architect and local builders; primary school pupils; volunteers and trainees; family and community members

ROCKLANDS URBAN ABUNDANCE CENTER

2002 ≥ 2012

178

CAPE TOWN

INITIATIVES

Thrive

Established in 2009, Thrive is a multifaceted organization that enables participants to earn an income by becoming part of the waste-management cycle. Its community recycling co-operative, Hout Bay Recycling (HBR), holds the government tender for recycling in the area, and consists of eleven members who work through waste materials that have been dropped off, retrieve reusable items, sort the balance, and resell recyclables for further handling. TrashBack, Thrive’s innovative new social enterprise operates Uphinda Phindo!—an incentive-based township recycling program where around 500 members from the adjacent community are rewarded for bringing recyclables to HBR. Rewards include donated items and vouchers for local informal shops and services, often supplementing limited household income. Thrive also increases waste awareness through school activities, competitions, presentations, and liaising with local media. Thrive’s activities take place at the Hout Bay Dropoff, a city waste facility on the border between Hout Bay and Imizamo Yethu informal settlement. The onsite staff have transformed the site into a place where nothing goes to waste: garden waste clippings flourish in gardens edged with painted stones and tires; tomatoes, fed by an irrigation system of old hosepipes, grow in planters made of old roof tiles; and a garden gnome overlooks a fishpond in an old bathtub and a painted elephant rescued from a film set. This resourceful approach to urban beautification has spread to the neighbors and created a point of contact for two very disparate communities. On-site activities are designed to bolster one another, while facilitating good waste practices across the spectrum.

180

NAVIGATION CAPE TOWN

INITIATIVES X

Headline AUThOR’s Name Author’s position in the project etc.

Functions / program: residential waste drop-off; sorting of reusables and recyclables; gardening and beautification of the facility; waste collection and exchange for credits Benefits to the community: income generation through HBR recycling; IY residents participate in the “waste economy” through TrashBack; credits spent at local businesses means money stays in the area; informal settlement is safer and receives more visitors; environmental education achieved by “learning through doing” Positive impact on the built environment: creates an active hub that ties together two parts of the community; playful gardens and art provide visual respite and have spread out into the settlement; IY is prettier and cleaner, leading to stronger sense of pride and identity in the community. People involved: City of Cape Town employees (Robbie and four staff members); Thrive activists (about four); HBR employees (eleven, of which six active at any one time); TrashBack operators (three); IY residents collecting waste (around 500, mostly kids); Hout Bay residents who drop off waste

THRIVE

2009 ≥ 2012

182

CAPE TOWN

INTERVIEW

COMMUNITY

Incidental Urban Acupuncture Carol Jacobs is founding member of Mothers Unite

How did the project start? What motivated you

Was community support important to the setup

to become engaged?

and continuation of the project and how was it

In early 2007, I was standing in the garden watching the young kids play in the street and I gave a piece of

mobilized? What challenges did you face and how were they overcome?

bread to a child who said he was hungry. He immedi-

Family members were always very supportive, help-

ately ran over to his friends and started dividing it up

ing with food costs and land for a vegetable garden.

between them. I realized then, and it shocked me, that

Once we moved to the new premises, the community

hunger is a stark reality in our community. I thought a

was instrumental in shaping it. We held a volunteers

lot about the environments our children are growing up

work camp where a group of international volunteers

in. Most of them were underperforming at school, be-

and community members constructed the playground,

cause there was nowhere to do homework or research

benches and gardens. Around two-thirds of the moth-

for projects … no library. My conscience weighed

ers here are single parents and many have only a

heavily on me as a mother, and I thought, “Do I just sit

primary education, so there is an understanding in the

around and wait for government or the church to do

community that we are working for a better future for

something?” No, I decided … I will make the change.

all our children. The challenges include security, mobility, and sanitation. The premises have been burgled

Which partnerships were created to strengthen

twice, so we’ve had to employ a night guard. Until

your project? What needs did they fulfill and

now, we have been using small carts to move around

when were they formed?

donated goods, but we plan to buy a vehicle. We were

The project began in my house with two other moms

using the toilets in the hall, but after hours we were

from the community, feeding twenty young kids one

forced to “go” in public view. Thankfully, that changed

afternoon a week. Soon we were feeding double that,

when a retrofitted container toilet block was delivered

twice a week. Older children started coming after

recently.

school, and two more volunteer mothers were needed. Michele and Gerry both became very involved, aid-

Did the desire to improve the urban environ-

ing us with administration and communications, and

ment play a role from the outset? How do you

reaching out to create partnerships all over the place:

assess this achievement?

with funders and donors, universities, and other NGOs.

At first, I made a vision board to communicate my

We badly needed a proper space, so together with

ideas. Composed of cutouts from magazines, it depicted

around twenty other organizations, we approached the

many things that were missing from our neighborhood

Councilor, who proposed the fenced area around the

at the time: gardens and playgrounds, a library, prefab

Seawinds Multipurpose Hall. The other projects lacked

classrooms, people winning money—even pictures of

resources and dropped out, leaving only us. In late

strong female role models like Oprah. Today, all these

2008, our first container, the kitchen, was delivered

things have come true … it is uncanny. After we moved

and slowly the others followed. We receive ongoing

to this site, Gerry sketched up a layout showing con-

donations of surplus food from supermarkets and gas

tainers arranged around the perimeter of the site and

from the local church.

the allocation of open spaces. Today, the project looks almost exactly like this drawing.

How has the project changed or grown? What are the next goals? Where do you envision the project five years from now? As you have witnessed, the project environment has improved steadily over the last nine months. We have extended the program to little ones (four to five years old) and have a full enrollment (120) for this year. We continue to focus on the same goals: feeding our children, giving them a safe place to play, and supporting them academically. In the future, we would like to see the project expand onto the adjacent vacant land, creating space for sports and recreational activities like netball, volleyball, and skateboarding. We would also like to expand our vegetable garden and offer allotments to community members.

Mothers Unite is not only an outstanding example of a professional community-driven childcare and education initiative, it is a far greater vision of a bottom-up social and environmental transformation strategy already unfolding. In the face of multiple challenges and literally arid soil, the resilient women behind this work are reshaping their physical context and social environment, claiming their right to municipal resources, safety, and dignity for their community—one, like many others in Cape Town, stereotypically seen as violent and impoverished. Clearly, Mothers Unite sees through different eyes and is driven by a commitment to a different future for Lavender Hill and its children. Malika Ndlovu, DBUAA 2012 jury member

184

CAPE TOWN

INTERVIEW

GOVERNMENT

Breaking it Down to Build it Up Michael Krause is team leader of the Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU) program

Can you summarize the current attitude/policy

We need to establish who the intermediary is between

of the municipality towards urban improve-

government, the public sector, and the community,

ment and the redressing of inequality?

because in practice they are often unable to communi-

We are seeing a big shift from a sectoral focus to an

cate. A forum where different stakeholders can talk to

area-based focus. Most of the project entries were

each other is key to any development strategy.

around people making a change in a particular small area in their neighborhood. The city has understood

Do you see scope for change to current plan-

this as a positive thing, and it becomes apparent in

ning methods based on the experience of such

their strategy document, the IDP. The VPUU is a good

projects? Do you think there is a move towards

example as its neighborhoods are still manageable for

integrating bottom-up with top-down planning

the city, yet the level of detail makes it possible for

initiatives?

people to understand and influence the process.

A current international trend is the “people’s budget,” translated in Cape Town as Ward allocations. VPUU,

Do you think grassroots can complement the

for example, uses a Social Development Fund that’s

efforts of the public sector to integrate the city

linked to a local development strategy (the Community

and improve livability in all areas? If so, how?

Action Plan) and to the broader IDP, opening up many

From my perspective certainly, grassroots initiatives

more possibilities. Again, it is about scale. Govern-

are important. Again it’s a question of a scale that

ment favors large-scale projects, and bottom-up initia-

people understand and feel comfortable working with.

tives require small, localized interventions and invest-

Most of these programs have tried to combine strategy

ments. That vehicle needs to be found and the Ward

with implementation, and that’s often the missing link

allocation is a good start. As 99% of these projects sit

within the City: the IDP tries to do it, but it’s often very

within the framework of the IDP, they certainly play

difficult because line departments work in sectoral ar-

an important role.

eas. We have to recognize the value of cross-pollinating between strategy and local knowledge.

How do you see the development of local bottom-up initiatives in the long term? What

Which governmental agencies/programs recognize the importance of community-led

possible development scenarios might be envisaged for the future?

initiatives? How does this affect the planning

I believe the bottom-up approach is the best way to

process in these areas? Can you give an example?

embed democracy in South Africa and fulfill the man-

With the shift in approach, funding is increasingly

date of the Constitution. We are moving from a closed

allocated on a local-area basis according to need. The

system in the past into a society that is much more

city has gained the support of Province and National

open and equal, and the bottom-up approach is part of

Treasury to work in transversal teams and follow

this shift. What is difficult is for the public sector to

proper methodology, so they begin with a baseline

be open enough to allow these initiatives to flourish.

survey followed by a Community Action Plan, and then

However, I do think there are many opportunities to be

seek funding accordingly—that’s a positive move. An

found in the IDP, especially if we focus on that inter-

example is the Neighborhood Development Partnership

mediary between government and grassroots.

grants—where the city seeks national funding for focus areas—and international funding as with the VPUU.

In Cape Town, most of the land occupied by projects belongs to the public sector. Many who take the initiative to “just do it” start out as lawbreakers, yet support from the government has generally followed. What is your opinion on this? With nearly a third of people living in informal settlements, it’s almost the norm that you have to begin as a lawbreaker. Within any government framework, it is very difficult to move change, so you need to have those champions … change always requires action. Government is realizing that their policies are not always applicable on the ground and that people have needed to embark on a “detour” to get things done, however criminal or violent activities cannot be seen as a solution to our current problems.

Government organizations face grave difficulties—such as lack of capacity and finance, politicization of service delivery, vexed inter-governmental relations, cumbersome decision-making processes, and lack of flexibility—which inhibit cross-cutting analysis and decision making. While there is a strong argument for civil society organizations to become more involved in local development processes, many have been demobilized, have few resources, or are themselves divided. Private sector organizations have resources, but are often out of touch with the complexities of community and city needs. In many cities, cross-sector partnerships are becoming increasingly popular in areas of policy making and implementation that were previously the primary domain of the state. Partnerships, it is argued, can be seen as a “new model of governance.” Andrew Boraine, CEO of the Cape Town Partnership and DBUAA 2012 jury member

186

CAPE TOWN

INTERVIEW

ACADEMIA

Reimagining the City from a Different Viewpoint Edgar Pieterse, professor, is director of the African Center for Cities

What trends did you recognize in the grassroots

Absolutely. The primary focus of all spatial disciplines

projects in Cape Town? Do you think they un-

should be to come to terms with the driving logics of

veil fields of opportunity for urban design?

the difficult environments most people find themselves

Morphologically speaking, the number of “green”

in, and to really engage with these to begin to decipher

projects was striking, and the extent to which left-

clues from which a design response can be derived.

over spaces are being reclaimed for various forms of

This is not how architecture or planning schools

natural cultivation—not just for urban food production

presently work. The opportunity exists to use these

but also for recreational and educational purposes. The

projects as mini studio laboratories, where the student

Cape Flats is pretty windswept, so it was interesting to

is the learner, not the expert. The protagonists have

see organizations trying to create enclaves of refuge

much to teach about intervening with no resources, or

for people to find shelter, pleasure, delight, and in

enabling systems and still managing to achieve some-

many cases, work. It was also interesting to see how

thing, and this must be understood before the assump-

projects had occupied in-between spaces, experiment-

tions and disciplinary logic of architectural planning

ing with the reclamation and reuse of Apartheid’s lines

come to bear. It’s vital to turn these real-world spaces

of division.

of invention on their head, allowing students and practitioners to reimagine a completely different approach

Do solutions germinating in the communities

to the profession.

contribute to livability in some areas? To which pressing issues do they respond? If so, how?

