Planning, temporary urbanism and citizen-led alternative-substitute place-making in the Global South

Lauren Andres,Hakeem Bakare,John R Bryson,Winnie Khaemba,Lorena Melgaço,George R Mwaniki

doi:10.1080/00343404.2019.1665645

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper argues that planning in the Global South needs to be embedded within a more complex and systemic framework based on understanding cities' functions and transformations, at both local and regional levels, whilst advocating for and incorporating informal and temporary dynamics. This is to differentiate between two competing processes: formal planning and citizen-led place-making, here considered as a form of reactive alternative-substitute place-making that occurs when there is no available alternative. The paper calls for a better integration of such impermanent, adaptable, temporary and alternative forms of place-making into the planning process for regional futures.

Highlights

Cities in the Global South face major intractable challenges from informal settlements, housing provision and transport to environment degradation
We propose a new way of understanding urban futures for Global South cities, focusing on South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia, where planning plays a key role in transforming city-regions, despite major challenges
This paper explores new approaches to planning regional futures focusing on East and South Africa, but with wider implications for reading and understanding African and Global South cities characterized by complex dynamics between formal and informal processes, both inclusionary and exclusionary

Summary

Introduction

Cities in the Global South face major intractable challenges from informal settlements, housing provision and transport to environment degradation (including air pollution). The analysis highlights the importance of new forms of context-specific approaches to place-making, including combining alternative citizen and community processes with planning. Temporary urbanism and citizen-led alternative-substitute place-making in the Global South 3

Results

Conclusion