Mapping the Spatiality of Informal Street Vending

Abstract

ABSTRACT The public realm in cities of the global South comprises a mix of formal and informal economies and activities competing for space and visibility. While often seen by the authorities as marginalised and damaging to the larger-scale off-street market, street vending cannot be simply wished away as it contributes to the emergence of vibrant urbanity and economic productivity. Drawing on empirical research in a case study in Tehran and using observation, fieldwork notes, photography, archival records, and urban mapping, this paper focuses on mapping forms of informal street vending to explore the spatiality of street vending in relation to pedestrian flows, public/private interface, and functional mix. The paper contributes to how the built environment professions can more effectively engage with transforming places to enable opportunities for a range of informal activities to emerge and possibly thrive in public space.