Which projects would you say have good poten-

One specificity in the South African urban landscape is

tial for replicability? What features should they

that public investment has been focused on the individ-

exhibit in order to be replicable?

ual house in terms of providing people with services or

My bias is towards projects that do two or more things

free dwellings, so everything else—the streets, parks,

simultaneously. One is responding to and transform-

lanes and pavements—feels in some way abandoned.

ing these bleak public spaces, however modestly, and

Many of the submissions respond to that urban condi-

the other is addressing the crisis of unemployment,

tion and fabric, trying to populate the public realm

as many of the problems manifest in the built envi-

not only with activity but also with acts of decoration,

ronment can be attributed to widespread joblessness.

opportunities for mobility, and so on.

Projects that created possibilities for people not skilled enough to enter the formal economy—to learn the prin-

Some of the projects we are referring to bring

ciples of entrepreneurship, collaboration, and produc-

new spatial qualities to the built environment.

tion—managed to build capacity while also improving

Would you identify these as potential planning

quality of life. A number of entrants did this in really

tools? How do you think they could inspire or

imaginative ways. Probably the most ambitious and

feedback into architectural/urban planning

compelling was Thrive, which incorporated everything

practice? And policy?

from alternative trading systems to recycling, fabrication, and refuse collection.

How do you see these projects impacting on the urban fabric in the next five to ten years? Do they have the capacity to make a difference? These projects are already making a difference. It’s a striking reminder that people are getting on with it, and that things are happening that may be off our radar screens but are very importantly holding these communities together. Whether they can make a larger, more systemic impact depends on two things. One is that the public sector recognizes the importance of our “social infrastructure” and creates systems and mechanisms to support, nurture, and validate it. The second is for public sector service providers to reorganize their businesses around an area-based model of service delivery capable of building onto these social infrastructures. If this happens, then the potential of such projects is pretty limitless. If not, their impact will be a lot less than their residual potential and much less than what the city deserves.

We seldom take the time to humble ourselves, to say “I don’t understand,” to ask communities what they actually need. They know exactly what needs to be done—context is so important—and as such, they should be the ones calling the shots, and should be supported. Solutions to problems germinate in the communities themselves rather than in boardrooms. Nomfundo Walaza, CEO of the Desmond Tutu Peace Center and DBUA Award 2012 juror

188

CAPE TOWN

INTERVIEW

ARTS & CULTURE

Lighting the Fire within Us Malika Ndlovu is a poet, playwright and arts activist

Do you think it is possible that art and culture

inspiring. Physically, it hasn’t changed much, but the

(artistic & cultural production), in some form,

restoration of dignity is happening. Community variety

provide the “spark” for beginning a grassroots

shows have drawn fathers to come and watch their

initiative? In which form?

children shine, activating many who wouldn’t other-

That’s what art is: a spark that creates fires. Art is a

wise have joined protest marches or gone on a cleanup.

catalyst and a medicine. In transforming spaces, art

Residents are taking ownership of their environment,

sparks a different perspective, raising questions in a

and artists are at the forefront of that change.

way that activates rather than intimidates people. A highly effective and accessible resource is the creative

Is there something particular about the culture

core in every human being, and the projects evidence

of Cape Town that contributes to the nature of

this. At the heart of them are individuals who have

the projects?

awakened to that potential in themselves and “ignited”

Absolutely. The spirit of entrepreneurship and innova-

others.

tion is really strong here. Whether it’s beading, selling indigenous herbs, or starting a backroom restaurant

How does the artist/cultural activist play a role

with traditional Xhosa cuisine and Wi-Fi … people are

as a communicator, bridging different parts and

making jobs for themselves, and that’s very inspir-

intermediating negotiations that would other-

ing. There’s also a strong awareness of environmental

wise rarely take place?

issues. We are recognizing what an immense natural

Art is a translation tool for turning pyramids of power

resource is right there to help the transformation, to

into circles to include everyone in the conversation.

generate income and shared entrepreneurship. Part of

The arts cross boundaries, going beyond words and

Apartheid’s hangover is the culture of entitlement, so

cultural difference. Imagine a dusty, littered, treeless

it’s powerful when someone who has been bred into

road in a poor area, where some artist has “planted” a

that thinking remembers, “Hey, I don’t have to wait for

row of giant yellow hands reaching skywards out of the

government to deliver change, I can start with myself

dirt. Suddenly you think, “Actually, anything can grow

and what is around me.” A project like Thrive creates a

here!” Art evokes feeling, a language that anybody

multilevel system in which everybody feels useful and

understands. There is beauty, possibility, and hope in

has a part in activating change.

it—and it also says “You are worthy.” That is art’s gift, because deprivation gives you amnesia about your in-

How can the impact of grassroots projects be

ner possibilities.

maximized? How might artists and cultural practitioners contribute to this?

Many projects count on artists to identify ur-

Thupelo is a Sesotho word meaning “to teach by

ban challenges and present creative responses

example” and the name of a beautiful arts project

to them. What is your personal experience of

in Woodstock, where under Apartheid, visual artists

how arts and culture can improve urban life?

across racial and demographic lines came together to

Wentworth, the oldest colored township in Durban,

create. Thupelo, for me, is about maximizing impact.

is built next to an oil refinery, so the people have suf-

We need literal manifestations of the change because

fered for decades from all kinds of toxicity, along with

an overdose of talk has made us cynical and disinvest-

violence and other social ills. Returning there, I found

ed. The harnessing of living examples, their effective

a level of cultural and social activism that is just so

documentation, and the cross-pollination between

them have immense potential. Sustainability is about bolstering existing projects and enabling their story to be retold effectively in different spaces. Cape Town has both a rich variety of cultural influences and a particularly segregated cultural landscape. How did this reflect in the projects? Coming from here, we understand that dichotomy very vividly. It permeates our mentality, shaping our attitude towards change, the future and each other. The projects are important not only as physical examples, but because the actions and creative conversations happening across those cultural divides have the power to restore our vital sense of dreaming and possibility.

Infecting the city public arts festival demonstrates ways in which we can keep our existing public spaces as lively as possible. Ideally, we need to begin a conversation with local government and city agencies to investigate putting on these events throughout the year. There were exquisite moments of community, as well as critical appreciation of the arts—not just dumbing down the whole experience or forcing camaraderie. As a nation, we are ready to be challenged aesthetically and to be brought together. Art should and must lead the way … any other intention will deaden the experience and reveal itself quickly. Artists know how. Jay Pather, Associate Professor at UCT, Director of the Gordon Institute for Performing Arts and Siwela Sonke Dance Theater.

190

CAPE TOWN

INTERVIEW

MEDIATION

Going Local: The Lavender Hill Area Councilor Shaun August is DA Ward Councilor, based in the Seawinds Multipurpose Hall in Lavender Hill

The concentration of projects in your area was

for free once a week, to keep these kids off the streets

the highest in the Cape Flats. Can you speculate

and away from the bullets. So access to sports is one,

why?

and the other is skills development. We’d like to send

In Ward 67 and the greater Lavender Hill area, we find

people on month-long welding or plumbing courses, so

high levels of violent crime—gang infiltration and drug

they can start out at home, and then collectively with

turf—alongside a string of social development issues.

local NGOs create an incubator facility where they have

This has resulted in a very poor and unstable com-

access to tools and workspaces and can grow their

munity, who think nothing of joining a gang or taking

businesses.

somebody else’s life. People here accept crime. It’s normal to use drugs and sit in the shebeen, to stab, smack,

If we look at community projects as “bottom-

fight, or abuse. That is why all spheres of government

up” and governmental initiatives as “top-

and so many NGOs are concentrated here, to address

down,” what actions do you think each could

the mindset of the community through social development and educational programs.

take to move closer to meeting in the middle? There should definitely be more imbizos and more workshops between government and communities.

Have you witnessed improvements in the

Not consulting with the community tends to create

neighborhood as a result of any of these pro-

problems, and I have learned that the best approach is

jects? Do you believe such projects are impor-

to let the community decide what they would like. You

tant to the quality of life in cities?

can steer and direct them should their decision not be

Yes definitely, they are very important to us and I have

ideal, but it is vital that you allow them the space to

witnessed many improvements. We have five informal

decide for themselves.

settlements where the VPUU is piloting their urban upgrade program. While we are undertaking leader-

How do you envision bottom-up initiatives and

ship training with the street committees in Military

community participation impacting Lavender

Heights, I’ve managed to drive some initial improve-

Hill’s built environment in the next five to

ments through the City, installing 280 flush toilets in

fifteen years?

recent months. We also have a few libraries, which

As the middleman between community and govern-

people have started in their backyards in containers or

ment, I believe that public meetings are essential. We

wendy houses. Facilities such as Philisa Abafazi Bethu’s

do have these regularly as part of the five-year IDP

women and child abuse shelter and Mothers Unite’s af-

cycles, where the Mayor is involved. The community

tercare facility provide vital support for the whole area.

knows what they want and are given the opportunity to voice that—my office has an open-door policy. We

What physical improvements to the neighbor-

also go door-to-door asking for complaints or sugges-

hood do you think might help to combat some of

tions, which get fed down to the line departments. Un-

the issues faced by residents of Lavender Hill?

like the leafy suburbs where it is easy to email the city

The Seawinds sports field in the heart of the informal

and report a fault, residents here don’t have landlines,

settlements was recently upgraded. We are encouraging

airtime, or Internet, so we are installing a free SOS

children to join sports clubs, but because the facility

phone at the Ward office for them to contact the call

needs to be maintained, there is a R2 entry fee, which

center.

some cannot afford. I’m now proposing we open up

Does the government have any plans to carry out urban improvements in the area in the next five to fifteen years? We are looking at housing projects and the upgrade of the local rental stock—the buildings and the spaces around them. I have also allocated budget for a park with outdoor gym equipment and a playground. Public space has never been top of the agenda in the past, so for the first time, we will have simple things like benches and trees, and space to play ball or read a book. We are also looking at the plot next door where families can adopt a spot to grow vegetables gardens. Again, this builds the skills base and creates the opportunity for people to become self-sufficient.

I’ve found that if I change the mindset of the man, it affects the rest of the family. Because if the man is not working and he’s not a role model for his children, then the whole family goes down—and if this happens, the whole community goes down with it. So if I can focus on transforming the mindset of the man—the way he thinks of himself, his attitude towards work, social responsibility and self-responsibility, let him see what he can do and what he is capable of—then I’m halfway there. Paul Talliard, Director of Hands of Honor, finalists in the DBUAA 2012

192

CAPE TOWN

COMPILATION

194

CAPE TOWN

BIOGRAPHIES

Carol Jacobs

Chapter Author and Interviewer: Lindsay Bush

Carol is a proud single mother of three who lives in an RDP house in Seawinds, a neighborhood in the Lavender Hill area.

Lindsay is an architect and urban designer who recently

She finished grade seven and went on to initiate Mothers

relocated to Cape Town to manage the 2012 DBUA Award.

Unite, an inspiring, award-winning organization that is gaining

Born, raised, and educated in Durban, her family emigrated

increasing recognition for rebuilding a community through the

to Australia in the mid-nineteen-nineties and she chose to

hearts and minds of its children.

stay behind. She has traveled widely, working and studying in numerous places around the world. Her professional interests

Michael Krause

include urban regeneration, housing, community and educa-

Michael is a place-maker who believes in negotiating solutions

tional spaces, and the in-situ upgrade of informal settlements.

to shape urban environments. He grew up in East Germany,

Lindsay’s work has been profiled in several local publications

studied Urban Design and Spatial Planning, and relocated to

and her most recent contribution was to the book Building

South Africa in 1995. Since 2006, he has led a highly dedicated

Brazil compiled by the MAS Urban Design researchers at the

transversal team of people to implement and develop the VPUU

ETH in Zürich. Since the award, she has been living in Cape

program, which has had significant impact on crime in parts of

Town, setting up a legacy network called Urban Agents, and in

Khayelitsha, creating safe, vibrant public spaces in one of the

the coming years will be applying her skillset to the facilita-

city’s poorest areas.

tion of the World Design Capital 2014 Ward projects. Lindsay is passionate, energetic, and fiercely optimistic about the

Edgar Pieterse

future of her beloved country.

Director of the African Center for Cities at UCT, Edgar is a native Capetonian whose research and publications cover such themes as African urbanism, cultural planning, regional and macro development, and governance. He fills several teaching and advisory roles and holds the DST/NRF SA Chair in Urban Policy. Malika Ndlovu Malika is an internationally published South African poet, play-

Members of the Jury for the Award in Cape Town

Andrew Boraine

Chief executive of the Cape Town Partnership, adjunct professor at African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town

Richard Burdett

Director Urban Age & Centennial Professor in Architecture and Urbanism, London School of Economics

wright, performer, and arts activist. She has lived most of her



adult life in Cape Town, has wide range of experience in arts

Poet, playwright, performer and arts consultant

management and currently operates as an independent artist



under the brand New Moon Ventures, working towards healing through creativity. Councilor Shaun August Shaun August grew up playing on the streets of Lavender Hill.

Malika Ndlovu Enrique Norten

Founder, TEN Arquitectos, New York and Mexico City & Miler Chair of Architecture, University of Pennsylvania

Edgar Pieterse

Director of African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town

His strong organizational skills, discipline, and familiarity



with the criminal element come from ten years as a warden at

Civil rights campaigner and clinical psychologist, chief execu-

Nonfundo Walaza

Pollsmoor prison. A committed family man, he is well known

tive of Desmond Tutu Peace Center

in the community and was elected as the Democratic Alliance



Councilor for his very own Ward 67.

Former Mayor of Washington, DC and is the Executive Director

Anthony Williams

of the Global Government

Common Points

196

COMMON POINTS

Four Interviews: Five Cities, One Gaze

A few individuals have had the chance to become familiar with each one of the projects showcased in this publication—as organizers or jury members for the award, or through documenting the process. This provides a valuable opportunity for us to garner critical points of view on the set of projects as a whole, as well as to try and trace common threads connecting them. The projects compiled in this publication give us insightful snapshots of the many and varied ways in which local residents in cities across the globe confront significant urban challenges. Interacting with these projects makes it clear that they have many lessons to teach us. Here, each interviewee answers from a different perspective, focusing on the urban form, on social and political engagement, on city governance and on narratives. Compiling these different perspectives nourishes the discourse, provides a sense of the “overall” and reveals connecting threads, allowing us to draft possible visions and future scenarios.

198

COMMON POINTS

INTERVIEW

The Significance of Space in Urban Society Ricky Burdett is Professor of Urban Studies at the London School of Economics

In your view, what do the projects associated

on the realization that individual actions actually

with the DBUA Award achieve? What simi-

do make a massive difference. In Cape Town, for

larities and differences stood out between the

example, an ex-gangster was able to use his noto-

projects in different cities?

rious authority to turn young men around, taking

At the Urban Age, we have been observing since 2005

them from the violence of the streets and using their

a number of major cities that are undergoing seismic

energies to build a factory for making clothes for

levels of change across the globe. We have been looking

school children, and a beautiful garden for the com-

at them at a “Google” level, from a certain distance.

munity. It contributed to a sense of self-worth of the

We describe and capture patterns of population and

individuals and helped create jobs for local people.

economic growth, migration, income and inequality

What these projects have in common is a sense of

distribution, social and ethnic diversity, and energy

purpose and a sense of dignity for the individuals or

and pollution levels—all at a metropolitan scale. But

groups involved, which is facilitated and reinforced

we felt we needed to drill down to a different scale

through a spatial intervention. We are therefore able

that is more human; close to the individual, the family,

to conclude that design is as important a social act as

and the local community. The projects associated with

sanitation, education, and nutrition. It is important

the Deutsche Bank Urban Age award are about getting

to think about social issues in spatial ways. Space

under the skin of what is happening in the city. The

matters and is as integral as social capital and hu-

common thread that runs through hundreds of projects

man capacity building in cities. In some ways, these

we have reviewed as part of the award process is that

projects make us rethink what we need to learn.

relatively small changes in space can have a major im-

They teach us something about collaboration and its

pact on the quality of life of urban residents, especially

importance in establishing a common ground, both

those at the bottom end of the social scale. They have

literally and metaphorically.

maximum effect with minimum means. Many projects offer people the dignity of having a decent, clean and

How do you see the potential for the develop-

safe place, while others reveal the power of associa-

ment of such projects impacting cities in the

tional life in the city, especially for those who are left

future?

out of the formal systems of power and democratic

Cities today are being made and re-made at a faster

accountability.

pace and at a larger scale than ever before. And everyday urban realities are often being shaped by a set of

Overall, do you think these initiatives have

informal processes and actors. According to UN Habi-

been successful? If so, what key lessons might

tat, a third of the total global urban population lives

we learn from them?

in “slum-like conditions”. Given the intensity of urban

When we started the award, we didn’t know what we

churn being experienced in much of the global South,

would find. Over the last five years, we have found

such projects have enormous potential to impact

evidence of real ingenuity on the ground. In the face

cities in the future. These projects demonstrate how

of the most difficult circumstances—including lack

people inhabit and adapt to new urban realities. They

of infrastructure, money, or political voice—there

lead to social integration and democratic engagement

is a remarkable level of resilience among urban

of socially excluded urban residents. They succeed in

populations. The range of initiatives uncovered by

bringing people and communities together. There is

the award process gives a sense of optimism based

immense potential.

Are they scalable and/or replicable? Many of these projects have been driven by creative and powerful individuals who are able to energize and galvanize the local community and other stakeholders. It could appear that success for these projects is a one-off and not replicable elsewhere. So we have taken great care to ensure that the prize winners offer models that can be followed and implemented by others. This is their potential. At the same time, I have mixed views about scaling up. No city is exactly the same and every city has its own strengths and weaknesses. We can’t take one project and just replicate the exact same thing in other cities. A solution that fixes problems in one city may not necessarily work in another, or even in other parts of the same city. There are lessons to be learned from these local projects that can be brought back to municipal and even central governance as positive exemplars of what can be achieved. It is the capacity-building side that can be scaled up in more interesting ways. Can you envision future scenarios resulting from the pioneerism displayed in these projects? Every city should have a department that looks at these sorts of grassroots initiatives, to identify, reward, and nurture local potential. This doesn’t in any way mean that we should do away with planning or planners who concern themselves with large-scale visions and long-term objectives. Indeed, we need to move beyond the old “bottom-up versus top-down” debate. These projects call for a more nuanced understanding of urban accretion and rupture. To my mind, it is this

Ricky Burdett

multiscalar approach that can deliver sustainable urban

is Professor of Urban Studies at the London School of Econom-

change. It is the interaction between different scales

ics and Political Science and Director of LSE Cities and the

and types of urban form and infrastructure: the macro

Urban Age program. He is also Global Distinguished Professor

and the micro, the metropolitan and the local, the

at New York University and a member of the Royal College of

neighborhood and the street level; and their response to the real needs of residents as well as their adaptability to sociocultural environments that will lead to better future scenarios.

Art. He was Chief Adviser on Architecture and Urbanism for the London 2012 Olympics and formerly architectural adviser to the Mayor of London. He has served on the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award Jury over the last five years and was chair of the jury in Mumbai, São Paulo, and Istanbul.

200

COMMON POINTS

INTERVIEW

Reporting from Local Initiatives Olaf Jacobs is the founder of Hoferichter & Jacobs Film and Television Production is a producer, writer, and director of media productions. He directed the documentaries for the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award.

In your view, what do the projects associated

Overall, do you think these initiatives have

with the DBUA Award achieve? What simi-

been successful? If so, what key lessons might

larities and differences stood out between the projects in different cities?

we learn from them? The key to a successful project seems to be that it

Specifically, people and projects could not have been

directly responds to the needs of the local urban

more different, since the spectrum varies from the

population. However, welfare dictatorship and the need

physical urban intervention, as in the waterfronts in

to help, do not alone initiate sustainable and accepted

Mumbai to clear social projects, such as “Music for

initiatives in the neighborhood.

Peace” in Istanbul. It is surprising that the differences

From a Western perspective, it is also interesting

between the projects are not tied to the cities. In each

to notice that the best ideas to solve urban problems

city, there are projects that have similar characters. A

clearly always arise from their immediate environ-

clear indication of that is that the cities’ problems appear

ment. The daily confrontation with problems provides

to be similar throughout the world. Modifications arise

the need to face them and to have ideas; the contempo-

only on the basis of the built density of a city. The dif-

raneity of the problems provides acceptance—a kind of

ferences exist in regard to the questions posed by the

a model of citizen participation, and thus a profoundly

projects, which do not necessarily vary from city to city.

democratic process.

Despite all the differences in the concrete physical expression of each project, they show striking parallels.

How do you see the potential for the develop-

Ultimately, four closely corresponding similarities can

ment of such projects impacting cities in the

be observed: First, all projects have in common a triggering

future? All major cities are ruled by the sum of its parts. These

moment—a very specific key moment in the life of a

are precisely the projects that have been identified,

person, which has led him/her to want to make a dif-

which provide the “functioning” of urban structures.

ference and to start something that would be acknowl-

Even if they are barely visible from the outside, they

edged years later.

are an important part of the mechanisms that exist

Second, the initially small-scale private initiatives

behind a city. They set the atmosphere of the city and

have met an immediate and existential need: their first

they are connected to the heart of urban life; and, to a

action responded to a demand. None of the projects has

large extent, they reflect the satisfaction and the con-

recreated or posed a supplementary or enrichment not

nectedness of people with their city or community.

related to local needs; they have always been immediate solutions for existing urgent needs. Third, precisely because they respond to those needs,

The larger cities become in the future, the more important such projects are likely to be, since the identification of the megacity will always be more difficult,

all projects were initially overwhelmed by their success,

than with their own neighborhoods. The projects are

in part also threatening their own continuation.

like the anchor and docking sites for people, which

Fourth, all projects have created their structures only

can provide them with identity and responsibility.

in a second step, usually in a quantitative growth process,

It is precisely such projects—in the mega-cities of

resulting in a somehow under-dimensioned structure.

the twenty-first century—that make a home for its

This fact partly continues to influence a certain limitation

residents, regardless of their origin, social level, and

in the possible further growth of the initiatives.

neighborhood.

Are they scalable and/or replicable? Or, which features that you recognize as being specific to the nature of these projects have the potential to develop further? The projects serve as examples. Their basic principles of local integration, high acceptance and immediate satisfaction of urban needs are universal and can be understood as transregional and culturally independent. To know more about these projects and to share knowledge about these projects—which are so far from each other—can certainly lead to many interesting stimulations. However, what is decisive about them is not only their physical space but also the simple fact of their existence. They are a chance to get acquainted with the fact that change is possible; and moreover, that small-scale, self-driven initiatives can have enormous impact in their communities, can motivate people to get active themselves. In that sense, each project has the potential to inspire and stimulate existing potential, as a spark for others to develop. Can you envision possible future scenarios resulting from the pioneerism displayed in these projects? It was amazing to experience in every city, how often the cities and the official structures knew nothing or very little about these projects, even though they deal with major problems these cities are facing. If these cities succeed in engaging in a learning process that integrates these initiatives in a stronger way without formatting or regulating them, their impact can certainly be intensified. Possibly the answer to the in-

Olaf Jacobs

creasing urban concentration might the decentralization

born 1972 in Leipzig, worked as a producer, writer, and director

of its urban functions. Today in São Paulo, neighborhoods

of media productions. Immediately after school, he began as an

can already decide on how part of the collected municipal

editor for public radio and studied by distance learning law and

taxes in their region is employed, and various projects there have thus experienced an unimaginable growth and an increase in efficiency. This seems to be a promising approach, which is worth reporting all over the world.

economics, and filmmaking. Since 1996, he and his company Hoferichter & Jacobs Film and Television Production have realized more than 200 documentaries and several films for cinema and television. Many of these films have been distributed internationally and have been awarded at renowned festivals.

202

COMMON POINTS

INTERVIEW

Cities Are an Expression of Human Needs Wolfgang Nowak was the initiator of the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award

In your view, what do the projects associated

and urban environments? This is the lesson learned

with the DBUA Award achieve? What simi-

from these initiatives, the tremendous power and

larities and differences stood out between the

capability of what local residents and ordinary people

projects in different cities?

can do and achieve.

These projects are very similar. There is always a meeting place, a garden, a kitchen, an educational

How do you see the potential for the develop-

facility; a place where people come together to learn,

ment of such projects impacting cities in the

to teach, to share and exchange experiences and ideas,

future? Are they scalable and/or replicable?

and to be citizens. In most of the cities, we found these

Or, which features that you recognize as being

similar formations. In my opinion, the only difference

specific to the nature of these projects have the

was in Istanbul, where these spaces seemed to be

potential to develop further?

introverted; there we found a music school for young

We should not replicate them. (We have replicated

students that learn how to play an instrument.

shopping malls!) I imagine we should have a thousand

If we look back to the first settlements in human

different “centers,” like in the jungle where we find a

history, it has always been about providing residents

diversity of beautiful new plants. These initiatives are

with safety, food, a spiritual center; and one might also

a great experiment of people finding out what a better

notice the similarity of their plans. I think cities are the

city can be. They imply the argument that we should

expression of human needs and that we have a “plan”

enable people to initiate and build something, not ex-

of what a city should be inside us.

actly replicating them, but encouraging their participation within a framework.

Overall, do you think these initiatives have

I think we should protect those community initia-

been successful? If so, what key lessons might

tives, which keep cities livable and enrich them. We

we learn from them?

should protect them from investors. We should take

Cities are no longer built for humans, they are built

these initiatives as a reference and learn from them.

for investors. They have become like machines, not to house people and to create an environment that en-

Can you envision possible future scenarios re-

ables them to live a better quality of life. They consist

sulting from the pioneerism displayed in these

of iconic buildings designed by star architects but are

projects?

in the danger of becoming as boring as shopping malls.

If we want to be successful, the city of the twenty-first

Every mayor seems to be happy to have these super-

century cannot, for instance, have only one center.

stars designing cities, but they are only designing sky-

These cities can be enriched by having multiple, dif-

lines. Instead of concentrating on skylines, we should

ferent centers built by a multitude of people with

be building cities thinking of human needs and ground

different backgrounds. I don’t mean to build ghettos,

realities. It is not only the investor and the architect

but many centers where different communities and

who should participate in planning. It is important to

ethnicities can mix and thus foster diversity. In this

engage and involve the people who live there as well.

scenario, we should have a multitude of city centers

Finally, we should have an assessment of what is being

created by citizens. This could look a bit like the dif-

built by the inhabitants themselves. We should ask: is

ferent markets in different neighborhoods—which are

this environment enabling people to have a better life

all very attractive, as we know from London, Paris,

or is it only creating static monument-like buildings

Berlin or São Paulo—that greatly enrich a city. See Cape

Town’s Mothers Unite, for example. It could become an aflourishing, fantastic center for that area, which is secure, inviting, and has something to offer through an educational project hosted in a civic space. That is the vision of one center, which would also be connected to other “centers” throughout that city.

Wolfgang Nowak is Director of the Alfred Herrhausen Society, the International Forum of Deutsche Bank. Wolfgang Nowak initiated the Urban Age program, an international investigation into the future of the world’s mega-cities in the twenty-first century jointly organized with the London School of Economics. He has held various senior positions in Germany’s state and federal governments, France’s Centre national de la recherche scientifique (French National Center for Scientific Research) in Paris, and UNESCO. After unification, he was State Secretary of Education in Saxony from 1990 to 1994. In addition, he was Director-General for Political Analysis and Planning at the German Federal Chancellery from 1999 to 2002. He lectures and publishes widely on academic issues and is a regular commentator for German television and newspapers. He is honorary Vice President of the British think tank Policy Network, Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institution in Washington, and Fellow at the NRW-School of Governance at the University of Duisburg-Essen.

204

COMMON POINTS

INTERVIEW

Focus on Results: Attention to Real Needs Anthony Williams is the former Mayor of Washington, DC and is the Executive Director of the Global Government

In your view, what do the projects associated with the DBUA Award achieve?

If so, what key lessons might we learn from them?

In my view, the projects achieve a number of criti-

We learned that: pulling together the organization,

cal objectives. The projects demonstrate the positive

people, and action-steps doesn’t take a premier consul-

contribution urban planning and design can make to

tancy, in the project in Cape Town; creating a neighbor-

improve the lives of city residents; illustrate how the

hood where livability is more than just a term is not

right projects can reduce the glaring income disparities

beyond of the reach of ordinary citizens in Sao Paulo;

in world cities; highlight how urban residents can make

convening a community to come together and suc-

a high impact with public-private initiatives; and exem-

ceed together in a neighborhood center at the farthest

plify how people around the world can advance based

reaches of Mexico City is certainly doable; and inspir-

on shared concrete, tangible experiences

ing a community to reach higher by addressing its fundamental needs was an important lesson we drew

What similarities and differences stood out

from Mumbai.

between the projects in different cities? The projects were obviously different in terms of cul-

How do you see the potential for the develop-

tures and locations. Beyond that they differed in terms

ment of such projects impacting cities in the

of focus: housing in São Paulo; neighborhood culture

future (urban environment and livability)?

Istanbul; community center in Mexico City; and day

The principles underlying these projects are all capable

care in Cape Town.

of making a larger impact as the projects are repli-

Nevertheless, there were similarities across the pro-

cated.

jects. All of them were initiated without government initiative and yet consistent with official objectives, stated

Are they scalable and/or replicable?

if not always realized; every project involved using design

Certainly. We require as a next step a transmission to

to empower otherwise displaced citizens; and finally,

take us from individual projects to project categories

without exception, each project offered an example to

effectuated in cities around the world. For this, we

leaders in other cities in similar circumstances.

need to isolate the important success criteria and action steps and use them to create usable workbooks for

Overall, do you think these initiatives have

practitioners facing similar challenges.

been successful? I think the projects have been successful on their own

Or, which features that you recognize as being

terms: as local initiatives involving public-private

specific to the nature of these projects have the

partnerships to address critical urban issues such as

potential to develop further?

housing, social empowerment, and community de-

The project attributes most worthy of emulation

velopment. Unmistakable, concrete results have been

involve bottom-up project development; focus on

achieved in each instance. Moreover, the projects have

results; appropriate relationship with government

contributed to improvement not only in what has been

authorities; and, attention to real needs rather than

done but how it has been accomplished. Again, they

abstract ambitions.

demonstrate the power of a bottom-up rather than a top-down approach to community building

Can you envision possible future scenarios resulting from the pioneerism displayed in these projects? The projects show that the Urban Age is a critical, important, and nonetheless baby step on the long road to linking local initiatives into a global network of city building with large-scale impacts.

Anthony Williams the former Mayor of Washington, DC (1999–2007), is the Executive Director of the Global Government Practice at the Corporate Executive Board in Arlington, Virginia. He has also served as the William H. Bloomberg Lecturer in Public Management at the Harvard Kennedy School.

206

COMMON POINTS

TABLES

Categories

Initiatives

Housing

Health

Culture and Recreation

Mumbai Mumbai Waterfronts Center Triratna Prerana Mandal Urban Design Research Institute

São Paulo Union Building ACAIA Institute Biourban

Istanbul Music for Peace Nurtepe First Step Cooperative Children of Hope—Youth House

Mexico City Miravalle Community Council Cultural Center Consejo Agrarista Recovering Spaces for Life

Cape Town Mothers Unite Rocklands Urban Abundance Center Thrive

Education, Skills Training

Job Creation

Social Assistance

Enviroment

Rights and

Other

Activism

Tables and graphics: Marcos L. Rosa, Lindsay Bush and Ana Alvarez

208

COMMON POINTS

TABLES

Programs, Spaces, Uses

Mumbai

Mumbai Waterfronts Center

São Paulo

Union Building

Istanbul

Music for Peace

Public space recovery, cleaning,

Housing retrofit, collective space,

Music school, cultural promotion,

waste management, gardening,

collective cleaning, gardening, daily

activating public space, work-

greening, recreation, culture pro-

activities, gardening, recreational

spaces at surrounding schools,

motion, building and maintaining

activities, playground, library, arts

music rooms, workshops, offices,

the promenades and walkways,

and crafts workshop

rehearsal area

amphitheater, concerts, dance performances, and other cultural activities

ACAIA Institute Public space recovery, education,

Nurtepe First Step Cooperative

cultural promotion, recreation,

Community center, skills train-

Triratna Prerana Mandal

meals, child care, counseling, edu-

ing, recreation, women’s capacity

Community center, skills training,

cational and recreational activities,

building and community center,

employment, sanitation, recycling,

playground, library, arts and crafts

workshop spaces, child-care space,

collective kitchen, gardening,

workshop

playground

greening, cultural promotion, community toilets, community center

Biourban

Children of Hope— Youth House

(meeting space), educational

Child care, education, gardening,

activities, cooking (employment

housing retrofit, collective space,

Hostel, child care, skills training,

program), compost tanks, cultural

cleaning, gardening, educational

recreation, recreational and sports

activities

and recreational activities, play-

spaces, workshops and training,

ground, library, arts and crafts

temporary dormitories

Urban Design Research

workshop, improvised urban furni-

Institute

ture, garbage collection, outdoors

Public space recovery, cultural

activities (washing, talking, meet-

promotion, recreation, activism,

ing, sitting, etc.)

research, cricket ground, Kalaghoda Arts Festival (streetscape upgrade: street furniture, signage, paving the sidewalks, building restoration), advocating for attention to the city’s historic core, restoring and revitalizing historic buildings, streets, and open spaces

Mexico City

Miravalle Community Council

Cape Town

Mothers Unite

Public space recovery, cleaning,

Collective kitchen, collective space,

gardening, greening, recycling,

child care, education, gardening,

collective kitchen, cultural promo-

recreation, skills training, meals,

tion, education, skills training,

agriculture, new trees, playground,

employment, recycling, rainwater

library, arts and crafts workshop,

collection, farming, music and arts,

art therapy (counseling, dancing,

school support, computer classes,

singing, playing), training of emer-

health programs

gency first aid response

Cultural Center Consejo

Rocklands Urban Abundance

Agrarista

Center

Public space recovery, cultural

Urban agriculture, education, gar-

promotion, sports, recreation, drug

dening, greening, recreation, skills

and crime prevention, art and graf-

training, environmental education

fiti workshops, concerts, exhibi-

for pupils, permaculture training,

tions, breakdancing and skating

gardening, mushroom cultivation,

shows, sports and drug prevention

eco-friendly building

programs Thrive Recovering Spaces for Life

Recycling, greening, gardening,

Public space recovery, gardening,

social enterprise, residential waste

recreation, education, cultural

drop-off, sorting of reusables and

promotion, drug and crime preven-

recyclables, gardening, beautifica-

tion, health, recovery and cre-

tion of the facility, waste collection

ation of public space (river shore

and exchange for credits

recovery, open forum, playground), cultural, and educational activities (computer center and classrooms for workshop), agriculture spaces, greenhouse, green river corridor, new trees, job-opportunities network

210

COMMON POINTS

TABLES

Categories, Programs, Spatial Impact

temporary dormitories hostel

breakdancing shows

talking meeting

Housing

skating

washing concerts

daily outdoor activities building retrofit amphitheater

library

exhibitions

art and graffiti workshops

arts workshop

Culture and Recreation

arts festival

dance performances street performances

cricket grounds

playground

sports promotion

activating public space promenades and walkways

sports courts

culture promotion street furniture

sidewalk pavement

health programs

streetscape upgrade

Health

signage

waterfront recovery

community toilet

revitalizing green open spaces

waste management

eco-friendly building

cleaning up garbage recycling

public space recovery

compost tanks

Environment

rainwater collection

riverbank recovery gardening environmental education for pupils greening greenhouse

new trees and plants beautification of the neighborhood permaculture training

job-opportunities network emergency first-aid response training

Job Creation employment program music school

courses

rehearsal areas

Education, Skills Training

sports

workshops and training

school support classes

extra classes

collective kitchen

community center sanitation program

refectory art therapy

counseling

open forum

Social Assistance

Rights and Activism

reclaiming public space heritage conservation

women’s capacity building building restoration

child care drug prevention programs

trash back credit systems

Other

safety programs

accessible new pavement

Tables and graphics: Marcos L. Rosa, Lindsay Bush and Ana Alvarez

212

COMMON POINTS

Final Considerations Marcos L. Rosa and Ute E. Weiland, editors

Participation

Spatiale (1960), among many others. Authors such as

The discussion around participatory processes in urban

Jane Jacobs were dedicated to the study of the neigh-

planning is by no means a new one. In recent decades

borhood scale and diversity in local design (1961). Jan

however, we notice an increasingly humanistic ap-

Gehl’s work in Copenhagen demonstrates the success

proach towards the revindication of cities.

of “cities designed for people,” (1987, 2010) and par-

It can be seen in the work of art collectives with

ticipatory experiences and processes have also found

local communities during the nineteen-nineties (Bour-

fertile ground in developing countries such as Brazil

riaud, 1998; Kester, 2004; Bishop, 2006), and more

(Lagnado, 2006; França, 2012). Yet, with a few excep-

pronouncedly in the last decade in architecture, urban

tions, participatory planning has, to a great extent,

design, and urbanism: community initiatives, “Do-it-

remained in the realm of theory. In light of a growing

yourself” building, and other means by which tactical

culture of participation, could we then propose that we

knowledge is implemented and tested on site (Smith,

are moving from a theoretical discourse to a practical

2007; Borasi and Zardini, 2008; Christiaanse, 2010; Seji-

approach?

ma, 2010; Lepik, 2010; Ho, 2012). These processes allow

Small-scale, self-driven community initiatives

for direct and proactive participation in the construc-

provide immediate solutions to urgent, everyday

tion and adaptation of cities according to local needs.

problems, in the form of social innovation. Do they also

For a whole host of reasons, governments have been

contribute towards a better scenario? Can they effect

unable to provide for large portions of their cities’

positive transformation? Will these initiatives remain

inhabitants. Imbalances are rife: some have too much,

local, or will they be incorporated by governmental

while others have too little, and the latter can justifi-

frameworks and policies? Should these innovations

ably become distrustful of or lose faith in governance,

influence the rules that determine the way we act in,

its policies, and plans.

educate, govern, plan, and build our cities?

Does this motivate people to participate, to make

The innovation here is not necessarily about a

their voices heard and be actively involved in the inher-

final product, or about physical built space. These are

ently political process of city-making? Both in spite of

important pioneer testing grounds, where process is

poor relationships, and because of sound partnerships

paramount. They uncover inventive ways of reading

with municipal governments, citizens are becoming

and responding to urban realities, and present learning

active.

opportunities by way of exchange in observing other

When we talk about active participation, civil soci-

cultures, experiences, and cities. They reveal the fragil-

ety is becoming increasingly engaged in actions that

ity of a deterministic urban model that relies on aged

aim to improve the common urban environment. The

instruments and regulations that fail to respond to the

nineteen-sixties was a decade in which a participa-

complexity inherent in our cities. What kind of plan-

tory culture was marked by radical political moments

ning knowledge might we draft from these projects?

and demonstrations that made a call for participation

We might start by questioning the importance of

(Debord, 1961), focused in the everyday (Lefebvre,

these initiatives to the adaptation of urban space.

1947, 1961,1981; de Certeau, 1980), and this gave rise

Politically, they are fundamental to unveil real demands

to participatory urban design and planning. Concepts

and make legible flaws in current policy, a prereq-

of open frameworks that invite interaction have been

uisite to moving forward. Socially, they act as soft

translated in visions such as Constant Nieuwenhuys’

infrastructure, working with the city at a local level

New Babylon (1959–54), and in Yona Friedman’s La Ville

to provide neighborhoods with much-needed services

and facilities. The social mechanisms behind these

Based on the material compiled for each of the five

initiatives reveal new modes of negotiation, participa-

cities, we would like to draft some conclusions that

tion, and cooperation. Spatially, they reveal fields: the

might point out pathways towards the planning and

spaces they occupy, in which they install or take place.

construction of this open, inclusive, participatory city.

Their tactical nature produces operational knowledge

We aim to identify and pull together common threads,

through the design of strategies that change specific

assess the potential of their combined efforts and find-

spots, applied over short or longer timeframes. They

ings, and indicate actors that might lead the way in

rarely design to determine, tending rather to arrange

developing possible new scenarios.

open, flexible frameworks that can evolve over time and accommodate several overlapping programs. These three aspects introduce perspectives that give us clues

1. The Social Mechanisms and Operational

as to how we may begin to approach modifying the

Modes of Community Initiatives

planning “status quo.” Recognizing Problems, Unveiling Potential, Making Community Initiatives Visible

Inspiring Solutions

A marked improvement can be seen to result from

Projects start in response to issues that directly affect

each of the initiatives profiled in this book. They re-

people’s lives. The nature and intensity of problems

move garbage, plant new trees and gardens, organize

varies from city to city, as do the projects and pro-

community meeting places, upgrade open spaces for

grams implemented to solve them.

activities, construct clean toilets, build playgrounds,

In Mumbai, the lack of sanitation, the prevalence

libraries, and classrooms for workshops and skills

of disease, and the lack of communal space and

training. They have added value to the built environ-

services in slums are the sort of problems that act

ment, whether by conscious acts or by experimental

as strong motivators for community projects. As ob-

evolution over time. They upgrade derelict spaces

served, sanitation and recovery programs often start

into more harmonious and beautiful places, creating

by cleaning an area with the help of a community, an

qualities that forge encounters and coexistence, and

important step as it tackles not only the problem of

transform residents’ perceptions of everyday life. We

waste, but also the culture of littering and dumping

are interested in understanding how these processes

on the city’s streets and vacant lots. Jeff Anderson

take place, how the operative notion of the “common”

who started Biourban (p. 76) in São Paulo explains

is generated. It is our intention to make the processes

how the cleaning of those garbage dumps repre-

visible, document them and share the compiled

sents a sudden change in attitude towards collective

knowledge.

space; a change that fosters community organization

The community initiatives showcased in this book

and further translates into physical improvements

present enormous potential to catalyze urban change,

such as the addition of plants, urban furniture and

based not only on their accomplishments, but also

playgrounds—new meeting spaces that are used by

on what they can teach us. Their mechanisms and

residents like small, open-air living rooms.

operational models have the potential to feed back

In Cape Town, Carol Jacobs of Mothers Unite (p. 182)

into the architecture and urban planning disciplines,

explains how the reality of hungry kids playing in the

augmenting the palette of tools with which they shape

street with nowhere to do homework or research,

the city. A new culture of planning and design informed

inspired her to make the first move. A high number of

by grassroots initiatives would involve assembling a

education and skills training programs, often combined

more inclusive, transversal, transparent, and porous

with urban farming, address the city’s most pressing

framework inside which these projects could flourish.

issues. Problems of similar nature have inspired action

These initiatives also have potential to impact upon

in Mexico City. Communities realized they were los-

urban policy, and can provide valuable lessons for

ing areas for much-needed public space and services,

governance, not least around strategies for community

and reacted by defending and appropriating existing

engagement.

derelict land to create facilities for health, food, work,

214

COMMON POINTS

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

and culture. The program centers around the social

Open Strategies

and physical infrastructures they have improvised on

These projects can teach us a lesson about the impor-

site, and has been developed and managed by the local

tance of engaging youth to coordinate projects and take

community.

on leadership as projects grow and change. The Mexico

In São Paulo, it is the sociocultural and economic

City initiatives, in particular, fit this description. Initia-

discrepancy that surfaces as the most relevant issue

tives are rarely monofunctional as they are organized

for its pool of projects. Communities have confronted

through local debate, and designed around a matrix of

inequalities through a series of programs connected

varied interests, wishes, and needs. This generates a

to housing and the physical condition of urban space,

very rich patchwork of activities, a diverse scheme that

demonstrating the ability to create collective practices

has the ability to adapt over time.

by utilizing local resources. Also facing inequality, Is-

Strategies organized collaboratively by community

tanbul’s encrypted social issues target minorities who

residents, leaders, and enablers demonstrate that space

experience exclusion on several levels. Community em-

can work much better when we embrace the diver-

powerment through culture seeks to address the fac-

sity of opportunities presented by our surroundings.

tors that cause discrimination itself, by including and

Urban interventions should be designed to accommo-

bringing people together, as Yeliz Yalın Baki, co-founder

date patterns of local use, rather than the other way

of Istanbul’s Music for Peace (p. 114) explains.

around. Maintenance is another tricky issue for cities worldwide. Even if the city invests in the construction

Community Support

of public spaces, who takes care of them? These initia-

“We seldom take the time to humble ourselves, to say

tives have proven their ability to look after the built

“I don’t understand,” to ask communities what they ac-

environment, improving it—although often modestly—

tually need. They know exactly what needs to be done—

and suggesting new participatory models in the man-

context is so important—and as such, they should be

agement of collective space.

the ones calling the shots, and should be supported. Solutions to problems germinate in the communities

Partnerships

themselves rather than in boardrooms” (Walaza, 2012)

Partnerships have proven fundamental to these prac-

This argument, from psychologist and human rights

tices, the keys to negotiating a common base and open-

activist Nomfundo Walaza enlightens that community

ing doors for development. Activating stakeholders at

support is fundamental throughout the process to

different levels allows for the formation of more com-

recognize problems, unveil potential, inspire solutions

plex participatory models. Istanbul’s Music for Peace

and arrive at programmatic responses to actual needs.

worked with surrounding primary schools, occupying

Community support is crucial to the sustainability of

disused basements for their classes. This relationship

projects as it affects how they are implemented, man-

meant they connected with similar initiatives to share

aged, and maintained.

knowledge and experience, and recently, a new part-

Participants and families are invited to become

nership with the municipality was forged to widen the

involved in extraordinary tasks such as collective

program, bringing an orchestra to every school. This

cleaning or building of spaces and equipment, program

shows how the organization of the project has evolved

organization, and communications outreach.

from a locally improvised facility to a model that might

When initiators come from outside the community, the work is carried out differently. Sao Paulo’s projects

be reapplied in other areas in future. Mumbai’s Triratna Prerana Mandal (TPM, p. 38)

show us that, in such cases, it takes time to gain the

illustrates another example of a transversal model of

community’s trust, and it demands humility, a willing-

partnerships involving the public sector. It started as

ness to listen, learn, and engage in the process later-

an informal group, a collective effort to clean an area,

ally. Ana Cristina from ACAIA Institute (p. 80) tells that

create space for leisure and sports and implement a

story well.

toilet. The project’s tipping point was reached when it became part of the slum sanitation program funded by the World Bank and implemented by the city. Part-

nerships also brought expertise from other NGOs for

fying benefits to the community. Mothers Unite see

specific programs such as the kitchen, computer room

themselves expanding into adjacent vacant land, creat-

and meeting room.

ing public space for activities such as volleyball and

The same can be observed in Cape Town’s Mothers

skateboarding, planting vegetable gardens, and offering

Unite (p. 170), which began in a small private house.

allotments to local families. Mexico City’s vision is

Volunteers with strong administration and communi-

shared by several initiatives that argue for the impor-

cation skills assisted the mothers to harness partner-

tance of consolidating community participation and

ships, articulating a network of funders, donors (su-

perpetuating their legacy: “This is a way to influence

permarkets), universities, and other NGOs that were

public policies at the local level” (Ricardo Sauri, Secre-

fundamental to the construction of the physical space

tary for the Promotion of Human Rights and Incidence

that now hosts the project’s activities.

in Public Policy, p. 149). São Paulo’s projects have also

On a more local level, Mexico City’s Miravalle com-

started a dialogue with the municipality, through the

munity initiative (p. 136) involves educators (beyond

Secretaries responsible for urban upgrade programs

the classrooms), local mothers, and residents around

articulating the participation of other stakeholders—

one topic: the recovery and programming of an unused

architects, urban planners, officials, and university

plot. Partnerships with NGOs brought in expertise, the

researchers—in an ongoing process.

Human Rights Commission supported their political action, and later, city government showed their support.

Collectivity

Sao Paulo’s ACAIA Institute was already an established

These initiatives allow us to imagine a different form

organization when they began to operate inside the

of collectivity. Their field of operation is distinct from

slum, so partnerships with the community were neces-

public space, which is simply defined as the opposite

sary if their activities were to have a local impact.

of private space. They crystallize complex schemes of participation and organize urban environments

A Vision from Locals

that enable contact. Collective action stands in stark

A vision of another city is already drafted in the expec-

contrast to passive criticism, or waiting for the state

tations of individual projects. Istanbul’s Music for Peace

to “deliver” change. Built by and for the people, these

openly speaks about its intention to move from an

are innovative testing grounds for the capacity of city

experiment to a concrete model for working with local

spaces to host experimentation. Based on the notion of

governments, one that can adapt to local lifestyles and

sharing the city, they can be observed to rethink social

space syntax.

matters in spatial terms.

In Mumbai, this ability to provide working prototypes is welcomed by government in light of the improvements they have already witnessed. TPM has demonstrated the success of a community center

2. From Providing a “Spark,” to Improving the City through Art

installed on top of a toilet block, originally part of a municipal sanitation initiative. As such, it already

Art in connection with community initiatives is often

has enormous potential for replication as a holistic,

perceived as a form of cultural and social activism.

self-sustaining system that includes solar panels,

Creative participatory practices have been observed

rainwater harvesting, waste management, the adoption

to undergo a global renaissance in the last ten years,

of a neighboring park and derelict building for sports,

revealing a plurality and inventiveness that warrants

fitness and dance classes, a women’s self-help group

investigation. Artists often have a different perspective

offering sewing and cooking classes, and a computer

on space: their imagination, and the expression thereof,

lab and library. The project leaders acknowledge its

allows others to look at things differently, to dream and

achievements and intend to replicate the model in

to see possibilities that are not immediately obvious.

other communities with similar problems.

Art evokes feeling, a language that anybody under-

Other projects dream of breaking through their

stands: “Imagine a dusty, littered, treeless road in a

physical borders (fences and walls) in future, ampli-

poor area, where some artist has ‘planted’ a row of

216

COMMON POINTS

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

giant yellow hands reaching skywards out of the dirt.

realm. Inspired by the city and its challenges, artists

Suddenly you think, “Actually, anything can grow here!”

working in relation to urban design have the potential

(Malika Ndlovu, artist, p. 188)

to spark and spread new ideas: “Artists, who already

Artists have the power to give shape to collective

work critically with these ‘hotspots,’ can effectively

imagination, by using other means “to convey the

help us to invent or arrive at a more incorporated,

expectations, desires, dreams, and demands of many

dissenting and vivacious urbanism” (Paola Berest-

people,” as visual artist and cultural manager Benjamín

ein Jacques, architect, p. 87). Having recognized this

González (p. 154) tells us. One could think of artists as

potential, local governments are working to increase

communicators, or, as Ndlovu puts it, art as a “transla-

the value of the city through artistic organizations,

tion tool” that includes everyone in the conversation.

cartoonist Behiç Ak (p. 120) explains.

The position of the artist is also connected to experi-

As evidenced in community initiatives, cultural de-

mentation, the freedom to try new things. Investigative

sign—the product of artistic activism and built environ-

art accepts its task as a temporary one connected to a

ment design—is increasingly able to take advantage of

local moment, and understands that other projects and

“mechanisms of financial support and long-term public

practices will evolve as a result. This attitude supports

policies that give more certainty to the citizen projects

dynamism and vitality in cities.

with which the government establishes cooperation”

Curator Lisette Lagnado (p. 86) explains how artistic

(Argel Gómez, p. 154).

practices not only take on an activist role in designing and changing urban space, but often shed light on local problems, unveil chances and generate possible solutions: “To show, to point out and to comment, are ways

3. Transversal Thinking in Official Planning

to intervene.… There is artwork of more direct intervention … but films and cartoons also play a role in

Status Quo

addressing urban problems.” Graffiti and street art, a

The interviewed leaderships and government representa-

very common practice in the projects collected, is often

tives seem to be unanimous: there is a desire to embrace

seen as a political act carried out at the micro scale.

the knowledge and expertise generated by community

It marks and reclaims space, changing it instantly and

initiatives, to help them achieve urban reform.

creating symbolism around the idea of participation. In

This attitude acknowledges not only the achieve-

relation to urban action, art can provoke, inspire and

ments of these initiatives, but also, tacitly, the incapac-

bring people together (Shabana Azmi, actress, p. 52).

ity of traditional planning to deal with the challenges posed by today’s cities. Having recognized the positive

Maximizing Impact

impact that local initiatives can have on the develop-

Engagement and communication through art can

ment of cities, how can we now open up for participa-

unearth powerful ways of maximizing the impact of

tion in detailing local design?

ideas on urban space. Sharing expertise through work-

In São Paulo, inequalities have been addressed by

shops, lectures, and presentations leads to reflection

housing programs in the last decade, although still

and inspires other practices. Festivals, celebrations,

modestly, given the city’s dimensions. There is a

street markets, and performances keep the public

general plan for the whole urban area, implemented

realm lively, as they are places where diverse users

by architects who act as mediators between govern-

are invited to coexist. Creative production “radically

ment and local communities. As the Team Leader of the

transforms the urban, bringing ordinary streets, steps,

Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU)

parking lots, and walkways to the forefront of cultural

program, Michael Krause (p. 184) explains, Cape Town

activity and showing how versatile the space we take

is experimenting with a shift from a sectoral focus to

for granted can be” (Shirin Bharucha, Managing Trustee

an area-based focus, one made difficult by the compart-

of the Urban Design Research Institute, p. 53).

mentalized nature of planning departments. Mexico

Artists appear to be seeking instruments with which to apply their findings and expertise on the urban

City has one core focus: to control urban sprawl and develop a “compact, shared, inclusive, and extroverted

city” in which communities play a role in activat-

It has become clear that top-down design alone

ing, qualifying, and managing existing infrastructure

is not able to deliver high quality, lively spaces in

and public space. Istanbul is in urgent need of urban

neighborhoods with deficits. The contribution made

reform, yet seems to lack the instruments to design

by self-driven, small-scale projects often becomes

in urban quality at the local scale. Mumbai has much

official when they partner with cities in newly estab-

practical experience of the public-private partnership

lished frameworks. Collective meetings, round tables

model, as well as with grassroots cooperation in the

and local committees, supported by the public sector,

provision of basic local infrastructures.

have increasingly become part of the planning process. At the same time, every city seems to speak for

Attitude

the need for the more systematized documentation of

The common attitude appears to be that it is better to

these initiatives, and for their networking—to foster

keep communities where they are settled and improve

exchange of expertise, be able to measure their impact,

their surroundings. Widely debated since the nineteen-

and spur future growth. Seema Redkar tells us that it is

seventies, the acknowledgment of the self-constructed

important to document and coordinate more, so that

city as a reality to be maintained and enhanced now

ongoing experiences can feed back into and involve

seems to be consensual. Good architectural and urban

these groups in city planning.

designs have proven their ability to integrate people of different classes and income. Added to that, grassroots,

Integration

local initiatives and NGOs are called in to work on diag-

Are there signs that governments are embracing the

nosed social vulnerability. Cape Town, Mexico City, Sao

demand for innovative, process- rather than product-

Paulo, and Mumbai are testing grounds for both scales

driven planning methods? In São Paulo, this is being

of planning. Architect at the Secretary of Housing and

tested in a housing program that makes use of social

Urban Development in Mexico City, Felipe Leal (p. 150)

networks and calls residents to vocalize and map

explains how institutional policies and plans can only

their demands so they can be debated and incorpo-

profit from the more refined perspective of the citizen,

rated into design plans. Cape Town has a promising

which contributes towards a better understanding of

plan that allocates funding on a localized basis, for

non-standardization. Governments appear to be increas-

example through Neighborhood Development Partner-

ingly open to discussions with local organizations, due

ships grants (national funding for focus areas). Ward

largely to one factor: it would be almost impossible for

allocations, another example, can be used to fund Com-

the public sector to reach all informal areas without in-

munity Action Plans, as Michael Krause explains from

volving local actors, as Seema Redkar (Officer on Special

his experience in the VPUU Program, where they have

Duty for the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai,

identified a clear need for an intermediary between

p. 48) explains. Local innovations are being observed to

the public sector and the community. While Mexico

occur increasingly within existing programs.

City, like the other cities, still follows outdated zoning schemes, they have recognized that these are often

Recognition

too rigid and ignore social problems. Their community

Many argue that local participation still only takes

projects illustrate how these planning protocols and

place in parallel to the planning process, with local

programs might become more porous to make space

authorities failing to provide frameworks with which

for local initiatives.

community members can engage. There have been clear attempts to address this need, and cities are tak-

Prospects

ing steps in that direction: acknowledging the positive

Based on recent positive experiences, governments

impact of projects, cross-pollinating strategy and local

look to be making more space for community partici-

knowledge, finding the necessary mediators (as we see

pation. Istanbul sees local initiatives start out dynami-

in Cape Town and Istanbul, for instance), or partnering

cally but increase in vulnerability over time. Urban

with communities to maintain parks and public spaces

planner Erhan Demirdizen (p. 116) argues that projects

and organize cultural activities.

would do well to focus on a clearly defined subject,

218

COMMON POINTS

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

forging partnerships with academia to monitor their

menting a set of operations that target one particular

development and provide support. From São Paulo we

problem. We can also learn from their work with local

hear that this is specifically important with regards to

governments in the field of inclusive design.

the maintenance, use, and appropriation of collective built spaces.

As reported by the United Nations, much of our cities has been built without the attention of professionals,

Mexico City also argues that they should work more

architects, or urban planners, who rarely take part in

with the local scale, the everyday city: the little square,

neighborhood improvement initiatives. Added to this,

the garden, the remaining corner, the basketball court.

normative planning as practiced by governmental agen-

Laura Janka, advisor to the Secretary of Housing and

cies does not readily scale down to provide urban quality

Urban Development, uses the example of street markets:

to neighborhoods, believe planning secretaries from

“We have 325 public markets…. These are big opportuni-

São Paulo and Mexico City. This reinforces the demand

ties…. These spaces have amazing potential to be trans-

to be more strategic in planning and include bottom-up

formed into real public spaces” (p. 151). She explains how

approaches. These community initiatives serve as case

important they are as spaces for community encounter,

studies, the analysis of which may lead to the develop-

as they are permeable and flexible enough to accommo-

ment of new tools. There is also a social need that has

date many activities simultaneously or over time.

to be fulfilled: “It is important to emphasize that their

Cape Town points out the opportunities to be found

action responds to the lack of participation in planning”

in the realm between government and grassroots.

(Ôzlem Ünsal, social sciences researcher, p. 118). While

Andrew Boraine, CEO of the Cape Town Partnership

the potential is there, the missing ingredient is a reliable

(p. 185), acknowledges the involvement of civil society

legal base to enable the realization of such formations.

organizations in local design, as well as the disparity between private sector development and local needs.

The Residual as a Positive

He argues for the necessary cross-cutting actions, ma-

Projects fight to preserve often small public spaces,

terialized through partnerships.

forge new partnerships and activate underutilized ar-

Mumbai strengthens that argument. The process

eas. They act by reclaiming leftover land for food pro-

of intermediation is seen as important, as are spaces

duction or for recreational and educational purposes,

for discussion and a platform that connects projects to

often installing themselves in derelict urban fragments.

magnify their long-term impact.

Architect Edgar Pieterse (p. 186) explains how this

KC Sivaramakrishnan’s (p. 49) argument touches

translates in Cape Town, through the use of in-between

on the discussion of a more porous city, of open

spaces, “experimenting with the reclamation and reuse

frameworks inside which local projects can flourish:

of Apartheid’s lines of division.” In São Paulo, architect

“Structure can indeed facilitate or restrict participatory

Fernando de Mello Franco (p. 84) talks of how the im-

processes, and that is a crucial issue in addressing the

plementation of infrastructures has created numerous

deficits in a democracy.” Brazilian philosopher Marilena

spoiled areas, which offer opportunities for reprogram-

Chauí (p. 83) talks about participating in power through

ming. In Mexico City, a community-run cultural center

the pro-active gesture: “You participate in power be-

occupies free open space, taking advantage of a rare

cause you participate in the transformative action.”

opportunity in the dense, sprawled landscape. These initiatives are identifying chances and providing solutions to latent problems. Their implementation

4. Academia

reveals the connection between the micro and macro scales, the planned and the improvised. As architect

Learning From

Rahul Mehrotra (p. 50) well explains, grassroots inter-

Architectural and urban practice can learn from these

ventions force the debate between the site specificity

participatory processes. If we look at the initiatives

of architectural interventions and the abstraction of

mapped in each city, they tend to be self-driven and

planning policy. Fernando de Mello Franco prefers to

spontaneous in nature. Not all have a strategic vision,

define them as strategies, action programs, or political

but they all have a tactical character, usually imple-

articulations, rather than design projects.

Producing Urban Design Tools

Fernando de Mello Franco stresses the need to keep

These initiatives were all existing, but were not neces-

the macro in the picture, as it represents the formal

sarily visible. Fernando de Mello Franco explains how,

actions organized by the public sector. The capacity

since we first mapped the projects in São Paulo, there

of cities and leftover spaces to become productive is

have arisen “a series of physical, financial, and admin-

another topic that comes out of the many discourses:

istrative structures that support that kind of entrepre-

projects are not concerned only with improving the

neurship.”

physical space, but also with collaboration for produc-

In the process of fostering cooperation and en-

tion. Projects often reveal entrepreneurship as one of

abling participation, new tools are created all the time.

their primary foci, and as such, their impact on the

More than just reapplying formal mechanisms to a

(mostly informal) economy is also to be noted.

new environment, these tools have a broader scope. An example would be a planner designing the ground

Scenarios: Adaptive Opportunities

floor of a development to enable the action of several

In response to the dynamic nature of cities, these

stakeholders in articulating the space of intersection.

initiatives have demonstrated their ability to evolve,

This demands that professionals study the structure of

change, and adapt according to new challenges and

the city even more carefully: “I think the first step for

situations. Some are temporary and will inevitably van-

urban planners and designers is to recognize these [the

ish, but some will restructure and grow thanks to their

temporary and the permanent] as legitimate occur-

flexibility and robust nature. Either way, they contrib-

rences and solutions” (Rahul Mehrotra). He argues that

ute greatly to the understanding of the contemporary

this can profoundly change the way we perceive urban

urban condition in of each of these cities, as pilot pro-

policy.

jects and local urban laboratories that happen in open

The interviewees also raise the need to change our educational approach towards these endeavors: “The

air, and at 1:1 scale (Fernando de Mello Franco). In order to hone their strategies, it is crucial that

opportunity exists to use these projects as mini studio

a firm, well-defined place inside the governmental

laboratories where the student is the learner, not the

framework is secured to allow for new initiatives to

expert” (Edgar Pieterse). Community initiatives develop

flourish and for planning to be more attentive to local

an intelligence that deciphers the driving logics behind

issues (Ôzlem Ünsal). Edgar Pieterse talks of the pos-

the solutions they generate. Experimental practices in

sibility of amplifying their impact according to a pro-

conjunction with these real-world laboratories might

posed model of public development in which the public

help architects and planners to better understand the

sector recognizes the importance of, and service-pro-

complex nature of problems and how they manifest in

viders build onto, these “social infrastructures.”

communities, generating a different approach to urban design.

Architects Arturo Mier y Terán predict the impact of grassroots projects in Mexico City over the next twenty years, provided that an institutional and

Transfer and Replicability

political framework is put in place to support their

Together, these projects form a database of experienc-

development: “In the places where these projects are

es. The transfer of these experiences should allow for

being carried out, one can clearly see a change, but to

transformation through repetition and for adaptation

have the city transformed is a different thing. I believe

in response to local impulses. Architects and plan-

though, that after these experiences, we are able to

ners, in assessing the technical organization of these

set realistic goals.” Knowing there are 1,300 neighbor-

projects, appear positive about their potential for

hoods in the city needing improvement, and estimating

replicability. The pressing question seems to be: How

100,000 USD per area per year over five years, it is

might they multiply to cause a larger, more systemic

entirely possible to advise the government of the con-

impact? This frames a discussion around practical

tinuous investment needed to make that change.

mobility between the micro and macro scales, whether

This argument acknowledges that cities are made

this occurs through scaling up or co-operating with

by smaller interventions. Rahul Mehrotra argues that

larger strategies.

the discipline of urban design as it evolves here, allows

220

COMMON POINTS

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

designers to tackle extreme scales: micro and macro,

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CREDITS

Credits Organization and Editing Marcos L. Rosa is an architect and urban planner. He received his diploma from the University of São Paulo. He received a scholarship from the European Union for his PhD thesis at the TU Munich, supervised by Prof. Sophie Wolfrum. He has been a guest lecturer and researcher at Department of Architecture and Urban Design at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. Marcos organized the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award in São Paulo in 2008, when he helped conceptualize and establish a platform for research that maps and investigates the projects compiled in every city. He is the author of Microplanning, Urban Creative Practices (São Paulo, 2011). He has exhibited worldwide, including at the Rotterdam International Architecture Biennale 2010 and the International Biennale in São Paulo 2011. He has written and contributed to several international publications and was awarded the Young Architects Award from the Brazilian Architects Institute for his first book. He works as an independent designer and won the first prize for “Collective Retrofit” at the 2009 Alcoa Design Prize and the Prestes Maia Award for “Urban Parangolé,” among others. Both his practical work and research studies stand for an interdisciplinary and integrative approach in the fields of architecture, urban design, and urban planning. Marcos has been involved with community initiatives, temporary use, grassroots initiatives, and social infrastructures for many years. His current research focuses on the operational mechanisms embedded in these projects and their scaling potential within existing and proposed urban infrastructural networks, with a focus in São Paulo. Ute Elisabeth Weiland has been the Deputy Director of the Alfred Herrhausen Society, Deutsche Bank’s international forum since 2007, a member of the Executive Board of the Urban Age conference series at the London School of Economics since 2004, and since 1 January 2010 member of the Governing Board of LSE Cities. In 1997, she co-founded the Erich Pommer Institute for Media Law and Media Management at the University of Potsdam and was its deputy managing director until 2003. Born in the former German Democratic Republic, she graduated from the Academy of Music in Weimar. After unification, she became chief of staff to the Secretary of State for education in Saxony. Ute E. Weiland is a member of the German-Israeli Young Leaders Exchange of the Bertelsmann Foundation and young leader of the Atlantik Brücke. For five years, Ute E. Weiland has coordinated all of the awards in five cities, organizing the content and compilation with the local researchers chosen to carry out the communication, organization, and fieldwork in each city.

222

CREDITS

Image Credits

90/6: Street Soccer. Biourban. Ahs Archive. 90/7: Parque da Integração. Nucleo de Aplicação Escola da Cidade Archive. 90/8: Praça do Lajeado. Instituto sou da Paz Archive.

ALL ILLUSTRATIONS Pauo Ayres

91/1: Open Air Cinema Jardim Sao Luis. Oficinas Kinoforum Archive. 91/2: Aprendiz at Vila Madalena. Thiago Zeug. 91/3: Garrido Boxe. Marcos L. Rosa and Thiago Zeug. 91/4: Garrido Boxe. Marcos L. Rosa.

MUMBAI

91/5: Open Air Cinema. Oficinas Kinoforum Archive. 91/6: Tiete River Art Pieces. Instituto Navega São Paulo Archive.

Datas

91/7: Cities Withoug Hunger. Thiago Zeug.

26: Bird eye view: view around Crawford Market. Chirodeep Chaudhuri.

91/8: Bus Corridors, Marcos L. Rosa and Thiago Zeug.

27: Human eye view: Robert Weiland. 28: Urban challenges: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43423301@N07/5842973175/sizes/o/in/ photostream/

ISTANBUL

29: Community initiatives: Mumbai Waterfronts Centre. AHS archive.

Datas 94: Bird eye view: Bruno Feder.

Projects

95: Human eye view: Bruno Feder.

34, 35: Triratna Prerana Mandal: park amphiteather, building facility, women cooking midday meal. Rajesh Vora (AHS archive).

96: Urban Challenges: Demet Mutman.

38, 39: Mumbai Waterfront Centre: upgraded waterfront in use. AHS archive. 42, 43: Urban Design Research Institute: collective green spaces, upgraded sidewalks and sports field. AHS archive. Interviews 47: Rajesh Vora. 49: Robert Weiland. 51: Olaf Jacobs. 53: Philipp Rode. 55: Philipp Rode. Compilation 56/1: UDR. AHS archive. 56/2: MWC. AHS archive. 56/3: UDR. AHS archive. 56/4: Rajesh Vora. 56/5: Philipp Rode. 56/6: MWC. AHS archive. 56/7: Rajesh Vora. 56/8: Philipp Rode. 57/1: Cooking mid day meal. Rajesh Vora (AHS archive) 57/2: MWC. AHS archive. 57/3: Philipp Rode. 57/4: Rajesh Vora (AHS archive) 57/5: Philipp Rode 57/6: MWC. AHS archive. 57/7: Pavement encroachment. Poulomi Basu. 57/8: UDR. AHS archive.

SAO PAULO

97: Community Initiatives: Sultan Yilmaz. Projects 102, 103: Music for Peace. AHS Archive, Süreyya Dernek. 106, 107: Nurtepe First Step Cooperative. AHS Archive, Süreyya Dernek. 110, 111: Children of Hope-Youth House. AHS Archive, Süreyya Dernek. Interviews 115: Demet Mutman. 117: Demet Mutman. 119: Demet Gülova, Maltepe Meydan. 121: Demet Mutman. 123: Bruno Feder. Compilation 124/1: Barıs¸ ˙Için. Süreyya Dernek. 124/2: Nurtepe ˙Ilkadım Women Coop. Daycare Center. Demet Mutman. 124/3: Nurtepe ˙Ilkadım Women Coop. Süreyya Dernek. 124/4: Umut Çocukları Youth House. Süreyya Dernek. 124/5: Engelleri Kaldır Movement. Süreyya Dernek. 124/6: Nezahat Gökyig˘it Botanical Garden. Süreyya Dernek. 124/7: KSANTI˙ST, Public Art. Kübra S¸ irinyurt. 124/8: Kuzguncuk, Children’s Summer School street art activity. AHS Archive. 125/1: Revitalization of Ayrancı Street. Demet Mutman. 125/2: Revitalization of Gazhane Project support festival. Hasanpas¸ a Gönüllüleri. 125/3: Ahırkapı Festival. AHS Archive. 125/4: Tarlabas¸ı Community Center, Woodwork exhibiton. AHS Archive. 125/5: Taksim Gezi Park “Claiming Trees“ intervention. Demet Mutman. 125/6: Kuzguncuk Bostan intervention. Demet Mutman. 125/7: Turkey’s Touring and Automobiles Ent. “Revitalization of Sog˘ukçes¸me Street”. AHS Archive. 125/8: Chamber of Architects, Protest for the Gezi Park and the Taksim Square. Sena Özfiliz.

Datas 60: Bird eye view: São Paulo view from Copan Building. Marcos L. Rosa. 61: Human eye view: Sao Paulo downtown. Christian v. Wissel.

MEXICO CITY

62: Urban Challenges: Marginal Pinheiros. Olaf Jacobs.

Datas

63: Community Initiatives: Garrido Box in Microplanning. Marcos L. Rosa.

128: Bird eye view: Citámbulos. 129: Human eye view: Barry Wolfryd / ITDP-México.

Projects

130: Urban Challenges: View from Miravalle, Iztapalapa Borrough. Ana Álvarez.

68, 69: Edificio União. Kristine Stiphany.

131: Community Initiatives: Greenhouse at Miravalle Community Council, Ana Álvarez.

72, 73: Instituto Acaia. Marcos L. Rosa, Thiago Zeug. 76, 77: Biourban: AHS Archive, Jeff Anderson.

Projects 136, 137: Miravalle Community Council. AHS Archive.

Interviews

140,141: Cultural Center Consejo Agrarista. AHS Archive.

81: Balconies at Favela do Nove, Marcos L. Rosa.

144, 145: Recovering Spaces for Life. AHS Archive.

83: Staircases Paraisopolis, Marcos L. Rosa. 85: Street vendors at Rua Frei Caneca, Marcos L. Rosa.

Interviews

87: Street vendors at Moema, Marcos L. Rosa.

149: Miravalle Community Council’s Greenhouse. Ana Álvarez.

89: Garrido Boxe, Marcos L. Rosa and Thiago Zeug.

151: Plaza de la República. EIKON.COM.MX. 153: Recovering Spaces for life. Open Gym. Ana Álvarez.

Compilation

155: ATEA. Intervention in parking lot at city centre. Ana Álvarez.

90/1: Favela do Nove, ACAIA. Marcos L. Rosa.

157: Miravalle Community Council. Ana Álvarez.

90/2: Microplanning at Paraisopolis. Marcos L. Rosa. 90/3: Favela do Nove, ACAIA. Thiago Zeug.

Compilation

90/4: Bamburral. Thiago Zeug.

158/1: Regina Street Cultural Walk. Arturo Fuentes Franco.

90/5: Paraisopolis. Marcos L. Rosa.

158/2: Bicitekas. Aarón Borrás.

158/3: La Nana, Fábrica de Creación e Innovación-ConArte. Luz Montero. 158/4: Water collection system. Isla Urbana Archive.

Data Credits

158/5: ATEA. Ana Álvarez. 158/6: Espacios Nutritivos. Mauricio Badillo. 158/7: Red de Innovación y Aprendizaje (RIA). DBUA-Mexico City archive. 158/8: Central del Pueblo. Central del Pueblo Archive. 159/1: Restoration of Santa Fe Village’s Heritage. Hector Castillo. 159/2: Comprehensive Rescue of Magdalena and Eslava Rivers. Project’s Archive. 159/3: Hijo del Ahuizote Building. Historic Centre. Diego Flores Magón.

GENERAL Alfred Herrhausen Society. Archive. Burdett, Ricky/ Sudjic, Deyan (Ed.). The Endless City. Phaidon Press. 2007. Burdett, Ricky/ Sudjic, Deyan (Ed.). Living in the Endless City. Phaidon Press. 2011. Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Global city GDP rankings 2008-2025. December 2009.

159/4: MiniLAB. Stephanie García Cabrera.

Schneider, Friedrich. Size and Measurement of the Informal Economy in 110 Countries Around the World. Paper, World Bank. July 2002.

159/5: Public Spaces in Public Housing. S.A. [Anónima] arquitectura y L. Ricardo Carranza.

The Urban Age Programme. Conference Newspapers 2007-2012. http://lsecities.net/ua

159/6: Urban Asymmetries. Urban Laboratories Ecatepec. Project’s Archive.

UNESCO (Richmond, Mark/ Robinson, Clinton/ Sachs-Israel, Margarete; Ed.). The Global Literacy Challenge. 2008. www.unesco.org

159/7: Connecting. Rescue of the San Borja River’s Ravine. Project’s Archive. 159/8: Faro Tláhuac. DBUA-Mexico City archive.

UN-HABITAT. Global Reports on Human Settlements. United Nations Human Settlements Programme. 2005. www.unhabitat.org

CAPE TOWN

UN-HABITAT. Annual Report 2005: Responding to the Challenges of an Urbanizing World. United Nations Human Settlements Programme. 2005. http://ww2.unhabitat.org/ documents/UN-HABITAT_AR_2005.pdf

Datas 162: Bird eye view: Lindsay Bush. 163: Human eye view:Jacques Marais, courtesy of the Cape Town Partnership.

United Nations. United Nations World Urbanization Prospects, 2011 revision. Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision and World Urbanization Prospects: The 2011 Revision. 2012. www.un.org/esa

164: Urban Challenges: Olaf Jacobs. 165: Community Initiatives: Olaf Jacobs. Projects 170,171: Mothers Unite. Lindsay Bush, AHS Archive. 174, 175: Rocklands Urban Abundance Center. AHS Archive.

MUMBAI Government of Bihar, Finance Department. Maharashtra State Economic Survey 2010-2011. February 2011. www.gov.bih.nic.in/documents/Economic-Survey-2011-English.pdf Mumbai Waterfronts Centre and P K Das. Open Mumbai Exhibition. NGMA Mumbai. www.pkdas.com/Open-Mumbai-Exhibition.php

178, 179: Thrive. Gavin Withers, Olaf Jacobs, Lindsay Bush, AHS Archive.

Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Census of India 2011. www.censusindia.gov.in

Interviews

SÃO PAULO

183: Multilingual container library at Mothers Unite. Gavin Withers.

Habisp. Secretaria de Habitação do Município de São Paulo (SEHAB). www.habisp.inf.br

185: Public space in Harare, Khayelitsha, VPUU. Olaf Jacobs.

Prefeitura de São Paulo. Secretaria Municipal de Desenvolvimento Urbano (SMDU). Info Cidade. www.infocidade.prefeitura.sp.gov.br

187: The Hout Bay Waste Drop-off Facility in Imizamo Yethu, home of Thrive recycling. Lindsay Bush. 189: Imperfections. Infecting The City 2010. Created by: Leila Anderson, Mdu Kweyama & Owen Manamela. Photographer: Cecile Mella. Photo courtesy of the Africa Centre. 191: Tending the food gardens at Mothers Unite. Gavin Withers.

Rede Nossa São Paulo. www.nossasaopaulo.org.br ISTANBUL CIVICUS Uluslararası Sivil Toplum Endeksi Projesi (STEP). Türkiye’de Sivil Toplum: Bir Dönüm Noktası. Türkiye Ülke Raporu II. TUSEV Publications. Istanbul. 2011.

Compilation

Dernekler Dairesi Bas¸kanlıg˘ ı. http://www.dernekler.gov.tr

192/1: Thrive. Lindsay Bush.

Istanbul Büyüks¸ehir Belediyesi (IBB). http://www.ibb.gov.tr

192/2: Abalimi Bezekhaya (Harvest of Hope). Gavin Withers. 192/4: Masiphumelele Community Library. Gavin Withers.

Karakuyu, M./ Kara, M. Istanbul’daki Gayrimüslim Toplulukların Tarihsel Serüveni ve Günümüzdeki Sosyo-Ekonomik Durumları: Cog˘ rafi bir Analiz, Akademik Aras¸tırmalar Dergisi, 2010.

192/5: Bicycle Empowerment Network (BEN). Lindsay Bush.

Turkish Statistical Institute. The Istanbul 2011 Census. www.tuik.gov.tr

192/3: Falko Splitpiece. Falko One.

192/6: Hope for the Children Foster Farm. Lindsay Bush. 192/7: Ikamva Youth. Lindsay Bush.

MEXICO CITY

192/8: Lavender in Lavender Hill. Lindsay Bush.

Cámara de Diputados. Centro de Estudios de las Finanzas Públicas. Perfil Socioeconómico del D.F. Mexico City. 2009.

193/1: Omegaview Community Upliftment. Lindsay Bush. 193/2: Strandfontein Community Peace Garden. Lindsay Bush.

Cámara de Diputados. Centro de Estudios Sociales y de Opinión Pública. Reporte Temático No.2 Comercio Ambulante. Mexico City. 2005.

193/3: Regeneration of City and Soul (Hands of Honour). Olaf Jacobs.

Instituto Nacional de Desarrollo Social. www.indesol.gob.mx

193/4: Rocklands Urban Abundance Centre. Olaf Jacobs.

Instituto Nacional de Geofrafía y Estadística (INEGI). The National Census. Mexico City. 2010. www.inegi.org.mx

193/5: Harare town square, VPUU. Lindsay Bush. 193/6: Mothers Unite. Gavin Withers. 193/7: Infecting the City public arts festival: Name of work: Exile, Infecting The City 2009. Created by: Alfred Hinkel, Michael Lister, Mary Manzole, Penelope Youngleson, Photographer: Sydelle Willow Smith. Courtesy of the Africa Centre. 193/8: Charles Mathlay’s home gardening project. Gavin Withers.

Secretaría del Medio Ambiente. Inventario de las Areas Verdes del Distrito Federal. Mexico City. 2010. www.sma.df.gob.mx Secretaría de Desarrollo Urbano y Vivienda del Distrito Federal (SEDUVI). Mexico City. CAPE TOWN City of Cape Town. City of Cape Town Report 2008. Cape Town. 2009. www.capetown.gov.za

COMMON POINTS 206-211: Tables and graphics: Marcos L. Rosa, Lindsay Bush and Ana Alvarez

Statistics South Africa. Census 2011. Cape Town. 2012. www.statssa.gov.za Statistics South Africa. Community Survey 2007. Cape Town. www.statssa.gov.za

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IMPRINT

E-book edition © 2015 by jovis Verlag GmbH © 2013 by jovis Verlag GmbH © for the videos Hoferichter + Jacobs GmbH 2007 – 2012 Texts by kind permission of the authors. Pictures by kind permission of the photographers/holders of the picture rights. All rights reserved. Organized / Edited by Marcos L. Rosa, Ute E. Weiland With Ana Alvarez, Lindsay Bush, Demet Mutman, Priya Shankar. Illustrations by: Paulo Ayres Illustrations concept and coordination: Marcos L. Rosa Editorial coordination JOVIS: Philipp Sperrle Photography: see credits Review: Inez Templeton Design, cover design, and setting: Tom Unverzagt, Leipzig Production JOVIS: Susanne Rösler Lithography: Bild1Druck, Berlin Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data are available on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de jovis Verlag GmbH Kurfürstenstraße 15/16 10785 Berlin www.jovis.de jovis books are available worldwide in selected bookstores. Please contact your nearest bookseller or visit www.jovis.de for information concerning your local distribution. ISBN 978-3-86859-887-2

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